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.<ref name="EGUC">The Equine Gastric Ulcer Council (1999) Tutorial Article: Recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS).  ''Equine Vet Educ'', 11(5):262-272.</ref>  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.<ref name="Sanchez">Sanchez, L.C (2010) 'Diseases Of The Stomach' in Reed, S.M, Bayly, W.M. and Sellon, D.C (2010) '''Equine Internal Medicine''' (Third Edition), Saunders, Chapter 15.</ref>  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.<ref name="EGUC">The Equine Gastric Ulcer Council (1999) Tutorial Article: Recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS).  ''Equine Vet Educ'', 11(5):262-272.</ref>  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.<ref name="Sanchez">Sanchez, L.C (2010) 'Diseases Of The Stomach' in Reed, S.M, Bayly, W.M. and Sellon, D.C (2010) '''Equine Internal Medicine''' (Third Edition), Saunders, Chapter 15.</ref>  The predilection sites for gastric ulcers 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