{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,13]],"date-time":"2025-12-13T07:20:11Z","timestamp":1765610411721,"version":"3.48.0"},"reference-count":21,"publisher":"BMJ","issue":"4","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Gut"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[1995,10]]},"abstract":"<jats:p>Sphincteric anatomy and function are present at the caecocolonic junction in several mammals. In humans, radiologists and endoscopists have respectively reported a circumferential contraction and a prominent ileocaecal fold at the border area between the caecum and the ascending colon. Anatomical findings on necropsy material failed to confirm its presence. Microscopic studies on surgical specimens showed the existence of muscular and innervational patterns different from those of adjacent areas. The aim of this work was to confirm the existence of a specialised fold at the caecocolonic junction in humans and to ascertain its role by carrying out a study of functional anatomy. Pancolonoscopies were performed on 100 patients and ileocaecal fold behaviour was observed before and after mechanical stimulation. Isolated ileocaecocolonic regions, surgically obtained, were filled with a fixative solution to study their macro and microscopic morphology after stimulation. Endoscopically, the ileocaecal fold was semilunar or circular in shape and spontaneous or evoked spasms occurred in 52 patients. A prominent circular fold could be seen in surgical specimens after stimulation. The entire muscle coat deeply penetrated this fold, showing the features characteristic of the ileocaecal junction. In particular, the inner portion of the circular muscle showed a peculiar arrangement and was thicker than elsewhere. These results show that in humans the caecocolonic junction is provided with a sphincter morphology and function. Little is known about its physiological relevance in ileal flow accommodation and caecal filling and emptying but it should not be underestimated with regard to some colonic motility disorders.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1136\/gut.37.4.493","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2007,9,18]],"date-time":"2007-09-18T17:41:31Z","timestamp":1190137291000},"page":"493-498","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":18,"title":["The caecocolonic junction in humans has a sphincteric anatomy and function."],"prefix":"10.1136","volume":"37","author":[{"given":"M S","family":"Faussone Pellegrini","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"L I","family":"Manneschi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"L","family":"Manneschi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"239","published-online":{"date-parts":[[1995,10,1]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","article-title":"Study on the sphincteric nature of the ilcocecal junction: a morphological and pharmacological approach (thesis)","author":"Pelckmans, P.A.","year":"1988","unstructured":"Pelckmans PA. Study on the sphincteric nature of the ilcocecal junction: a morphological and pharmacological approach (thesis). Antwerp: University of Antwerp, 1988."},{"key":"ref_2","first-page":"821","article-title":"Comnpendio di radiologia npiedica","author":"Grilli, A.","year":"1968","unstructured":"Grilli A. Comnpendio di radiologia npiedica. Rome: SEU, 1968: 821-30."},{"key":"ref_3","first-page":"139","article-title":"Anatomo-physiologie radiologique du gros intestin normal","volume":"39","author":"Hickel, L.; Bernard, J.M.","year":"1963","unstructured":"Hickel L, Bernard JM. Anatomo-physiologie radiologique du gros intestin normal. Sempiaimclis Hipitalidres 1963; 39: 139-50.","journal-title":"Sempiaimclis Hipitalidres"},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"462","DOI":"10.1007\/BF02233670","article-title":"The relationships between anatomy and motor activity of the colon","volume":"13","author":"Torsoli, A.; Ramorino, M.L.; Crucioli, V.","year":"1968","unstructured":"Torsoli A, Ramorino ML, Crucioli V. The relationships between anatomy and motor activity of the colon. Am]i7 Dig Dis 1968; 13: 462-7.","journal-title":"Am]i7 Dig Dis"},{"key":"ref_5","first-page":"209","article-title":"Practical gastr-ointestinlal endoscop_","author":"Cotton, P.B.; Williams, C.B.","year":"1990","unstructured":"Cotton PB, Williams CB. Practical gastr-ointestinlal endoscop_. Oxford: Blackwell, 1990: 209-11."},{"key":"ref_6","first-page":"181","article-title":"A colour atlas of gastroinltestinal enidoscopy","author":"Schiller, K.F.R.; Cockel, R.; Hunt, R.H.","year":"1986","unstructured":"Schiller KFR, Cockel R, Hunt RH. A colour atlas of gastroinltestinal enidoscopy. London: Chapman, 1986: 181-2."},{"key":"ref_7","first-page":"861","article-title":"Gastroeniterologic enidoscopv!","author":"Sivak, M.V.","year":"1987","unstructured":"Sivak MV. Gastroeniterologic enidoscopv!. Philadelphia: Saunders, 1987: 861-5."},{"key":"ref_8","article-title":"The 'sphincters' of the digestivC system","author":"LJA, Di Dio; MC, Anderson","year":"1968","unstructured":"Di Dio LJA, Anderson MC. The 'sphincters' of the digestivC system. Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins, 1968."},{"key":"ref_9","article-title":"The ileo cecal valve","author":"Rutherford, A.H.","year":"1914","unstructured":"Rutherford AH. The ileo cecal valve. London: HK L-ewis, 1914."