The ileocecal valve (ileal papilla, ileocaecal valve, Tulp's valve, Tulpius valve, Bauhin's valve, ileocecal eminence, valve of Varolius or colic valve) is a
sphincter muscle valve that separates the
small intestine and the
large intestine.
Its critical function is to limit the reflux of colonic contents into the
ileum. Approximately two liters of fluid enters the colon daily through the ileocecal valve.
Microanatomy
The
histology
Histology,
also known as microscopic anatomy or microanatomy, is the branch of biology which studies the microscopic anatomy of biological tissues. Histology is the microscopic counterpart to gross anatomy, which looks at larger structures v ...
of the ileocecal valve shows an abrupt change from a
villous mucosa pattern of the ileum to a more colonic mucosa. A thickening of the
muscularis mucosa, which is the
smooth muscle
Smooth muscle is an involuntary non- striated muscle, so-called because it has no sarcomeres and therefore no striations (''bands'' or ''stripes''). It is divided into two subgroups, single-unit and multiunit smooth muscle. Within single-unit ...
tissue found beneath the mucosal layer of the
digestive tract. A thickening of the
muscularis externa is also noted.
There is also a variable amount of
lymphatic tissue found at the valve.
The ileocecal valve has a
papillose
This glossary of botanical terms is a list of definitions of terms and concepts relevant to botany and plants in general. Terms of plant morphology are included here as well as at the more specific Glossary of plant morphology and Glossary o ...
structure.
Clinical significance
Colonoscopy
During
colonoscopy, the ileocecal valve is used, along with the
appendiceal orifice, in the identification of the
cecum. This is important as it indicates that a complete colonoscopy has been performed. The ileocecal valve is typically located on the last fold before entry into the cecum and can be located from the direction of curvature of the appendiceal orifice, in what is known as the
bow and arrow sign.
Intubation of the ileocecal valve is typically performed in colonoscopy to evaluate the distal, or lowest, part of the
ileum. Small bowel endoscopy can also be performed by
double-balloon enteroscopy through intubation of the ileocecal valve.
Lesions
Tumor
A neoplasm () is a type of abnormal and excessive growth of tissue. The process that occurs to form or produce a neoplasm is called neoplasia. The growth of a neoplasm is uncoordinated with that of the normal surrounding tissue, and persists ...
s of the ileocecal valve are rare, but have been reported in the literature. Other benign lesions may also occur on the ileocecal valve, which are often hard to diagnose and treat surgically.
History
The ileocecal valve was described by the
Dutch physician
Nicolaes Tulp (1593–1674), and thus it is sometimes known as Tulp's valve.
The ileocecal valve was also described in 1588 by
Gaspard Bauhin—hence the name Bauhin's Valve or Valve of Bauhin—in the preface of his first writing,
''De corporis humani partibus externis tractatus, hactenus non editus.''
Additional images
File:Ileum, cecum and ascending colon.JPG, Ileum, cecum and ascending colon
File:Cecum and ileum.JPG, Cecum and ileum
File:Ileo-cecal valve.JPG, Ileo-cecal valve
File:Cecum and ileum 3.JPG, Ileo-cecal valve
References
External links
Diagram at amatsu.co.uk* ()
{{Digestive tract
Digestive system