Ileocecal valve

Last revised by Daniel J Bell ◉ on 1 Jan 2022

Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data

Citation:

Knipe H, Bell D, Al Kabbani A, et al. Ileocecal valve. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 03 Jun 2023) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-29889

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-29889

Permalink:

https://radiopaedia.org/articles/29889

rID:

29889

Article created:

30 Jun 2014, Henry Knipe ◉ ◈

Disclosures:

At the time the article was created Henry Knipe had no recorded disclosures.

View Henry Knipe's current disclosures

Last revised:

1 Jan 2022, Daniel J Bell ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was last revised Daniel J Bell had no recorded disclosures.

View Daniel J Bell's current disclosures

Revisions:

13 times, by 6 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures

Systems:

Gastrointestinal

Sections:

Anatomy

Synonyms:

Ileocaecal junction
Ileocecal valve
Valvula Bauhini
Sphincter coli
Ileocolonic sphincter
Ileocaecal sphincter
Ileocecal sphincter
Ileocecal junction
Ileal papilla
Bauhin’s valve
Tulpius valve
Ileocecal eminence
Ileocaecal eminence
Colic valve
Valve of Varolius
Tulp’s valve
Ostium ileale
Tulp valve
Bauhin valve
Ileocaecal valve (ICV)
Bauhin's valves
Tulp's valves
Ileocaecal valves
Ileocecal valves

The ileocecal valve (TA: ostium ileale), also known as Bauhin valve or Tulp valve, separates the terminal ileum from the cecum and functions to regulate flow between these two structures and prevent reflux from the cecum into the small intestine.

The ileocecal valve consists of two muscular layers of ileum, an upper and lower lip, that are covered by mucosa and protrude into the lumen of the caecaum supported by mucosal folds called frenula. This forms the opening of the terminal ileum into the medial cecum and delineates the upper margin of the cecum from the ascending colon.

The morphology of the ileocecal valve has be described on endoscopy as ^1,3,4:

labial-type: slit-like opening (most common)
papillary-type: dome-shaped
lipomatous: significant amount of fat demonstrated in the lips

Variant anatomy

lateral (~7.5%) or posterior opening (~5%) of the terminal ileum ^2,4

Radiographic appearance

Fluoroscopy

ileocecal valve is identified on barium enema as an oval or triangular-shaped filling defect with smooth or lobulated surfaces ⁴

CT

ileocecal valve is best viewed on supine imaging
mixed density structure at the junction of the ileum and cecum with an average density of -25 HU (range -60 HU to +18 HU) ⁴

History and etymology

Costanzo Varolius (1543-1575) was an Italian and papal anatomist who is famously remembered for his contributions to neuroanatomy, including being the first to describe the pons; hence its historical monicker, pons Varolli ^6,7.

Caspar Bauhin (1560-1624) was a Swiss anatomist, although best remembered for his botanical works. Both his father and brother, John, were also physicians ⁵. Bauhin glands, a synonym of the anterior lingual salivary glands were also named for him ⁶.

Nicolas Tulp (1593-1674), a.k.a. Nicolas Tulpius, was a Dutch physician ⁶.