Page 559 - Atlas of Histology with Functional Correlations

FIGURE 14.7 ■ Esophageal–stomach junction. Stain: hematoxylin and eosin.
Low magnification.

FIGURE 14.8 | Esophageal–Stomach Junction

(Transverse Section)

This low-magnification photomicrograph illustrates the esophagus–stomach
junction that is characterized by an abrupt transition from the thick stratified
squamous epithelium (1) of the esophagus to the simple columnar epithelium
(4) of the stomach. Inferior to the epithelium (1) is the lamina propria (2),

below which is the smooth muscle muscularis mucosae (3). The lamina propria
(2) indents the undersurface of the esophageal epithelium to form the connective
tissue papillae. The surface of the stomach exhibits numerous gastric pits (5),
which open from below the gastric glands (6). The lamina propria (7) of the

stomach, in contrast esophagus, is seen as thin strips of connective tissue
between the tightly packed gastric glands (6).

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