Crypts of small intestine
Cryptae intestini tenuis
- Latin synonym: Cryptae intestinales intestini tenuis; Glandulae intestinales intestini tenuis
- Synonym: Intestinal crypts of small intestine; Intestinal glands of small intestine
- Latin eponym: Cryptae Lieberkühni
- Eponym: Crypts of Lieberkühn
- Related terms: Intestinal glands
Definition
The intestinal glands (glandulæ intestinales [Lieberkühni]; crypts of Lieberkühn) are found in considerable numbers over every part of the mucous membrane of the small intestine.
They consist of minute tubular depressions of the mucous membrane, arranged perpendicularly to the surface, upon which they open by small circular apertures.
They may be seen with the aid of a lens, their orifices appearing as minute dots scattered between the villi.
Their walls are thin, consisting of a basement membrane lined by columnar epithelium, and covered on their exterior by capillary vessels.
References
This definition incorporates text from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy (20th U.S. edition of Gray's Anatomy of the Human Body, published in 1918 – from http://www.bartleby.com/107/).
