ileum

ileum

ileum The section of the small intestine beyond the duodenum and the jejunum, and ending where it joins the caecum. Digestion is mostly completed before this point, but absorption into the blood of the resulting simpler substances continues here. The surface area of the lining is increased (though less than in the jejunum) by its folds and protrusions (villi). The last part of the ileum has a unique and essential function in the absorption of vitamin B12, necessary for normal blood formation.

Stuart Judge


See alimentary system.
Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

COLIN BLAKEMORE and SHELIA JENNETT. "ileum." The Oxford Companion to the Body. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

COLIN BLAKEMORE and SHELIA JENNETT. "ileum." The Oxford Companion to the Body. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O128-ileum.html

COLIN BLAKEMORE and SHELIA JENNETT. "ileum." The Oxford Companion to the Body. 2001. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O128-ileum.html

Learn more about citation styles

ileum

il·e·um / ˈilēəm/ • n. (pl. il·e·a / ˈilēə/ ) Anat. the third portion of the small intestine, between the jejunum and the cecum. DERIVATIVES: il·e·ac / -ˌak/ adj. il·e·al / -əl/ adj.

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"ileum." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"ileum." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-ileum.html

"ileum." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-ileum.html

Learn more about citation styles

ileum

ileum The portion of the mammalian small intestine that follows the jejunum and precedes the large intestine. It is a site of digestion and absorption. The internal lining of the ileum bears numerous small outgrowths (see villus), which increase its absorptive surface area.

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"ileum." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"ileum." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O6-ileum.html

"ileum." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O6-ileum.html

Learn more about citation styles

ileum

ileum (il-iŭm) n. the lowest of the three portions of the small intestine (see intestine). It runs from the jejunum to the ileocaecal valve.
ileal, ileac adj.

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"ileum." A Dictionary of Nursing. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"ileum." A Dictionary of Nursing. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O62-ileum.html

"ileum." A Dictionary of Nursing. 2008. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O62-ileum.html

Learn more about citation styles

ileum

ileum Major part of the small intestine, c.4m (13ft) long. Its inner wall is lined with finger-like villi, which increase the area for the absorption of nutrients.

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"ileum." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"ileum." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-ileum.html

"ileum." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-ileum.html

Learn more about citation styles

ileum

ileum Last portion of the small intestine, between the jejunum and the colon (large intestine); see gastro‐intestinal tract.

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

DAVID A. BENDER. "ileum." A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

DAVID A. BENDER. "ileum." A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O39-ileum.html

DAVID A. BENDER. "ileum." A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. 2005. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O39-ileum.html

Learn more about citation styles

ileum

ileum In Mammalia, the final part of the small intestine.

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

MICHAEL ALLABY. "ileum." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

MICHAEL ALLABY. "ileum." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-ileum.html

MICHAEL ALLABY. "ileum." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-ileum.html

Learn more about citation styles

ileum

ileum see intestine .

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"ileum." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"ileum." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-X-ileum.html

"ileum." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-X-ileum.html

Learn more about citation styles

Free newspaper and magazine articles

Mechanisms of the contractile effect of the alcoholic extract of Aegle...
Magazine article from: Phytomedicine: International Journal of Phytotherapy &amp; Phytopharmacology; 11/1/2004
The cut-glass Stalinist and the ILEA connection.
Newspaper article from: The Mail on Sunday (London, England); 9/22/2002
Temporal variation of chemical composition and relaxant action of the...
Magazine article from: Phytomedicine: International Journal of Phytotherapy &amp; Phytopharmacology; 6/1/2005

Facts and information from other sites

Pictures from Google Image Search

Click to see an enlarged picture
Click to see an enlarged picture
Click to see an enlarged picture

See more pictures of ileum