Enterocytes, Epithelial Renewal

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  • Enterocytes are usually shed after 2-8 days.
  • To replace enterocytes. epithelial progenitor cells in the crypts of the small intestine continually divide.
    • New epithelial cells move up towards the surface (i.e. the tip of the villus).
    • As cells move up, they differentiate and lose the ability to divide.
  • When epithelial cells are lost (rather than shed), the damage is repaired.
    • Minor loss results in the lateral migration of adjacent cells.
      • Repair within minutes.
    • More major loss results in contraction of the villus, and cells migrate across intercrypt surface.


  • Epithelial renewal is in a state of dynamic equilibrium.
    • Enterocyte production in crypts = shedding from villus tip into lumen.
  • Disruption of this equilibrium by any disease can cause lesions of the mucosa and villi.
    • E.g. villus atrophy.