[Structure of the cardial glands of the human esophagus]

The inferior and superior cardial glands of the esophageal wall have been studied in 156 mature persons (67 women and 89 men). The inferior cardial glands are represented as glandular brackets with predominance of secretory parts of the tubular form. In the superior cardial glands acini in the alveolar-tubular form are well developed. Glandular epithelium in terminal parts is polymorphic. In most of the acini it is cylindrical and sometimes cuboidal. The ducts of the cardial glands have a peculiar structure. Their simple cylindrical epithelium joins with multilayered esophageal epithelium. In the area of the ducts the multilayered esophageal epithelium often becomes thin and exfoliates, and this area of the mucous membrane is covered with cylindrical glandular epithelium.