 CHAPTER 14 - GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT Histology Guide      Share

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MHS 219 Jejunum

Jejunum

This semi-thin section (~1.0 µm thick) of the jejunum has

excellent cellular definition.
Mucosa (or mucous membrane)
Villi - tall, slender finger-like projections. Old cells are
shed into the lumen (or desquamate) at the apex of the
villi.
Absorptive Cells (or Enterocytes) - simple columnar
cells with microvilli (or brush border) and terminal web.
Goblet Cells - cells with basal nuclei that secrete
mucus.
Crypts - intestinal glands at the base of villi.
Paneth Cells - strongly eosinophilic cells in crypts.
Stem Cells (mitotic figures) - all of the intestinal
epithelial cells arise from stem cells in crypts.
Lamina Propria - loose connective tissue that supports
the epithelium and forms the core of villi.
Muscularis Mucosae - supports the epithelium and villi.
Submucosa - dense irregular connective tissue.
Meissner's Plexus (or submucosal plexus) - provides
secretory innervation of goblet cells and motor innervation
of the muscularis mucosae.
300 µm
No submucosal glands (only in the duodenum).
Muscularis Externa - two orthogonal layers of smooth
5.8x 1.5 x 1.5 mm   © 2005-2023. T. Clark Brelje and Robert L. Sorenson