Gastric distention is the enlargement of the stomach, and can be due to a number of causes.[ citation needed ]
Physiologic (normal) gastric distension occurs when eating. Distension of the upper stomach stimulates the secretion of stomach acid, while distension of the lower stomach stimulates gastrin secretion. [1] Distension of the stomach also stimulates the secretion of ghrelin. [2]
Other causes include:
To identify the cause of gastric distention, an upper endoscopy or barium upper GI imaging should be done. [7]