},{"key":"ref_10","first-page":"361","article-title":"The structure and the development of the ileocolic valve and its frenula","volume":"44","author":"Fit, I.","year":"1956","unstructured":"Fit I. The structure and the development of the ileocolic valve and its frenula. Indiai _7 Med Res 1956; 44: 361-73.","journal-title":"Indiai _7 Med Res"},{"key":"ref_11","first-page":"47","article-title":"The ileocecal (ileocolonic) sphincter","volume-title":"Z Gastroenterol","volume":"21","author":"Quiglei, F.M.; Phillips, S.F.","year":"1983","unstructured":"Quiglei FM, Phillips SF. The ileocecal (ileocolonic) sphincter. Z Gastroenterol 1983; 21: 47-55."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"263","DOI":"10.1016\/S0940-9602(11)80492-9","article-title":"Endoscopic study of the ileal papilla in a normal case and in patients under pathological conditions","volume":"176","author":"Di Dio LJA, Geocze S, Ferrari Jr AP","year":"1994","unstructured":"Di Dio LJA, Geocze S, Ferrari Jr AP. Endoscopic study of the ileal papilla in a normal case and in patients under pathological conditions. Anal Anat 1994; 176: 263-8.","journal-title":"Anal Anat"},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"22","DOI":"10.1159\/000147416","article-title":"Morphological evidence for a cecocolonic junction in man and functional implications","volume":"146","author":"Faussone-Pellegrini, M.S.; Pantalone, D.; Cortesini, C.","year":"1993","unstructured":"Faussone-Pellegrini MS, Pantalone D, Cortesini C. Morphological evidence for a cecocolonic junction in man and functional implications. Acta Aniat 1993; 146: 22-30.","journal-title":"Acta Aniat"},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"135","DOI":"10.1016\/0304-3940(93)90721-V","article-title":"Distribution of VIP-immunoreactive nerve cells and fibers in the human ileocecal region","volume":"157","author":"Faussone-Pellegrini, M.S.; Bacci, S.; Pantalone, D.; Cortesini, C.","year":"1993","unstructured":"Faussone-Pellegrini MS, Bacci S, Pantalone D, Cortesini C. Distribution of VIP-immunoreactive nerve cells and fibers in the human ileocecal region. Neuirosci Lett 1993; 157: 135-9.","journal-title":"Neuirosci Lett"},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"261","DOI":"10.1016\/0304-3940(94)90333-6","article-title":"Nitric oxide synthase immunoreactivity in the human ileocecal region","volume":"170","author":"Faussone-Pellegrini, M.S.; Bacci, S.; Pantalone, D.; Cortesini, C.; Mayer, B.","year":"1994","unstructured":"Faussone-Pellegrini MS, Bacci S, Pantalone D, Cortesini C, Mayer B. Nitric oxide synthase immunoreactivity in the human ileocecal region. Neurosci Lett 1994; 170: 261-5.","journal-title":"Neurosci Lett"},{"key":"ref_16","first-page":"195","article-title":"On the structure of colonic folds. RendicontRoito iomi Radiologico-Gastr-oeniterologgiche","volume":"1","author":"Torsoli, A.; Crucioli, V.; Young, A.C.","year":"1969","unstructured":"Torsoli A, Crucioli V, Young AC. On the structure of colonic folds. RendicontRoito iomi Radiologico-Gastr-oeniterologgiche 1969; 1: 195-202."},{"key":"ref_17","first-page":"368","article-title":"The ileocaccocolic sphincter","volume":"51","author":"Gazet, J.C.; Giarrett, R.J.","year":"1964","unstructured":"Gazet JC, Giarrett RJ. The ileocaccocolic sphincter. Br 7 Suirg 1964; 51: 368-70."},{"key":"ref_18","first-page":"8","article-title":"Sphincters of the gastrointestinal tract: functional properties","volume-title":"normpial functioni-changes in diseases","author":"Phillips, S.F.","year":"1992","unstructured":"Phillips SF. Sphincters of the gastrointestinal tract: functional properties. In: Daniel EE, Tomita T, Tsuchida S, Watanabe M, eds. Sphincrters normpial functioni-changes in diseases. Bocha Baton: Press Inc, 1992: 8-27."},{"key":"ref_19","first-page":"409","article-title":"The ileocecal valve and papilla. Observations relating to pathophysiology of acute colon obstruction","volume":"97","author":"Ulin, A.W.; Shoemaker, W.C.; Deutsch, J.","year":"1956","unstructured":"Ulin AW, Shoemaker WC, Deutsch J. The ileocecal valve and papilla. Observations relating to pathophysiology of acute colon obstruction. Arch Initern Med 1956; 97: 409-20.","journal-title":"Arch Initern Med"},{"key":"ref_20","first-page":"485","article-title":"Etude anatomique et histologique de la valve caecale humaine. Aspects evolutivs en fonction de l'age. BullAssoc Aiat","volume":"67","author":"Scheye, T.; Dechelette, P.; Vanneuville Tanguy, A.; Chazal, J.; Amrane, M.","year":"1983","unstructured":"Scheye T, Dechelette P, Vanneuville Tanguy A, Chazal J, Amrane M. Etude anatomique et histologique de la valve caecale humaine. Aspects evolutivs en fonction de l'age. BullAssoc Aiat (Nanc5) 1983; 67: 485-99."},{"key":"ref_21","first-page":"561","article-title":"The ileocaecal junction","volume":"8","author":"Bogers, J.J.; Vanmark, E.","year":"1993","unstructured":"Bogers JJ, Vanmark E. The ileocaecal junction. Histol Histopathol 1993; 8: 561-6.","journal-title":"Histol Histopathol"}],"container-title":["Gut"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/syndication.highwire.org\/content\/doi\/10.1136\/gut.37.4.493","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,13]],"date-time":"2025-12-13T07:12:05Z","timestamp":1765609925000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/gut.bmj.com\/lookup\/doi\/10.1136\/gut.37.4.493"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[1995,10]]},"references-count":21,"journal-issue":{"issue":"4","published-online":{"date-parts":[[1995,10,1]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[1995,10]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1136\/gut.37.4.493"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/gut.37.4.493","relation":{},"ISSN":["0017-5749","1468-3288"],"issn-type":[{"type":"print","value":"0017-5749"},{"type":"electronic","value":"1468-3288"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[1995,10]]}}}