Overview: intestinal glands

Intestinal glands, seen here in cross section, are formed by an epithelium composed of absorptive cells, goblet cells, Paneth cells, precursor cells and enteroendocrine (DNES) cells.  Precursor (stem) cells replenish the supply of both the absorptive and goblet cells.  When formed, these differentiated cells migrate up the intestinal glands and villi to be shed from the tips of the villi. 100x, 1000x

Paneth cells have prominent, eosinophilic granules that face the lumens of the glands.  They produce lysozyme, an enzyme that digests bacterial cell walls, and also probably aids in maintenance of healthy intestinal flora.

Enteroendocrine cells are also found in the intestinal glands.  Because these cells are secreting into the lamina propria, their granules face the basement membrane of the gland rather than the lumen.

The lamina propria of loose connective tissue surrounds the intestinal glands and possesses a wide variety of cells, such as the immunoresponsive plasma cell seen here.