The jejunum is the middle section of the small intestine in most higher vertebrates, including
mammals, reptiles, and birds.
In fish, the divisions of the small intestine are not as clear and the terms middle intestine
or mid-gut may be used instead of jejunum.
The jejunum lies between the duodenum and the ileum.
The change from the duodenum to the jejunum is usually defined as the Duodenojejunal flexure
and is attached, and thus "hung up", to the ventricle by the ligament of Treitz.
In adult humans, the small intestine is usually between 5.5 and 6m long, 2.5m of which is
the jejunum.
The pH in the jejunum is usually between 7 and 9.
If the jejunum is impacted by blunt force the emesis reflex will be initiated.
The jejunum and the ileum are suspended by mesentery which gives the bowel great mobility
within the abdomen.
It also contains circular and longitudinal smooth muscle which helps to move food along
by a process known as peristalsis.
Structure
The lumenal surface of the jejunum, is covered in finger like projections of mucosa, called
villi, which increase the surface area of tissue available to absorb nutrients from
ingested foodstuffs.
The epithelial cells which line these villi have microvilli.
The transport of nutrients across epithelial cells through the jejunum and ileum includes
the passive transport of sugar fructose and the active transport of amino acids, small
peptides, vitamins, and most glucose.
The villi in the jejunum are much longer than in the duodenum or ileum.
The jejunum contains very few Brunner's glands or Peyer's patches.
However, there are a few jejunal lymph nodes suspended in its mesentery.
The jejunum has many large circular folds in its submucosa called plicae circulares
which increase the surface area for nutrient absorption.
The plicae circulares are the best developed in the jejunum.
These structures help protect the jejunum in the event that it is punched or struck
with blunt force, which can elicit a powerful emetic effect.
Differences between jejunum and ileum There is no line of demarcation between the
jejunum and the ileum.
However there are subtle histological differences: The jejunum has less fat inside its mesentery
than the ileum.
The jejunum is typically of larger diameter than the ileum.
The villi of the jejunum look like long, finger-like projections, and are a histologically identifiable
structure.
While the length of the entire intestinal tract contains lymphoid tissue, only the ileum
has abundant Peyer's patches, which are unencapsulated lymphoid nodules that contain large numbers
of lymphocytes and immune cells, like Microfold cells.
Function The lining of the jejunum is specialized for
the absorption, by enterocytes, of small nutrient particles which have been previously digested
by enzymes in the duodenum.
Once absorbed, nutrients pass from the enterocytes into the enterohepatic circulation and enter
the liver via the hepatic portal vein, where the blood is processed.
The jejunum is involved in magnesium absorption.
History Etymology
Jejunum is derived from the Latin word jējūnus, meaning "fasting."
It was so called because this part of the small intestine was frequently found to be
void of food following death, due to its intensive peristaltic activity relative to the duodenum
and ileum.
The Early Modern English adjective jejune is derived from this word.
Additional images
References
External links Gastrolab.net:The Jejunum
Peyer's patches Anatomy photo:37:11-0100 at the SUNY Downstate
Medical Center – "Abdominal Cavity: The Jejunum and the Ileum"
SUNY Anatomy Image 7856