What part of the stomach is located superior to the level of the cardiac orifice?

The fundus is the part of the stomach that is positioned superior to the level of the cardiac orifice, which is where the esophagus connects to the stomach. The fundus is the rounded, upper portion of the stomach that lies above the entrance of the esophagus, making it the most superior section. This anatomical positioning allows the fundus to act as a temporary storage area for food and gas that enters the stomach.

The other components of the stomach have distinct locations; the body of the stomach is the central portion that lies below and extends from the fundus to the pylorus, and the cardia is directly around the cardiac orifice, situated at the entrance to the stomach. The pylorus is the lower section of the stomach that leads into the small intestine. Thus, understanding the anatomy of the stomach helps confirm that the fundus is indeed the superior part relative to the cardiac orifice.