ELI5: Why do our stomachs have a pulsating feeling when idle (lying down, sitting)?

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This is something I’ve noticed. When I was little and laying with my mother, on her stomach I always felt her stomach pulsating. I also feel it when I’m laying down and my hand is resting on it. What is it?

Comments

  1. brergnat Avatar

    It’s the Aorta. The largest artery in your body. It runs down behind the stomach.

  2. Fearless_Spring5611 Avatar

    The abdominal aorta runs down the centre of the stomach. It’s the largest of the arteries and can be quite superficial in some people.

  3. TheGreatNate3000 Avatar

    Are you feeling your own heartbeat?

  4. Lumpy_Salt Avatar

    it’s literally your pulse. that’s why it’s pulsating.

  5. calmdrive Avatar

    The stomach and intestines are also always in Peristalsis. It’s the contractions that move food through the digestive system. Sounds like it might be the aorta but figured this was worth mentioning as well.

  6. jaytrainer0 Avatar

    You are feeling your heart beat. There’s a large artery that runs down your body that you can sometimes feel or see.

  7. Revolutionary_File2 Avatar

    I’ve always struggled to sleep because of that pulsating feeling. If the back is “stiff” it’s worse. An appointment with reflexologist or a simple back rub does wonders!

  8. wasd911 Avatar

    Your aorta is huge too! In an adult female, it’s about 3cm diameter, 4cm in men. That’s a lot of blood pumping to create the pulse you’re feeling. 🙂 It pumps all the good oxygen-rich blood to the rest of your body.