The opening at the upper end of the stomach is called which of the following?

• A. Cardiac orifice
• B. Pyloric sphincter
• C. Esophageal sphincter
• D. Fundus

Answer: (A)

The opening at the upper end of the stomach is the cardiac orifice. This is the entry point where the esophagus meets the stomach at the gastroesophageal (cardioesophageal) junction, near the heart. The term “cardiac” reflects its location at the top of the stomach, and this boundary is what allows food to pass from the esophagus into the stomach. The area is associated with the lower esophageal sphincter, which helps prevent reflux into the esophagus.

The other structures don’t describe the opening itself: the pyloric sphincter sits at the distal end of the stomach and controls flow into the duodenum; the fundus is simply the dome-shaped upper portion of the stomach away from the entry point.