Stomach, gastric pit
The mucosal surface of the stomach is lined by a simple columnar epithelium consisting uniformly of surface mucous cells. Secretions of the surface mucous cells protect the stomach from self-digestion. Each cell contains an apical mass of mucus which, unlike the mucus in other mucous cells, is acidophilic.
The mucosal surface is invaginated into numerous gastric pits, each of which opens freely onto the mucosal surface. Several gastric glands (not visible here) open inconspicuously into the deep end of each pit.
The clustering of nuclei at the bottom center of the image represents surface mucous cells cut obliquely by the plane of section.
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SIUC / School
of Medicine / Anatomy / David
Last updated: 7 February 2002 / dgk