STRUCTURE, EMBRYONIC DEVELOPMENT AND FUNCTIONS OF THE STOMACH

This article provides an in-depth analysis of the histological structure of the stomach, the differentiation of tissues during embryonic development, and the functional significance of the stomach wall. The stomach (ventriculus) represents the central organ of the digestive system, and its wall consists of four main layers: tunica mucosa, tunica submucosa, tunica muscularis, and tunica serosa. The article focuses particularly on the histological characteristics of the mucosal layer, the types of glands, and their cellular composition. The mucosal layer of the stomach is lined with a single-layered columnar epithelium, which contains numerous tubular glands composed of mucous cells, parietal (oxyntic) cells, chief (zymogenic) cells, and endocrine cells.