GASTRIC GLAND :

 The gastric gland is the basic secretory unit of the stomach and contains a variety of component cells located in characteristic locations. The gland begins at the gastric pit, the opening to the lumen of the stomach.
The three types of gland are all located in gastric pits within the gastric mucosa–the mucous membrane of the stomach. The gastric mucosa is pitted with innumerable gastric pits which house the gastric glands.
The cardiac glands are found in the cardia of the stomach which is the part nearest to the heart, enclosing the opening where the oesophagus joins to the stomach. Only cardiac glands are found here and they primarily secrete mucus. They are fewer in number than the other gastric glands and are more shallowly positioned in the mucosa. There are two kinds - either simple tubular with short ducts or compound racemose resembling the duodenal Brunner's glands
The fundic glands (or oxyntic glands), are found in the fundus and body of the stomach. They are simple almost straight tubes, two or more of which open into a single duct.Oxyntic means acid-secreting and they secrete hydrochloric acid (HCl) and intrinsic factor.
The pyloric glands are located in the antrum of the pylorus. They secrete gastrin produced by their G cells.

TAGS :