GENERAL HISTOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Gastric enzymes that can digest protein can also digest the stomach itself. The stomach is protected from self-digestion by the mucosal barrier. This barrier has several components. First, the stomach wall is covered by a thick coating of bicarbonate-rich mucus.

Detailed explanation-2: -The mucus covers the stomach wall with a protective coating. Together with the bicarbonate, this ensures that the stomach wall itself is not damaged by the hydrochloric acid.

Detailed explanation-3: -The inner surface of the stomach is lined by a mucous membrane known as the gastric mucosa. The mucosa is always covered by a layer of thick mucus that is secreted by tall columnar epithelial cells.

Detailed explanation-4: -The intestinal mucus is an efficient system for protecting the epithelium from bacteria by promoting their clearance and separating them from the epithelial cells, thereby inhibiting inflammation and infection.

Detailed explanation-5: -Mucus is essential to protect the gastric lining from the digestive juice and mucus-secreting cells are found throughout the gastrointestinal tract.