MHS 272 Duodenum

Links: Click to navigate to a specific region
Images: Click to show this view
Toolbar: Use controls to adjust magnification and pan the image

Duodenum

The duodenum is composed of the four layers characteristic of the gastrointestinal tract.

(or mucous membrane)
- - tall, slender finger-like projections that extend into the lumen.
  - Absorptive Cells (or Enterocytes) - simple columnar cells with microvilli (or brush border) to expand the absorptive surface.
  - Goblet Cells - secrete mucus for lubrication.
- - intestinal glands found at the base of villi.
- - separates the intestinal crypts in the mucosa from the Brunner's glands in the submucosa.
- only in the esophagus and the duodenum does the submucosa contain glands.
- - secrete alkaline mucus.
- two orthogonal layers of smooth muscle (inner circular and outer longitudinal).
Adventitia - loose connective tissue (absent in this specimen).