274 



THE ORGANS 



plexus of large vessels (Heller's plexus) (Fig. 176, c). Within the 

 muscular coats the main arteries give off small branches to the 

 muscle tissue. From the plexus of the submucosa two main sets of 

 vessels arise, one passing outward to supply the muscular coats, the 

 other inward to supply the mucous membrane (Fig. 176). Of the 

 former, the larger vessels pass directly to the intermuscular septum, 

 where they form a plexus from which branches are given off to the 



.■i B C 



Fig. 176. — Scheme of Blood-vessels and Lymphatics of Stomach. X70. (Szy- 

 monowicz, after Mall.) a, Mucous membrane; b, muscularis mucosae; c, submucosa; d, 

 inner circular muscle layer; e, outer longitudinal muscle layer; A, blood-vessels; B, 

 structure of coats; C, lymphatics. 



two muscular tunics. A few small branches from the larger re- 

 current vessels also supply the inner muscular layer. Of the branches 

 of the submucosa plexus which pass to the mucous membrane, the 

 shorter supply the muscularis mucosae, while the longer branches* 

 pierce the latter to form a capillary plexus among the glands of the 

 stroma. These capillaries have a comparatively small diameter and 

 are most numerous around the bodies and necks of the glands. 



* Stohr describes these small arterial branches to the stroma of the gastric mucosa 

 as terminal or end-arteries each supplying a segment of mucosa from i to 2.5 m.m. 

 in diameter. As the capillaries of one end-artery, do not anastomose with those 

 of other end-arteries, any obstruction or destruction of one of these arteries results 

 in death of the dependent area of mucosa. 



