Lamina propria

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Lamina propria
Layers of Stomach Wall:
1. Serosa
2. Tela subserosa
3. Muscularis
4. Oblique fibers of muscle wall
5. Circular muscle layer
6. Longitudinal muscle layer
7. Submucosa
8. Lamina muscularis mucosae
9. Mucosa
10. Lamina propria
11. Epithelium
12. Gastric glands
13. Gastric pits
14. Villous folds
15. Gastric areas (gastric surface)
Section of the human esophagus. Moderately magnified. The section is transverse and from near the middle of the gullet.
a. Fibrous covering.
b. Divided fibers of longitudinal muscular coat.
c. Transverse muscular fibers.
d. Submucous or areolar layer.
e. Muscularis mucosae.
f. Mucous membrane, with vessels and part of a lymphoid nodule.
g. Stratified epithelial lining.
h. Mucous gland.
i. Gland duct.
m’. Striated muscular fibers cut across.

The lamina propria is a constituent of the moist linings known as mucous membranes or mucosa, which line various tubes in the body (such as the respiratory tract, the gastrointestinal tract, and the urogenital tract).

The lamina propria (more correctly lamina propria mucosae) is a thin layer of loose connective tissue which lies beneath the epithelium and together with the epithelium constitutes the mucosa. As its Latin name indicates it is a characteristic component of the mucosa, "the mucosa's own special layer". Thus the term mucosa or mucous membrane always refers to the combination of the epithelium plus the lamina propria.[1]

The lamina propria contains capillaries and a central lacteal (lymph vessel) in the small intestine, as well as lymphoid tissue. Lamina propria also contains glands with the ducts opening on to the mucosal epithelium, that secrete mucus and serous secretions.

[edit] References

  1. ^ H.G. Burkitt et al., eds., Wheater's Functional Histology, 3rd ed.

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