Schematic of the alkaline mucous layer in the stomach with mucosal defense mechanisms.
The gastric mucosa covers the inside of the stomach and produces the gastric juice that is important for digestion.
The gastic mucose consists of a single layered columnar epithelium whose cells are connected with each other via tight juntions. Some mucous producing cells are interspersed.
The Lamina propria is a layer of connective tissue where there are blood- and lymph-vessels and lymph nodes and glands. At the transition to the submucosa there is also a layer of smooth muscle tissue, the Lamina muscularis mucosae.
The stomach glands are tubular and differently developed in different areas of the stomach. Three types are differentiated:
The stomach glands consists of different types of cells that may fulfill exocrine or endocrine functions:
Inside the necks of the glands there are also stem cells that are responsible for regeneration of the gastric mucosa.
Illustration: Michal Komorniczak (Poland)