Ileum

Looks like

The last and longest stretch of small intestine, ending at the valve into the large bowel.

What it does

Absorbs bile salts and vitamin B12 — the only place that can.

Keeping it well

After a long stretch is removed, B12 by injection for life; Crohn's disease attacks this segment most often.

Its parts

• Proximal part of ileum
• Middle part of ileum
• Distal part of ileum

Related conditions

• Acute mesenteric ischaemia (gut stroke)
• B12 & folate deficiency
• Bowel obstruction
• Coeliac disease
• Crohn's disease
• Food poisoning
• Gastroenteritis
• Giardiasis
• Intestinal worms & schistosomiasis
• Intussusception & pyloric stenosis
• Iron deficiency
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Lactose & food intolerance
• Malnutrition & refeeding syndrome
• Necrotising enterocolitis
• Neuroendocrine tumours (carcinoid)
• Radiation injury
• Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)
• Typhoid & cholera
• Volvulus (twisted bowel)