In ileum, the walls of the small intestine begin to thin and narrow, and blood supply is reduced. Food spends the most time in the ileum, where the most water and nutrients are absorbed.
The ileum helps to further digest food coming from the stomach and other parts of the small intestine. It absorbs nutrients (bile acid, vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, fats, proteins) and water from food so they can be used by the body. Finger-shaped structures called villi line the entire small intestine. They help absorb nutrients.
The main difference between jejunum and ileum is that jejunum absorbs fully-digested carbohydrates and proteins whereas ileum absorbs the non-absorbed particles from the jejunum.
In case of protein, it starts to break down in the stomach. Absorption of protein starts in duodenum which breakdowns protein into smaller forms called amino acids and these amino acids are finally absorbed by ileum and then they are used by different parts of the body via blood.
In the ileum, segmentation slows down and peristalsis takes over, moving food waste gradually toward the large intestine.
What are the functions of ileum?
