Observations on the Ileocecal Orifice in a Living Subject

• Published in: Nippon Daicho Komonbyo Gakkai Zasshi Vol. 25; no. 4; pp. 246 - 250,323
• Main Authors: Horiuchi, H., Uekusa, M., Tomita, T., Endo, I, Yamada, K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: The Japan Society of Coloproctology 1972
• ISSN: 0047-1801; 1882-9619; 1882-9619
• DOI: 10.3862/jcoloproctology.25.246

We had an opportunity of observing and cine-photographing the ileocecal orifice and the evacuation of the ileal content into the cecum in a living subject, aged 33 male patient with Behcet's disease, who had had exteriorization for perforations of the cecum and ascending colon. A dome-like papilla with a closed dimple puckered ileal orifice at the summit, was visualized projecting from the cecal wall. Valvulae or valve-like lips were not present. The balloon method of investigation failed to confirm as to the presence of a definite sphinteric mechanism. However, an area of increased contractility suggested to act a sphincteric function to close the orifice, was palpated within the intracecal portion of the terminal ileum. A close correlation between the eating and the evacuation of the ileal content through the orifice, was observed. The -opening of the orifice was seen only when the ileal content was driven forward by tonic contractions which began about 10 cm. proximal to the orifice. The prevention of regurgitation of colonic material into the ileum seems to be due to the contra-ction of the orifice as a part of the cecal wall when it distends or contracts.