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Jejunum: This is the midsection of the small intestine, connecting the duodenum to the ileum. It is about 2.5 m (8.2 ft) long and contains the circular folds also known as plicae circulares and villi that increase its surface area. Products of digestion (sugars, amino acids, and fatty acids) are absorbed into the bloodstream here.
The intestine is also called the bowel or the gut. The lower GI starts at the pyloric sphincter of the stomach and finishes at the anus. The small intestine is subdivided into the duodenum, the jejunum and the ileum. The cecum marks the division between the small and large intestine. The large intestine includes the rectum and anal canal. [2]
Its lining is specialized for the absorption by enterocytes of small nutrient molecules which have been previously digested by enzymes in the duodenum. The jejunum lies between the duodenum and the ileum and is considered to start at the suspensory muscle of the duodenum, a location called the duodenojejunal flexure. [4]
In the ileum there are occasionally Peyer's patches in the lamina propria. Brunner's glands are found in the duodenum but not in other parts of the small intestine. [1] In the colon, epithelium is simple columnar and without villi. Goblet cells, which secrete mucus, are also present. [1]
From this point, down to the middle of the ileum, they diminish considerably in size. In the lower part of the ileum , they almost entirely disappear; [ 4 ] hence the comparative thinness of this portion of the intestine, as compared with the duodenum and jejunum.
The small intestine supports the body's immune system. [20] The presence of gut flora appears to contribute positively to the host's immune system. Peyer's patches, located within the ileum of the small intestine, are an important part of the digestive tract's local immune system. They are part of the lymphatic system, and provide a site for ...
The ileum follows the duodenum and jejunum and is separated from the cecum by the ileocecal valve (ICV). In humans, the ileum is about 2–4 m long, and the pH is usually between 7 and 8 (neutral or slightly basic). Ileum is derived from the Greek word εἰλεός (eileós), referring to a medical condition known as ileus. [citation needed]
Duodenal glands are situated within the mucosa and submucosa of the duodenum. They are most abundant near the pylorus, growing shorter and more sparse distally towards the terminal portion of the duodenum. [1] The duodenum can be distinguished from the jejunum and ileum by the presence of Brunner's glands in the submucosa. [citation needed]