Histology Lecture 2 -- Small and Large Intestines Flashcards
Give the proportions of the small intestine proper occupied by the jejunum and the ileum
Jejunum = proximal 2/5ths
Ileum = distal 3/5ths
Length of duodenum
20 - 25 cm long
3 divisions of the duodenum and their characteristic features
- First third = continuous with pylorus (duodenal cap/bulb)
- Middle third = contains opening of bile and pancreatic ducts
- Last third = continuous with jejunum
Describe the outermost layer of the duodenum
Retroperitoneal, so outer layer is both serosa (front) and adventitia (back)
Where does the duodenum connect to the jejunum?
Ligament of Treitz
Function of ligament of Treitz
Anchor the duodenal-jejunal flexure to the posterior abdominal wall
Describe the folds of the intestinal wall
Permanent semicircular folds that are at right angles to the long axis of the gut (plicae circularis, valves of Kerckring, or valvulae conniventes).
Most pronounced in jejunum, less in ileum.
Histological characteristics of the valves of Kerckring
Core of submucosa with a mucosal lining
How do the plicae circularis react when the gut is distended
They fold against the intestinal lumen (rather than stretch out like the esophagus and the stomach)
Two types of structural modifications from the “surface” in the small intestine
- Villi
- Crypts of Lieberkühn
Describe the length of the villi in the different portions of the small intestine
Longest in jejunum –> progressivley shorter toward ileum
Location of lamina propria in the small intestine mucosa
- Core of the villus
- Narrow spaces between the crypts
Where do the crypts in the small intestine end?
Just above the muscularis mucosa
Five cell types present in the small intestine villi and crypt
- Striated border cell (enterocyte or absorptive cell)
- Oligomucous cell (precursor to the goblet cell)
- Enteroendocrine cell
- Paneth cell
- Crypt base columnar (stem) cell
Where can ALL cell types of the small intestine mucosa be found? Why?
Crypts because stem cells resides there and they give rise to all of the other cell types
Which cell types of the small intestine mucosa are restricted to the crypt base?
- Paneth cells
- Stem cells
3 small intestine mucosa cell types that occur in the epithelium of the villus
- Striated border cell
- Goblet cell
- Entereoendocrine cell
Describe how the cells of the small intestine mucosa migrate
Cells of the crypt migrate to the villus and continue to migrate continuously to the villus tip (extrusion zone). Cells become compressed and undergo cell death, break their junctional complexes and become detached from the basement membrane and are lost into the lumen
2 major and 2 minor cell types lining the surface of both small and large bowels
Major:
- Enterocytes
- Goblet cells
Minor
- Endocrine cells
- Intraepithelial migrating T lymphocytes (mostly T-suppressor cells)
Describe the distribution of goblet cells in the bowels
Progressively becomes more frequent distally
Describe the distribution of Paneth cells in the bowels
Become less frequent distally and can be found up until the hepatic flexure of the large bowel.
Appear in the distal bowel ONLY in conditions of chronic injury
2 components of the small intestine lamina propria
- Lacteals = blind-ended lymphatic vessels
- Migratory cell population involved in immune function and inflammation (major)
Purpose of lacteals in the small intestine lamina propria
Fat absorption
4 components of the migratory cell population in the lamina propria of the small intestine
- Lymphocytes (mostly T-helper cells and plasma cells making mostly IgA)
- Macrophages (mostly apical, for phagocytosis and APC)
- Eosinophils
- Mast cells
Describe the muscularis mucosa of the small intestine
Well developed with an inner circular and outer longitudinal layer of smooth muscle (relatively thin)
Describe the tunica muscularis of the small intestine
Two muscle layers (inner circular and outer longitudinal) that form a rather thick coat
Define Brunner’s glands
Tubuloalveolar mucous glands that resemble and are a continuation of the pyloric glands in the stomach, found predominantly in the submucosa with some extension into the mucosa of the duodenum
Where do Brunner’s glands empty into?
The bottom of duodenal crypts