THE STOMACH 



153 



The peptic or cardiac gland -tubes penetrate to the muscularis 

 mucosa?. They pursue a somewhat wavy course, and at their lower 

 or blind extremity are frequently bifid. They are lined at their 

 commencement on the surface with translucent columnar epithe- 

 lium, the cells being polygonal in transverse section. As the 

 fundus or bottom of the tube is approached, the lining cells become 

 granular, larger, and somewhat polyhedral. Next the wall of the 

 tube large, granular, bulging cells are scattered irregularly. The 

 epithelium occupies the major portion of the space in the tube, so 

 that the lumen is very small. 



A single bifid tube is represented in Fig. 101. The prominent 



EIG. 101. VERTICAL SECTION OF A PEPTIC TUBULAR GLAND, PROM CARDIAC 

 MUCOSA OF STOMACH. LARGELY DIAGRAMMATIC. 



A. Central or chief cells. 



B. Border or parietal cells. 



distinguishing feature of the peptic or cardiac tubules is afforded 

 by the large border or parietal cells. The cells next the lumina are 

 called central or chief cells. 



The pyloric gland -tubes pursue a course not greatly unlike that 

 of the tubes just mentioned. They do not branch, however, until 

 they have penetrated well down toward the muscularis mucosae. 

 Their distinguishing character is afforded by the epithelial lining. 

 At the surface, the cells are columnar, with polygonal transection. 



