278 



STUDIES IN ADVANCED PHYSIOLOGY. 



coat, is the mucous coat, which consists of two portions: A 

 portion next to the sub-mucous, largely fibrous, containing 



Fig. 108. THE PLEXUS OF MEISSNER. (After Cadiat.) 



a, a, ganglia; 6, 6, network of nerves; c, a small blood-vessel; d, a nerve passing to 

 muscular layer of mucous membrane, or to the villi. 



numerous blood-vessels, lymphatics, and nerves, and an 

 outer covering of epithelium cells. 



In the gullet there is practically no modification of this 

 typical arrangement. The epithelium of the mucous mem- 

 brane differs, however, from that of the stomach and intes- 

 tines in being many-layered. However, close to the junction 

 of the oesophagus with the stomach these layers are reduced, 

 and in the stomach and intestines but a single layer remains. 



4. THE STOMACH. 



The stomach is but a local dilatation of the alimentary 

 tract, and serves as a temporary halting place for the diges- 



