Intestinal Absorption — Aspects of Structure, Function and Disease of the Small-Intestine Mucosa

Abstract

DURING its absorption by the small intestine a substance leaves the bowel lumen, traverses the epithelial lining, passes through the connective-tissue stroma of the lamina propria and enters terminal branches of vascular or lymphatic vessels. The structures that lie between the intestinal lumen and the intramural vessels undoubtedly participate in the regulation of absorption. Since their morphologic characteristics provide insight into their functional activities, a detailed consideration of these structures is warranted.The Intestinal MucosaExcept in the lower ileum, the mucosal surface of the small intestine is thrown into a series of folds that run obliquely across the bowel . . .