They constitute a simple columnar epithelium, as they form a single layer of cells and are taller than their width.

[3] As mucins are lost during routine histology preparation, they stain pale, but if preserved correctly the cells stain strongly with special techniques like PAS or toluidine blue, the last representing the anionic nature of foveolar cell secretions.

Below the mucin granules, surface mucous cells have a Golgi apparatus, the nucleus, and small amounts of rough endoplasmic reticulum.

Gastric chief cells produce pepsinogen, which is activated by the acid to form pepsin.

To prevent these disastrous effects, mucus and bicarbonate ions (HCO3−) are secreted by the foveolar cells.