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ileum

American  
[il-ee-uhm] / ˈɪl i əm /

noun

ilea plural
  1. Anatomy. the third and lowest division of the small intestine, extending from the jejunum to the cecum.

  2. Zoology. the anterior portion of the hindgut of an insect or other arthropod.


ileum British  
/ ˈɪlɪəm /

noun

  1. the part of the small intestine between the jejunum and the caecum

  2. the corresponding part in insects

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

ileum Scientific  
/ ĭlē-əm /
ilea plural
  1. The lower part of the small intestine, connecting the jejunum to the cecum of the large intestine.


Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of ileum

1675–85; < New Latin, Medieval Latin īleum, variant of Latin īlia (neuter plural) side of the body between hips and groin, guts, apparently by confusion with Latin īleus ileus

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Vocabulary lists containing ileum

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In particular, the investigative team analyzed colon, ileum, stool, and blood samples from people living with chronic HIV infection and well-matched controls.

From Science Daily • Feb. 21, 2024

Notably, they observed a connection between accelerated biological aging and the microbiomes of both the colon and ileum, but not the fecal microbiome.

From Science Daily • Feb. 21, 2024

The gallbladder secretes bile to the ileum, which uses it to break down fats.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

The ileum ends and the large intestine begins at the ileocecal valve.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

They had two hearts in one pericardium, the digestive tracts did not fuse until the lowest third of the ileum was reached.

From Essays In Pastoral Medicine by ?Malley, Austin

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