Functional anatomy of the tela submucosa of the valva ileocecalis in the adult man.

The collagen and elastic fibres of the tela submucosa and their relationships with the tunica muscularis in the human ileocecal valve were studied in 61 anatomic specimens of adult individuals, using meso- and microscopical technics. 2 fibrous components were described: one intrafascicular, which arises from the muscular bundles, and another, interfascicular, which coming from the connective intermuscular layer of the tunica muscularis, pass between the annular bundles toward the tela submucosa. In the tela of the terminal ileum these fibrous components form, like the muscular bundles of the annular layer, a "polar" system, which vanishes at the level of the "marginal sphincter" and in the cecocolic aspect of the ileal papilla. A system of muscular-elastic-collagen bundles is described in these 2 last portions, extending from the tunica muscularis toward the tela submucosa. 2 patterns of arrangements were observed in the tela submucosa: one lamellar, in the terminal ileum and part of the ileal papilla, and another areolar, in the apex and part of the cecocolic aspect of the papilla. A morphometric study was performed in order to estimate the distribution of fat cells in the tela submucosa of the ileocecal valve. It revealed a gradual increase of fat cells amount toward the apex and cecocolic aspect of the papilla ilealis. Some morphofunctional considerations are made, concerning the ileocecocolic junction control.