Ileum
In
anatomy of the
digestive system, the
ileum is the final section of the
small intestine. It is about 4m long in
humans, follows the
jejunum and is separated from the
cecum by the iliocecal valve ( abbreviated as
ICV).
Its function is to absorb vitamin B12 and bile salts.
In the fetus the ileum is connected to the navel by a duct. In some humans this duct fails to close after birth and causes a condition called Meckel's diverticulum.