cardia
(KAR-dee-uh)
The part of the stomach that is closest to the esophagus. Food and liquids pass through the cardia to enter the stomach from the esophagus. A valve near the cardia helps keep stomach contents from backing up into the esophagus.
Enlarge this image in new windowThe stomach is an organ in the upper abdomen. It can be divided into the cardia and the non-cardia, which includes the fundus, the body, the antrum, and the pylorus. The stomach is part of the digestive system.