Histology of the Small

Intestine

Asst. Prof. M. Oktar Guloglu

The Small Intestine
• The small intestine is the site where the digestive
processes are completed
• The nutrients (products of digestion) are absorbed
by cells of the epithelial lining.
• The small intestine is approximately 5 m long

• It consists of three segments:

• Duodenum,
• Jejunum,
• Ileum.

• These segments have most histologic features in

common
 MUCOSA
• The lining of the small intestine has a
series of permanent circular or
semilunar folds (plicae circulares),
consisting of mucosa and submucosa
• Circular folds are best developed in the
jejunum
• Short (0.5- to 1.5-mm) mucosal
outgrowths densely covers the entire
mucosa of the small intestine
• These outgrowths are called villi and
project into the lumen
 Villi
• Intestinal villi are covered by a
simple columnar epithelium of
absorptive cells called
enterocytes, with many
interspersed goblet cells
• Each villus contains
• a core of loose connective tissue
• extends from the lamina propria
• fibroblasts,
• smooth muscle fibers,
• Lymphocytes
• plasma cells,
• fenestrated capillaries,
• a central lymphatic called a
lacteal.
Enterocytes
• Absorptive cells,
• Tall columnar,
• Each has an oval nucleus located basally
• The apical end of each enterocyte displays a
prominent ordered region called the striated (or
brush) border.
• = densely packed microvilli covered by glycocalyx
through which nutrients are taken into the cells
• Microvilli, villi, and the plicae circulares all greatly increase the
mucosal surface area in contact with nutrients in the lumen,
• Plicae increase the intestinal surface area 3-fold,
• the villi increase it 10-fold, and the
• microvilli increase it another 20-fold,
• resulting in a total absorptive area of over 200 m 2 in the small
intestine
Nutrient Absorbtion
• Disaccharidases and peptidases secreted by the enterocytes
hydrolyze disaccharides and dipeptides into monosaccharides and
amino acids.
• These are easily absorbed by active transport and immediately
released again from the enterocytes for uptake by the capillaries.
• Digestion of fats by gastric and pancreatic lipases produces lipid
subunits, including glycerol, monoglycerides, and fatty acids,
• These are emulsified by bile salts into small (2 nm) micelles
• lipids enter enterocytes by passive diffusion and membrane
transporters.
• These lipids are reesterified into triglycerides in the enterocyte
smooth ER
• Then complexed with lipoproteins in the Golgi apparatus,
producing chylomicrons
• Discharged from the cell’s basolateral surface for uptake by the
lacteal
Lipid Absorption
Goblet Cells
• Interspersed among the
absorptive enterocytes
• They secrete
glycoprotein mucins
• Mucins are then
hydrated to form mucus,
• Mucus protects and
lubricates the lining of
the intestine
 Paneth Cells
• Located in the basal portion of the
intestinal crypts below the stem cells,
• Exocrine cells with large, eosinophilic
secretory granules in their apical
cytoplasm
• Paneth cell granules release:
• lysozyme,
• phospholipase A2,
• and hydrophobic peptides called defensins,
• These enzymes bind and break down
membranes of microorganisms and
bacterial cell walls.
• Paneth cells have an important role in
innate immunity
• Regulate the microenvironment of the
intestinal crypts.
• Paneth cells
• intestinal
crypts (IC)
• villi (V)
• lamina
propria (LP) to
• submucosa
(S)
 Enteroendocrine cells
• Present in varying numbers
throughout the small intestine,
• Secreting various peptide
hormones
• Many of these are of the “open”
type,
• constricted apical end of the cell
contacts the intestinal lumen and
has chemoreceptors similar to
those of taste buds,
• Samples levels of certain
nutrients such as sugars to
regulate hormone release
basally
Paneth cells (P), open-type enteroendocrine cell (EC), differentiating goblet cell (G)
 M (microfold) cells
• Specialized epithelial cells in the mucosa of the ileum
• overlies the lymphoid follicles of Peyer patches (MALT).
• They are characterized by the presence of basal membrane
invaginations or pockets containing many intraepithelial lymphocytes
and antigen-presenting cells
• M cells selectively endocytose antigens and transport them to the
underlying lymphocytes and dendritic cells,
• which then migrate to lymph nodes for an appropriate immune response.
 OTHER LAYERS OF MUCOSA
• mucosal lamina propria contains
• blood and lymph microvasculature,
• nerve fibers,
• smooth muscle cells,
• produce rhythmic movements of the villi that increase the
• absorption efficiency
• Propel lymph from the lacteals into submucosal and
mesenteric lymphatics.
• diffuse lymphoid tissue.
 SUBMUCOSA
• The submucosa has larger blood and
lymph vessels
• Diffuse, interconnected neurons of the
submucosal (Meissner) nerve plexus.
• The proximal part of the duodenum
large clusters of branched tubular
mucous glands: the duodenal (or
Brunner) glands
• Small excretory ducts opening among the
intestinal crypts
• Mucus from these glands is distinctly
alkaline (pH 8.1-9.3),
• neutralizes chyme entering the duodenum
from the pylorus,
• protects the mucous membrane,
• brings the intestinal contents to the
optimum pH for pancreatic enzyme action
 SUBMUCOSA
• In the ileum, both the lamina propria and submucosa
contain well-developed mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue
(MALT),
• Large lymphoid nodule aggregates known as Peyer patches
underlying the epithelial M cells.
MUSCULARIS
• The muscularis is well developed
in the small intestine
• Composed of an internal circular
layer, an external longitudinal layer,
• Between them the neurons of the
myenteric (Auerbach) nerve plexus
which produce peristalsis
• Neurons of both the submucosal
and myenteric plexuses are
largely autonomic and
collectively make up the large
enteric nervous system.
• The small intestine is covered by
a thin serosa
 Duedonum Jejenum Ileum

Villi: Tall Villi: Tall Villi: Short

Submucosa: Brünner Glands Submucosa: No Glands Submucosa: No Glands
Peyer’s patches: No Peyer’s patches: No Peyer’s patches: Yes