D. THE STOMACH, BY E. KLEIN. 543 



from the lower end of the oesophagus towards the cardiac 

 orifice. 



Immediately above the cardia a muscularis mucosse is still 

 found external to the glands in the form of partly circular, 

 partly longitudinal or decussating fasciculi of smooth muscular 

 fibres, which, in proportion to the approximation of the glands 

 to the surface, bend inwards in order that, since they always 

 remain attached to the outer border of the glands, they may 

 form a continuous muscularis mucosse investing the fundus of 

 the gland tubes at the cardia itself. 



Where the acinous glands begin to undergo their modification, 

 the submucous tissue of the oesophagus increases considerably 

 in thickness, but again diminishes as soon as the tubular glands 

 make their appearance in the mucous membrane. The ex- 

 ternal musculature augments in thickness towards the cardia, 

 and is so arranged that, as in the dog, the layer of circular 

 fibres at the upper part of the stomach to a certain extent con- 

 stitutes a sphincter. 



At the cardia numerous fasciculi from the external portion of 

 the circular layer extend obliquely to the inner portion of the 

 longitudinal layer, with which they become continuous after 

 they have decussated with the fasciculi derived from the inner 

 portion of the longitudinal layer, which are directed obliquely 

 downwards into the external portion of the circular layer. 



D, STOMACH. 



The mucous membrane of the stomach is in general easily 

 moveable over the muscular layer, being connected with it by a 

 very loose submucous tissue, and when the stomach is empty, 

 or during the contraction of its muscles, it forms numerous 

 transverse longitudinal folds of various size, meeting one 

 another at oblique angles, and presenting a plexiform ap- 

 pearance. This is particularly well marked in the cardiac 

 extremity and greater portion of the left side of the stomach ; 

 whilst in the region adjoining the pylorus, as is very distinctly 

 visible in the rabbit, where the mucous membrane is more 

 intimately connected with the muscular layers, the folds of the 

 former are either altogether absent, or only sparingly present. 



