Duodenum (10x objective lens)

This composite image of the duodenum seen in cross section shows the full thickness of the wall. The innermost layer is the mucosa (Mu). The surface is covered by a simple columnar epithelium supported by a lamina propria (LP) of loose connective tissue. The finger-like villi (Vi) extend into the lumen and increase the surface area for absorption. At the bases of the villi are the openings of the intestinal glands, also called crypts of Lieberkuhn (Cr). These branched tubular glands extend all the way to the muscularis mucosae (MM). The underlying submucosa (Su) contains large numbers of tubuloalveolar Brunner's glands (BG). The muscularis externa (ME) consists of two layers of smooth muscle - the inner circumferential layer (ICL) and the outer longitudinal layer (OLL). The outer surface is covered by the serosa (Se) consisting of a thin layer of loose connective tissue covered by a simple squamous epithelium of mesothelial cells (Me).
Stain = H&E

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villi crypts muscularis mucosae submucosa muscularis externa serosa

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Copyright by: Paul B. Bell, Jr. & Barbara Safiejko-Mroczka

The University of Oklahoma

Version: 001206