THE GASTRIC MUCOSA 195 



and all later writers believe that tliey are fiuidaiueiitally the 

 same as the ' chief ' cells of the fundus. It will be shown 

 later that there can be no doubt regarding their difference 

 from the ' chief ' cells, and their resemblance to the cardiac 

 gland-cell is too close not to regard them as identical in 

 structure if not in function. 



The Glands of the Fundus. 



Histologically, the portion of the stomach between the 

 cardiac and pyloric regions just described has a uniform 

 structure. The glands of this intermediate area are generally 

 known as the glands of the fundus, though they might be more 

 appropriately termed the glands of the body of the stomach. 

 The general form and arrangement of the fundic glands have 

 already been noted. They are simple tubes with short ducts, 

 and as the glands are closely packed together there is little 

 interglandalar tissue. 



Three kinds of cell occur in the glands of this region, although 

 hitherto, with the exception of Bensley (1) and Cade (5), 

 histologists have recognized only two, namely ' central ' or 

 ' chief ' and ' parietal ' or ' superadded ' cells. 



(1) Peptic Cells.— These a,re usually known as 'chief' 

 cells ; they are quite distinct from a second type of central 

 cell which are intermingled with them, and are described later 

 as mucoid cells. Peptic cells occur throughout the lower 

 or deep half of the gland-tube, although it is comparatively 

 uncommon to find this part of the tube lined wholly by such 

 cells. They look somewhat columnar in shape in section, but 

 when isolated are polyhedral. 



The cytoplasm contains granules in the fresh state (Langley 

 and Sewall) ; these are irregular in size. On examination in 

 saline, weak acids, or alcohol, the granules tend to increase 

 in size and become less distinct. Finally they disappear, 

 apparently by passing into solution. A few granules always 

 remain unaffected. 



In fixed preparations, whether formol, Zenker, or osmic, the 

 granules are replaced by a coarse but regular reticulum (PI. 8, 



