562 



THE STOMACH. 



appearance, exhibiting numerous depressions, which are 

 termed gastric pits, or favuli. These pits are surrounded 

 by ridges, forming septa between them, which septa are 

 Fio. ns. described as consisting of condensed cel- 



lular tissue, and containing mucous folli- 

 cles, and many vessels. Each of these 

 gastric pits is studded with foramina, 

 four or five in number, which are re- 

 garded as the orifices of the ducts, lead- 

 ing from the glands, which furnish the 

 gastric juice. These gastric glands consist of coecal 

 pouches, or follicles, situated in the sub-mucous tissue; 

 and of tubes, some of which are short and straight, others 

 FIG. 179. longer and convoluted, all closely applied 

 together, and terminating, by the above 

 foramina, in the gastric pits. 



Mr. Beaumont observes that "when ali- 

 ment or any irritant is applied to the 

 surface, innumerable lucid points and fine 

 nervous or vascular papillae can be seen, 

 arising through the' mucous coat, from 

 which distils a pure, limpid, colorless, 

 slightly viscid fluid. This is invariably 

 acid. The mucus of the stomach is less 

 fluid, more viscid, semi-opaque, a little 

 saltish, and has no acidity. The gastric 

 fluid is never accumulated while fasting, 

 and is seldom, if ever, discharged, except 

 under the excitement of food, or some irri- 

 tant. It is secreted only in proportion 

 to the quantity of food supplied, provided 

 there is not more of the latter than the sys- 

 tem requires; and if an excess of food be taken, the residue 

 either remains in the stomach, or passes into the bowels in 



FIG. 178 represents the Gastric Favuli on the inner coat of the stomach. 

 *Fic 179 represents the Gastric Glands or Follicles, a Glands magnified 

 three times, b Magnified twenty times. 



