Microscopic View of the Duodenum

a. Mucosal layer made up of villi projections.	b. Submucosa containing connective tissue, glands and blood vessels folds under the mucosal layer.
c. Muscularis with circular and longitudinal muscle layers.	d. Serosa made up of viseral peritoneum and mesentery.
Note the folding of the intestinal muscoa into structures called plicae circulares which increase absorptive surface area.
Click on the green squares to see details of each layer of the duodenum wall.

AP II Lab Help | APLabs Homepage