ileum
Anatomy. the third and lowest division of the small intestine, extending from the jejunum to the cecum.
Zoology. the anterior portion of the hindgut of an insect or other arthropod.
Compare Meanings
Click for a side-by-side comparison of meanings. Use the word comparison feature to learn the differences between similar and commonly confused words.
Origin of ileum
1Other words from ileum
- il·e·al, adjective
Words that may be confused with ileum
Words Nearby ileum
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use ileum in a sentence
The solitary glands are frequently enlarged and ulcerated, like those of the ileum.
In two instances he found a layer of diphtheritic deposit over the mucous membrane of the lower part of the ileum.
This arrangement prevents the passing of substances from the colon into the ileum.
A Treatise on Anatomy, Physiology, and Hygiene (Revised Edition) | Calvin CutterThe ileum terminates near the right haunch-bone, by a valvular opening into the colon at an obtuse angle.
A Treatise on Anatomy, Physiology, and Hygiene (Revised Edition) | Calvin CutterThe term ileum is from the Greek, signifying “to twist,” since it always appears in a contorted condition.
A Treatise on Anatomy, Physiology, and Hygiene (Revised Edition) | Calvin Cutter
British Dictionary definitions for ileum
/ (ˈɪlɪəm) /
the part of the small intestine between the jejunum and the caecum
the corresponding part in insects
Origin of ileum
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Scientific definitions for ileum
[ ĭl′ē-əm ]
The lower part of the small intestine, connecting the jejunum to the cecum of the large intestine.
Other words from ileum
- ileal adjective
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Browse