Intestinal metaplasia of the stomach. Endoscopic view of metaplasia in the gastric body - the middle portion of stomach. Metaplasia is a change of cell type in a region. Here, the normal epithelial cells lining the stomach have been replaced by cells similar to those found lining the intestines. Metaplasia occurs to prevent damage to the underlying tissues. If the area is exposed to an unusual environment the cells of the lining change into another type more suited to the new environment. If the stimulus causing the metaplasia is removed, the lining returns to its original form.