Encyclopedia > Ileum

  Article Content

Ileum

In biology the ileum is the final section of the small intestine. It is about 4m long in humans, follows the jejunum and is separated from the cecum by the iliocecal valve, or ICV.

Its function is to absorb vitamin B12 and bile salts.

In the fetus the ileum is connected to the navel by a duct. In some humans this duct fails to close after birth and causes a condition called Meckel's diverticulum.



All Wikipedia text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License

 
  Search Encyclopedia

Search over one million articles, find something about almost anything!
 
 
  
  Featured Article
Canadian Music Hall of Fame

... Lightfoot 1987 The Guess Who[?] 1989 The Band 1990 Maureen Forrester[?] 1991 Leonard Cohen 1992 Ian and Sylvia[?] 1993 Anne Murray 1994 Rush 1995 Buffy ...

 
 
 
This page was created in 30 ms