Plate 10.190 Stomach: Fundus

Ronald A. Bergman, Ph.D., Adel K. Afifi, M.D., Paul M. Heidger, Jr., Ph.D.
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Although this figure is labeled fundus, it shows the characteristic glands found in most of the wall of the stomach. The term fundic as applied to this type of gland is a misnomer, since it is not limited to the fundus of the stomach but is found throughout most of the stomach wall except the cardiac and pyloric ends. Another term applied to these glands is gastric. The fundic or gastric glands are simple (sometimes slightly branched), long tubular glands that extend throughout the mucosa down to the muscularis mucosae. Note the secreted mucus covering the surface of the epithelium and the surface mucous cells with their characteristic basal nuclei and clear cytoplasm. Fundic or gastric glands contain chief and parietal cells, as well as mucus-secreting cells of the narrow neck region known as mucous neck cells. The former are the more abundant and have basally located nuclei and basophilic cytoplasm. They secrete pepsinogen. The parietal cells are larger and less abundant than the chief cells among which they are scattered. Their cytoplasm is eosinophilic and nuclei are centrally placed. They secrete HCl and, in humans, intrinsic or antipernicious anemia factor that binds and enhances the absorption of vitamin B₁₂ by the ileum. See Plates 5 and 191.

The lamina propria is scanty and fills in the narrow spaces between glands. The muscularis mucosae is thin and arranged in layers. Delicate muscular strands extend between glands.

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