Page 565 - Atlas of Histology with Functional Correlations

hematoxylin and eosin. Low magnification.

FIGURE 14.11 | Stomach: Mucosa of Fundus and

Body (Transverse Section)

The mucosa and submucosa of the fundic region are illustrated at a higher

magnification. The simple columnar surface epithelium (1, 13) extends into the
gastric pits (11) into which open the tubular gastric glands (5). The lamina
propria (6) fills the spaces between the packed gastric glands (5) and extends

from the surface epithelium (1) to the muscularis mucosae (9).

The lamina propria (6) and collagen fibers are better seen in the mucosal
ridges (2). Scattered throughout the lamina propria (6) are the fibroblast nuclei,
lymphoid lymphatic nodule (17), lymphocytes, and other loose connective
tissue cells.

The gastric glands (5) extend the length of the mucosa and in deeper regions

the gastric glands may branch. As a result, the gastric glands appear as transverse
and oblique sections. Each gastric gland consists of three regions. At the junction
of the gastric pit with the gastric gland is the isthmus (14), lined with surface

epithelial cells (1, 13) and parietal cells (4). Lower in the gland is the neck (15),
containing mainly mucous neck cells (3) and some parietal cells (4). The base or
fundus (16) is the deep portion of the gland, composed predominantly of chief
(zymogenic) cells (7) and a few parietal cells (4). The fundic glands also contain
undifferentiated cells and enteroendocrine cells (not illustrated) that secrete

different hormones to regulate the digestive system.

Three types of cells can be identified in the fundic gastric glands. The
mucous neck cells (3) are located just below the gastric pits (11) and are
interspersed between the parietal cells (4) in the neck region of the glands. The

parietal cells (4) stain uniformly acidophilic (pink), which distinguishes them
from other cells in the fundic glands. In contrast, the chief cells (zymogenic) (7)
are basophilic and are distinguishable from the acidophilic parietal cells (4).

The muscularis mucosae (9) in the stomach are composed of two thin strips
of smooth muscle: the inner circular layer (9a) and outer longitudinal layer

(9b). In this illustration, the inner circular layer (9a) is sectioned longitudinally,
and the outer layer (9b) is sectioned transversely. Extending upward from the
muscularis mucosae (9) to the surface epithelium (1, 13) are strands of smooth

muscle (8, 12).

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