Definition
noun, plural: gastric glands
Any of the glands in the stomach responsible for producing components of gastric juice
Supplement
The gastric glands are those glands found in different regions in the stomach. Based on their location, they may be classified as follows: (1) fundic glands, (2) cardiac glands, and (3) pyloric glands. All of them though are found in the stomach lining, particularly in the gastric mucosa of the stomach. The fundic glands are gastric glands located in the fundus and the body of the stomach. They secrete hydrochloric acid and intrinsic factors. The cardiac glands are gastric glands found in the cardia of the stomach. They primarily secrete mucus. The pyloric glands are the glands located in the antrum of the pylorus of the stomach. They secrete gastrin.
The gastric glands are comprised of different cell types: (1) parietal cells, (2) gastric chief cells, (3) foveolar cells, (4) G cells, and (5) enterochromaffin-like cells. The parietal cells are responsible for the secretion of hydrochloric acid, intrinsic factor, and bicarbonates. The chief cells are cells that secrete pepsinogen (a precursor to pepsin). The foveolar cells are cells that secrete mucus. The G cells are cells that secrete gastrin. The enterochromaffin-like cells are those that store and release histamine.
Synonym(s):
- peptic gland
- stomach gland
See also:
