Layers of the Duodenum
The duodenum’s walls consist of 4 layers:
– The mucosa layer: This is the innermost layer of the duodenum. It is comprised of microvilli and mucous glands.
– The submucosa layer: This layer mainly contains connective tissue with an extensive network of nerves and blood vessels. It is also comprised of the Brunner’s glands, which produce mucus for easier movements of food in the duodenum and bicarbonate, which can help neutralize acid content in your chyme and facilitate digestion.
– The muscularis externa layer: Consisting of smooth muscle tissue, this part is responsible for the GI tract’s contractions. These muscles can churn the chyme and help foods move along the GI tract easily.
– The serosal layer: This is the outermost layer. It contains squamous epithelium to create a barrier to other parts. [4]
