Changes

====Anatomy====

====Anatomy====

[[File:Margo Plicatus.jpg|400px|thumb|right|]]

[[File:Margo Plicatus.jpg|400px|thumb|right|]]

In the horse, the '''squamous (non-glandular) mucosa''' covers the lining of the oesophagus and about one third of the gastric wall.  It provides a protective barrier comprising a tightly bound superifcial layer of cornified cells.(EGUC)  This squamous epithelium has no absorptive or secretory function.  The '''glandular''' region of the stomach contains mucus-secreting cells and gastric glands.  The '''margo plicatus''' is analagous to the gastro-oesophageal junction in man, however it lacks the lower oesophageal sphincter that helps to prevent acidic injury of the squamous mucosa(Sanchez).  Equine gastric ulcers largely occur in the squamous region of the stomach.  The predilection sites in various groups are:

In the horse, the '''squamous (non-glandular) mucosa''' covers the lining of the oesophagus and about one third of the gastric wall.  It provides a protective barrier comprising a tightly bound superifcial layer of cornified cells.(EGUC)  This squamous epithelium has no absorptive or secretory function.  The '''glandular''' region of the stomach contains mucus-secreting cells and gastric glands.  The '''''margo plicatus''''' is analagous to the gastro-oesophageal junction in man, however it lacks the lower oesophageal sphincter that helps to prevent acidic injury of the squamous mucosa(Sanchez).  Equine gastric ulcers largely occur in the squamous region of the stomach.  The predilection sites in various groups are:

*'''Neonatal foals''': glandular mucosa

*'''Neonatal foals''': glandular mucosa

*'''Healthy suckling foals younger than 50 days''': squamous mucosa adjacent to ''margo plicatus'' along the greater curvature, squamous epithelial desquamation

*'''Healthy suckling foals younger than 50 days''': squamous mucosa adjacent to ''margo plicatus'' along the greater curvature, squamous epithelial desquamation