Ileum

The ileum ( German: Krumm or Hüftdarm, ile of latin, gut ') is that part of the small intestine, the jejunum ( " jejunum " ) follows, without that there is a precise boundary could be drawn, and ultimately the terminal ileum with the ileocecal valve ( Bauhinsche flap colon valve) opens into the large intestine. It thus is the third section of the small intestine.

The ileum constitutes the last 60% of the entire length of the small intestine, and is therefore up to 3 m in adults. In this section the small intestine villi disappear and wrinkles that are so typical of the jejunum, gradually. But increasingly occur accumulations of lymphoid follicles that are located in the side opposite the mesenteric bowel wall and as Peyer's patches or lymph Folliculi aggregati - are called - just as lying together follicles.

In about 1-3 % of all people can be about 40 to 100 cm in front of the entrance of the ileum into the colon a protuberance of the ileum as Meckel 's diverticulum - a remnant of the Dottergangs ( vitelline duct ) - be present.

In the ileum, among others, vitamin B12 ( cobalamin ) is absorbed by means of the so-called intrinsic factor.