The glands known as gastric glands are located in the stomach lining. They are crucial for digestion because they secrete gastric juice. These glands are primarily exocrine glands, meaning they secrete substances into ducts.
Types of Cells within Gastric Glands:
Gastric glands contain several types of cells that contribute to the composition of gastric juice:
- Mucous neck cells: These cells produce mucus, which protects the stomach lining from the corrosive effects of stomach acid.
- Chief cells: These cells secrete pepsinogen, a precursor to the digestive enzyme pepsin. Pepsin breaks down proteins.
- Parietal cells: These cells produce hydrochloric acid (HCl), which creates the highly acidic environment necessary for pepsin activation and bacterial killing.
Each gastric pit, a small depression in the stomach lining, houses 3-5 gastric glands. The arrangement of these pits and glands maximizes the surface area for secretion. The glands themselves are branched tubules within the gastric mucosa.
The secretion of gastric glands, collectively known as gastric juice, plays a vital role in digestion. It contains a mix of HCl, pepsinogen, mucus, and other components.
The presence of gastric glands is essential for the stomach's function in breaking down food. Disruptions to these glands can lead to digestive issues. For example, conditions such as Helicobacter pylori infection can cause inflammation and damage to the gastric glands.
