Crypts of large intestine
Cryptae intestini crassi
- Latin synonym: Cryptae intestinales intestini crassi; Glandulae intestinales intestini crassi
- Synonym: Intestinal crypts of large intestine; Intestinal glands of large intestine
- Latin eponym: Cryptae Lieberkühni
- Eponym: Crypts of Lieberkühn
Definition
The crypts of large intestine ( (crypt of Lieberkühn; colonic crypts) are shaped like microscopic thick walled test tubes with a central hole down the length of the tube. There are about 100 crypts per square millimeter of the colonic epithelium
Note that in the mucosa of the colon there's no plicae or villi and the crypts of Lieberkühn are straight and unbranched and lined largely with goblet cells. At the base of the crypts, undifferentiated cells and endocrine cells are present; however, Paneth cells are not usually present.
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