GASTRIC GLANDS Meaning and
Definition
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Gastric glands are specialized glands located in the lining of the stomach that secrete various substances essential for proper digestion. These glands play a pivotal role in the production and release of gastric juices, which aid in breaking down food particles into smaller, easily assimilated components.
The gastric glands are found in the mucosa, the innermost layer of the stomach wall. They are primarily concentrated in the fundus and body regions of the stomach. Within the gastric glands, there are different types of cells that secrete distinct substances. These cells include parietal cells, chief cells, mucous cells, and G cells.
Parietal cells are responsible for producing and releasing hydrochloric acid, which aids in the breakdown of food proteins and activates the enzyme pepsinogen into its active form, pepsin. Chief cells are responsible for secreting pepsinogen, which is converted into pepsin by the action of hydrochloric acid. Pepsin is an enzyme that facilitates the breakdown of proteins into smaller peptides.
Mucous cells secrete mucus, a substance that helps protect the stomach lining from the corrosive effects of stomach acid. Additionally, G cells produce gastrin, a hormone that stimulates the release of gastric juices and increases the motility of the stomach.
Overall, the gastric glands are vital in maintaining the optimal environment for digestion within the stomach. Through the secretion of hydrochloric acid, pepsinogen, mucous, and gastrin, they contribute to the effective breakdown, absorption, and assimilation of nutrients from ingested food.
Common Misspellings for GASTRIC GLANDS
- fastric glands
- vastric glands
- bastric glands
- hastric glands
- yastric glands
- tastric glands
- gzstric glands
- gsstric glands
- gwstric glands
- gqstric glands
- gaatric glands
- gaztric glands
- gaxtric glands
- gadtric glands
- gaetric glands
- gawtric glands
- gasrric glands
- gasfric glands
- gasgric glands
- gasyric glands
Etymology of GASTRIC GLANDS
The term "gastric glands" can be broken down into two components: "gastric" and "glands".
1. Gastric: The word "gastric" originates from the Latin word "gaster" meaning "stomach". It entered English through the French word "gastrique" which also means "stomach".
2. Glands: The word "glands" comes from the Latin word "glandula", which can be traced back to "glans" meaning "acorn" or "nut". This could be due to the resemblance of certain glands to acorns.
Therefore, "gastric glands" refers specifically to the glands found in the stomach. These glands secrete gastric juice, which plays a crucial role in digestion.
Similar spelling word for GASTRIC GLANDS
