Laboratory Activity #6: Viewing of Digestive Tissues
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CAECUM | DIGESTIVE SYSTEM TISSUE
 
🛈 Structure: The cecum is a pouch- or tube- like in structure. Its inner wall constitutes a thick mucous membrane which absorbs water and salts. Below such membrane is a deep muscle layer which induce churning and kneading motions.
 
🛈 Function: It receives undigested food material coming from the small intestine. Separated from the final part of the small intestine (ileum) by the ileocecal or Bauhin valve, the rate by which food is able to proceed into the cecum is restricted such that any food material that has entered the cecum is prevented from returning back towards the ileum. One of its main functions include absorbing fluids and salts which remain after digestion and initial absorption in the small intestines, as well as mixing such contents with mucus as lubricant.
 
🛈 Location: It is located in the lower abdominal cavity and considered as the first region of the colon (large intestine).
 
🛈 Source: Cecum. Britannica. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/science/cecum