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The structure and function of the ileum in relation to absorption and digestion.
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| Submitted: Wed Feb 04 2004
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SUMUDU LANKATILAKE 17-FEB-03 THE STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF THE ILEUM IN RELATION TO ABSORPTION AND DIGESTION The ileum is the second part of the small intestine located after the duodenum. It has a vital function in digestion and has a suitable structure to accommodate for its functions. The ileum is 6 meters long and the main site foe the absorption of the soluble products of digestion. The ileum is efficient at this for the following reasons: * It is fairly long and presents a large absorbing suface to the digested food. * Its internal surface is greatly increased by circular folds bearing thousands of projections called villi. These villi are about 0.56mm long and may be finger like or flattened in shape. * The lining epithelium is very thin and the fluids can pass rapidly through it. The outer membrane of each epithelial cell has microvilli which increase the exposed surface of the...
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