Parietal cells

Parietal cells (or oxyntic cells) are found in the gastric glands of the stomach lining. They secrete hydrochloric acid (HCl) into the stomach lumen, creating the highly acidic environment necessary for protein digestion and killing ingested microbes. They also secrete intrinsic factor, a glycoprotein essential for vitamin B12 absorption in the ileum. They have a distinctive intracellular canaliculus system for acid secretion.