THE STRUCTURE OF THE GASTRIC MUCOUS MEMBRANE. 



Ce " 8 ' 



291 





The scanty supporting structure of the gastric mucous membrane consists of 

 reticular -connective tissue with leukocytes, mixed with fibrillary connective tissue 

 and elastic fibers. The mucous membrane possesses a special muscular layer the 

 musculans nrncosae This passes as a rather thick stratum under the base of the 

 gland, often exhibiting an inner circular and an outer longitudinal layer From 



FIG. 114. Vertical Section through the Gastric Mucous Membrane: g g, the crypts of the surface; p, the mouths 

 of the peptic tubules (fundus glands) with parietal cells (x) and chief cells (y); a v c c , artery, vein and capil- 

 laries of the mucous membrane; i, capillary network for the passage of the mouth of the gland-duct; d d, 

 the lymphatic vessels of the mucous membrane, passing over, at e, into a large trunk (semidiagrammatic 

 representation). 



this stratum a number of bundles of fibers pass upward between the glands and 

 around them. They appear to be intended for active evacuation of the glandular 

 tubules. 



Numerous blood-vessels (Fig. 114) enter from the fibrillary connective tissue 

 of the submucosa (a) , spread out into a longitudinal capillary network (c c) between 

 the glands, and reach the free surface, where they again form a fine meshwork (i i) 

 just under the epithelium, and through the meshes of which the mouths of the 

 ducts (g) make their appearance. Collecting at this point the veins unite in the 

 submucosa to form trunks of considerable size (v). 



