Single optical section of the human terminal ileum collected in vivo following the intravenous administration of 10 ml fluorescein sodium (10 mg/ml; Pharmalab ). The terminal ileum is made up of thousands of finger-like projections called villi. Confocal microscopy enables imaging of the villous architecture and the different cell types comprising the surface epithelium. The mucous secreting goblet cells appear dark and round.
In real time, red blood cells can be seen moving through the underlying microvasculature of the villi.
Images courtesy of Professor Adrian Polglase, Cabrini Monash University Department of Surgery, Melbourne, Australia
