Gastric mucosa, light micrograph. The epithelial lining of the stomach (part of the gastric mucosa), contains a variety of cell types. At top are surface mucous cells (blue) lining the gastric pits, which extend deep into the mucosa as gastric glands. Many acid-secreting parietal cells are found in the glands with their cytoplasm stained bright pink due to their eosinophilia. Towards the base of the glands enzyme-secreting chief cells are stained purple. Most of the hydrochloric acid is produced in the body, or corpus, of the stomach. Paraffin section, haematoxylin-eosin/alcian blue stain. Magnification: x 210 when width printed at 10cm.