The stomach contains a specialized type of muscle tissue known as smooth muscle. This type of muscle is non-striated and involuntary, meaning it operates automatically without conscious control. Smooth muscle in the stomach is responsible for the rhythmic contractions that help mix and propel food through the digestive tract.
The stomach has three layers of smooth muscle: an outer longitudinal layer, a middle circular layer, and an inner oblique layer. These layers work together to churn the food and mix it with gastric juices, aiding in digestion. Unlike skeletal muscle, which we can control at will, smooth muscle functions autonomously, allowing for continuous digestive processes even when we are not actively thinking about them.