Ileum - Anatomy & Physiology
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BACK TO ALIMENTARY - ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY
BACK TO SMALL INTESTINE - ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY
Introduction
Structure
- The ileum is the terminal portion of the small intestine.
- The boundary between the ileum and jejunum is arbitrarily distinguished by the position of the ileocaecal fold.
- It is more muscular and firmer than the jejunum.
- It terminates at the ileocaecocolic junction.
Function
- Mainly absorptive
Vasculature
Innervation
Lymphatics
Histology
- Peyer's Patches, part of the mucosal associated lymphoid tissue (MALT), are present throughout the ileum and ileocaecal junction.
- They contain B and T lymphocytes.
- B lymphocytes exist in follicles.