The Ileum reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Apr-2004
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Ileum

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In anatomy of the digestive system, the ileum (not to be confused with the ilium, a pelvic bone), is the final section of the small intestine. It is about 4m long in humans, follows the jejunum and is separated from the cecum by the iliocecal valve (ICV).

Its function is to absorb vitamin B12 and bile salts.

In the fetus the ileum is connected to the navel by the vitelline duct. In roughly 3% of humans, this duct fails to close during the first seven weeks after birth, causing a condition called Meckel's diverticulum.

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Digestive system
Mouth - Pharynx - Esophagus - Stomach - Pancreas - Gallbladder - Liver - Duodenum - Jejunum - Ileum - Colon - Cecum - Rectum - Anus

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