The cardiac glands of the stomach

Stomach

The stomach is a muscular, hollow, dilated part of the alimentary canal which functions as an important organ of the digestive tract in some animals, including vertebrates, echinoderms, insects , and molluscs. It is involved in the second phase of digestion, following mastication .The stomach is...

 secrete primarily mucus

Mucus

In vertebrates, mucus is a slippery secretion produced by, and covering, mucous membranes. Mucous fluid is typically produced from mucous cells found in mucous glands. Mucous cells secrete products that are rich in glycoproteins and water. Mucous fluid may also originate from mixed glands, which...

. They are few in number and occur close to the cardiac orifice where the esophagus

Esophagus

The esophagus is an organ in vertebrates which consists of a muscular tube through which food passes from the pharynx to the stomach. During swallowing, food passes from the mouth through the pharynx into the esophagus and travels via peristalsis to the stomach...

 joins the stomach.

In general, they are more shallow than those in the other parts of the stomach.

They are of two kinds:

• (1) simple tubular glands resembling those of the pyloric end of the stomach
  Stomach
  The stomach is a muscular, hollow, dilated part of the alimentary canal which functions as an important organ of the digestive tract in some animals, including vertebrates, echinoderms, insects , and molluscs. It is involved in the second phase of digestion, following mastication .The stomach is...
  
  , but with short ducts.
• (2) compound racemose glands resembling the duodenal glands.

The cardiac gland is both innervated by the parasympathetic and symapthetic nerve fibres of the autonomic nervous system.

External links

- "Esophageal-stomach junction" - "Digestive System: Alimentary Canal: esophageal/stomach junction"