The Histology of the Small

Intestine
By Martha Orendu Oche Attah
Objectives
• At the end of the lecture, students should be able to
• Identify the histological layers of the small intestine
• Know the cells found in the intestinal mucosa
• Differentiate between the histological features of the duodenum,
jejenum and ileum
 The Small Intestine
• The small intestine is a tube about
five meters long. It is divided into
three parts. These are:
• the duodenum (about 25 cm long);
• the jejunum (about 2 meters long);
• and the ileum (about 3 meters long)
Can you identify the structures labelled A-D?
Histological Layers of the Small Intestine
• The layers of the small
intestine are as follows:
• Mucous
• Submucous
• Muscular and
• Serous
 Mucous Layer
• The surface area of the mucous
membrane of the small intestine is
extensive (to allow adequate
absorption of food).

• The mucous layer is composed of:

• Mucosa
• Lamina propria and
• Muscularis mucosa
 Mucous Layer
• The mucous layer has the
following features:
• Numerous circular folds (Plica
circulares)
• Numerous finger-like processes
(villi)
• Numerous depressions or crypts
• Microvilli on the luminal surfaces
of the mucosa
 The Mucous Layer: Plica circulares
• Circular folds are also found in
the mucous area called the
valves of Kerkring/Plicae
circulares.
• These increase surface area of
the mucous membrane and
slow down the passage of
contents through the small
intestine, facilitating
absorption.
Mucous Layer: Villi
• The villi are typically finger-like
projections consisting of a core of
reticular tissue covered by a
surface epithelium
• Each villus contains a central
lymphatic vessel called lacteal
and blood vessels.
• More numerous in the
duodenum
• Progressively reduces in size and
number along the intestine
What is the importance of intestinal villi?
Mucosal Layer: Intestinal Crypts

• These are also known as

Crypts of Lieberkuhn
• They are tubular
invaginations of the
epithelium into the lamina
propria.
• They are simple tubular
intestinal glands that are
lined by epithelial cells
Epithelial Lining of the Small Intestine
• The epithelium lines the surface of
the small intestine including the villi,
and areas of the mucosal surface
intervening between them
• Several cells are found here
including:
• Absorptive Enterocytes
• Goblet cells
• Paneth/Zymogen cells
• Endocrine cells
• Dendritic cells
• M cells
Absorptive Columnar Cells/Enterocytes
• These are simple columnar
cells
• The apical surface is also
known as a striated border
because of the prescence of
microvilli
• The main function of these
cells is absorption
Goblet Cells
• Goblet cells are mucous
secreting cells.
• Each goblet cell has an
expanded upper part which is
distended with mucin
granules
• The nucleus is flattened and is
situated near the base of the
cell
• Mucous cells increase in
number down the intestine
Zymogen/Paneth Cells
• These cells are found
only in the deeper parts
of intestinal crypts.
• The function of zymogen
cells is not well known.
• They may produce
lysozyme that destroys
bacteria and may also
produce other enzymes.
Endocrine Cells
• They are also called
enterochromaffin/argentaffin
cells.
• They contain membrane bound
vesicles filled with neuroactive
substances are present in the
epithelial lining of the small
intestine.
• They are most numerous near
the lower ends of crypts.
Undifferentiated/Stem Cells
• These are columnar cells present in
the walls of intestinal crypts.
• They are similar to absorptive cells,
but their microvilli and terminal webs
are not so well developed.
• These cells proliferate actively by
mitosis and newly formed cells
migrate upwards from the crypt to
reach the walls of villi where they
differentiate either into absorptive
cells, or goblet cells.
 Dendritic Cell
• Dendritic cells mediate tolerance
to food antigens, limit reactivity
to the gut microbiota and are
required for optimal response to
intestinal pathogens.
• These sentinel cells able to
prime and polarize the
T cell responses.
M Cells
• The epithelium overlying lymphatic
follicles contains special follicle-
associated epithelial cells or M-cells
• M-cells play an important role
in transport of antigen from the lumen
of the small intestine to mucosal
lymphoid tissues, where processing and
initiation of immune responses occur.
• M-cells act as gateways to the mucosal
immune system and this function has
been exploited by many invading
pathogens.
Lamina Propria
• The entire length of the small
intestine contains loose
connective tissue of containing
extensive blood and lymph
microvasculature, nerve fibers,
smooth muscle cells, and diffuse
lymphoid tissue.
• The lamina propria penetrates the
core of each intestinal villus,
bringing with it microvasculature,
lymphatics, and nerves
Muscularis Mucosa
• These are smooth muscle fibers
that produces rhythmic
movements of the villi that
increase the absorption efficiency.
• Fibers of the muscularis mucosae
also produce local movements of
plicae circulares that help propel
lymph from the lacteals into
submucosal and mesenteric
lymphatics.
Submucosal Layer
• The submucosa has larger blood and lymph
vessels and the submucosal (Meissner) nerve
plexus.
• Clusters of of branched tubular mucous
glands known as duodenal (or Brunner)
glands open into the intestinal crypts in the
proximal duodenum
• In the ileum both the lamina propria and
submucosa contain well-developed mucosa-
associated lymphoid tissue (MALT), consisting
of the large lymphoid nodule aggregates
known as Peyer patches underlying the
epithelial M cells
Lymphoid Aggregations in the Small
Intestine
• Solitary and aggregated
lymphatic follicles (Peyer’s
patches) are present in the
lamina propria of the small
intestine
• They are most prominent in
the terminal ileum
Muscular Layer
• The muscularis is well developed in
the small intestine, composed of an
internal circular layer, an external
longitudinal layer, and between
them the neurons of the myenteric
(Auerbach) nerve plexus.
• Neurons of both the submucosal
and myenteric plexuses are largely
autonomic and collectively make up
the large enteric nervous system.
What is the importance of the Muscular
Layer?
Peristalsis
Serous Layer
• The small intestine is
covered by a thin serosa
with mesothelium
continuous with that of
mesenteries
Are you now able to identify the layers of the
small intestine?
References
• Mescher AL. Mescher A.L.(Ed.), Ed. Anthony L. Mescher.
eds. Junqueira's Basic Histology: Text and Atlas, 17 th Edition.
McGraw Hill; 2024.
• Singh IB Histology (9th).pdf. Inderbir Singh's Textbook Of
Human Histology With Colour Atlas And Practical Guide,9Ed. Jaypee
Brothers Medical Publishers
• Ross MH, Pawlina W. Histology. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2006
• diFiore's Atlas of Histology with Functional Correlations (11th Edition)
By Victor P Eroschenko. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Thank you for Listening!