ileum

IPA/ˈɪliəm/
IPA/ˈɪliəm/

ileum — noun

  • ileumsingular
  • ileumsplural

1. the final stretch of your small bowel, connecting the jejunum to the large intes

1.nounC1
Definition

the final stretch of your small bowel, connecting the jejunum to the large intestine, where your body draws out nutrients from digested food

Example

Kwame's doctor found inflammation in his ileum during the colonoscopy.

The surgeon removed a small section of Mei's ileum to treat the blockage.

passive or active surgical contexts: removed section of ileum

Common collocations
  • terminal ileum
  • inflamed ileum
  • distal ileum
  • ileum resection
  • ileum biopsy
Synonyms

Grammar Patterns

the ileum

part of the ileum

Usage Note

Often confused with 'ilium' (the upper part of the hip bone). In medical writing, 'ileum' refers only to the intestine section; spelling the two words correctly is important in clinical documentation.

Common Mistakes

The X-ray showed a fracture in the ileum.
The X-ray showed a fracture in the ilium.
'ileum' is part of the intestine; 'ilium' is the hip bone.

Word family

  • ileitis
    nounC2
  • ileal
    adjectiveC2
  • ileocecal
    adjectiveC2
  • ileostomy
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

While 'ileum', 'duodenum', and 'jejunum' are the three sequential sections of the small intestine, they differ in location and function. The duodenum (the first section) receives partly digested food from the stomach and mixes it with bile and pancreatic enzymes. The jejunum (the middle section) absorbs most carbohydrates and proteins. The ileum is the longest and final section, responsible mainly for absorbing vitamin B12, bile salts, and any remaining nutrients. The 'colon' (large intestine) comes after the ileum and absorbs water and electrolytes, forming solid waste. Unlike the colon, the ileum has a narrower diameter and thinner walls, with specialized patches of immune tissue called Peyer's patches.

duodenum ↗jejunumsmall intestinecolon ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • inflammation of the ileum
  • section of the ileum
  • wall of the ileum
  • end of the ileum

Prepositions

  • in the ileum
  • through the ileum
  • of the ileum

Etymology

GreekLatinFrenchEnglish

The term 'ileum' comes from Latin 'ileum', meaning 'groin' or 'flank', adapted from Greek 'eileos' (twisted). The name reflects the coiled, twisted appearance of this part of the intestine. It entered English medical vocabulary via French and Latin anatomical texts in the 17th century.

First known use

1682

1682, in the meaning defined above