Ileocecal valve
Ileocecal Valve
The Ileocecal Valve (pronounced as il-ee-oh-SEE-kul) is a sphincter muscle valve that separates the small intestine and the large intestine. Its primary function is to prevent the contents of the large intestine from flowing back into the small intestine.
Etymology
The term "Ileocecal Valve" is derived from the names of the two connecting structures it separates: the ileum (the last part of the small intestine) and the cecum (the first part of the large intestine).
Function
The Ileocecal Valve plays a crucial role in digestive health. It allows the digested food material to pass from the small intestine into the large intestine, while also preventing waste material in the large intestine from flowing back into the small intestine. This ensures that the digestive process is unidirectional and efficient.
Related Terms
- Ileum: The third and longest portion of the small intestine, where most of the absorption of nutrients occurs.
- Cecum: The first part of the large intestine into which the ileum opens.
- Sphincter: A ring-like muscle that normally maintains constriction of a body passage or orifice and that relaxes as required by normal physiological functioning.
- Digestive System: The system by which ingested food is acted upon by physical and chemical means to provide the body with absorbable nutrients and to excrete waste products.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Ileocecal valve
- Wikipedia's article - Ileocecal valve
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