Stomach

This slide shows the structure of the stomach lining under the light microscope. Begin by identifying the folds of the stomach wall, or rugae, which are visible in a gross specimen. If you look closely, you can see the numerous glands invaginating into the lamina propria. The mucosal layer appears here with its columnar epithelial cells, narrow lamina propria, and pink-staining muscularis mucosa. The loose connective tissue of the submucosa contains some blood vessels that can be discerned upon close observation.