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The inner part of the stomach wall is the gastric mucosa a mucous membrane that forms the lining of the stomach. the membrane consists of an outer layer of columnar epithelium, a lamina propria, and a thin layer of smooth muscle called the muscularis mucosa. Beneath the mucosa lies the submucosa, consisting of fibrous connective tissue. [17]
Gastritis is the inflammation of the lining of the stomach. [1] It may occur as a short episode or may be of a long duration. [1] There may be no symptoms but, when symptoms are present, the most common is upper abdominal pain (see dyspepsia). [1]
The gastric glands are glands in the lining of the stomach that play an essential role in the process of digestion. All of the glands have mucus-secreting foveolar cells (also known as surface mucous cells) that line the stomach and partly line the gastric pits, and mucus-secreting mucous neck cells in the necks of the gastric glands. [1]
Gastric erosion occurs when the mucous membrane lining the stomach becomes inflamed. Specifically, the term "erosion" in this context means damage that is limited to the mucosa, which consists of three distinct layers: the epithelium (in the case of a healthy stomach, this is non-ciliated simple columnar epithelium), the basement membrane, and the lamina propria.
Pepsin is a protease that can digest and damage stomach cells. To prevent these disastrous effects, mucus and bicarbonate ions (HCO 3 −) are secreted by the foveolar cells. The mucus allows the acid at pH above 4 to penetrate lining, but below pH 4 (i.e. when acid is more concentrated) the acid cannot penetrate the mucus.
Diagram of the alkaline mucous layer in the stomach with mucosal defense mechanisms. The gastric mucosa is the mucous membrane layer of the stomach, which contains the gastric pits, to which the gastric glands empty. In humans, it is about one mm thick, and its surface is smooth, soft, and velvety.
Basically, stomach aches can occur whenever there is irritation of the stomach lining, says Henry Herrera, MD, a gastroenterologist at DHR Health Gastroenterology in Edinburg, Texas.
Gastric pits are indentations in the stomach which denote entrances to 3-5 tubular gastric glands. [1] [2] They are deeper in the pylorus than they are in the other parts of the stomach. The human stomach has several million of these pits which dot the surface of the lining epithelium.