Cardia (histological slide)

The cardia of the stomach is a thin strip of muscle that represents the transition between the esophagus and the stomach and their mucosa. It consists of 4 basic layers, which are characteristic of the general structure of the alimentary canal.

Epithelium

 * transition of the stratified squamous epithelium of the esophagus into a single-layered cylindrical mucus-forming - gastroesophageal junction

Lamina propria mucosae

 * sparse collagenous tissue, blood vessels, lymphatic infiltration
 * glandulae cardiacae – branched tubular mucinous glands, the end parts of which can twist and have a spacious lumen
 * - their secretory elements produce mucus and lysozyme
 * - exceptions can be found that exclude HCl
 * - structurally similar to esophageal cardiac glands
 * the gastric glands open into wide and shallow pits (foveolae gastricae) that reach approximately 1/4 of the mucosa's height

Lamina muscularis mucosae

 * bundles of smooth muscle cells
 * usually an inner circular and an outer longitudinal layer

Tunica submucosa

 * sparse collagenous tissue

Tunica muscularis

 * 2 layers of muscle
 * - inner layer - circular
 * - outer layer - longitudinal

Tunica serosa

 * sparse collagenous tissue
 * on the surface of the mesothelium - a single-layered flat epithelium

Related Articles

 * Stomach (preparation)
 * Esophagus (preparation)