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“ileum”
ileum
The lowest part of the small intestine, located beyond the duodenum and jejunum, just before the large intestine (the colon). Pronounced: "ILL-ee-uhm" in the U.S. and "EYE-lee-uhm" in the U.K.
The word ileum is derived from the Greek eileos, "twisted". This is appropriate because, when the small intestine is viewed during surgery or at an autopsy (or exposed by a wound), it looks twisted.
It is also applicable because, when the small intestine is obstructed, the ileum is more often the site of the twist which is causing the obstruction.
This ileum should not be confused with the ilium which refers to the "upper part of the pelvis" that forms the receptacle for the head of the femur at the hip joint.
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ile-, ileo-
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ileum, ilium
ileum (IL ee uhm) (noun)
Division of the small intestine: Ileitis is an inflammation of the ileum.
ilium (IL ee uhm) (noun)
One of the bones composing the pelvis: A fracture of the ilium can be very slow to heal.
When Bradley fell, he fractured his ilium. That was painful but his discomfort was compounded by the simultaneous inflammation of his ileum.
This entry is located in the following unit:
Confusing Words Clarified: Group I; Homonyms, Homophones, Homographs, Synonyms, Polysemes, etc. +
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(Latin: blind, blind gut [first part of the large intestine, forming a dilated pouch into which open the ileum, the colon, and the appendix vermiformis]; any blind pouch)
(Latin: the fasting [intestine], the portion of the small intestine between the duodenum and the ileum [so named because early anatomists typically found this organ to be empty in dissection]; original meaning, "hungry, not partaking of food")