<P> It is thin at the cardiac extremity, but thicker toward the pylorus . During the contracted state of the organ it is thrown into numerous plaits or rugae, which, for the most part, have a longitudinal direction, and are most marked toward the pyloric end of the stomach, and along the greater curvature . These folds are entirely obliterated when the organ becomes distended . </P> <P> When examined with a lens, the inner surface of the mucous membrane presents a peculiar honeycomb appearance from being covered with funnel - like depressions or foveolae of a polygonal or hexagonal form, which vary from 0.12 to 0.25 mm. in diameter . These are the ducts of the gastric glands, and at the bottom of each may be seen one or more minute orifices, the openings of the gland tubes . Gastric glands are simple or branched tubular glands that emerge on the deeper part of the gastric foveola, inside the gastric areas and outlined by the folds of the mucosa . </P> <P> There are three types of glands: cardiac glands (in the proximal part of the stomach), fundic (oxyntic) glands (the dominating type of gland), and pyloric glands . The cardiac glands mainly contain mucus - producing cells called foveolar cells . The bottom part of the oxyntic glands is dominated by zymogenic (chief) cells that produce pepsinogen (an inactive precursor of the pepsin enzyme). Parietal cells, which secrete hydrochloric acid (HCl) are scattered in the glands, with most of them in the middle part . The upper part of the glands consist of mucous neck cells; in this part the dividing cells are seen . The pyloric glands contain mucus - secreting cells . </P> <P> Several types of endocrine cells are found in throughout the gastric mucosa . The pyloric glands contain gastrin - producing cells (G cells); this hormone stimulates acid production from the parietal cells . Enterochromaffin - like cells (ECLs), found in the oxyntic glands release histamine, which also is a powerful stimulant of the acid secretion . The A cells produce glucagon, which mobilizes the hepatic glycogen, and the enterochromaffin cells produce serotonin, which stimulates the contraction of the smooth muscles . </P>

The parietal cells of the gastric mucosa secrete