enterocyter

Enterocyter is an alternate or less common form of enterocyte, the absorptive epithelial cell of the intestinal mucosa. In modern anatomy and histology, the preferred term is enterocyte, and enterocyter may appear in historic or regional texts as a variant or misspelling. The concept refers to the same cell type that lines the intestinal villi of the small intestine and, to a lesser extent, the colon.

Structure and development: Enterocytes are tall, columnar cells that form a single-cell-thick epithelium. They originate from stem cells in the crypts of Lieberkühn and migrate upward to the villus tip. The apical surface features microvilli, forming a brush border rich in digestive enzymes and transporters. The cell is polarized with distinct apical and basolateral membranes and tight junctions that control paracellular permeability.

Function: The primary role of enterocytes is nutrient absorption. They transport mono-, di-, and oligopeptides, amino acids, monosaccharides, fats, and micronutrients from the intestinal lumen into the bloodstream. Brush border enzymes complete luminal digestion. Enterocytes also contribute to barrier function and participate in innate immunity by signaling to underlying immune cells and producing antimicrobial peptides.

Clinical relevance: Damage or loss of enterocytes—such as in celiac disease, infectious gastroenteritis, chemotherapy-induced mucositis, or parasitic infection—can cause malabsorption and diarrhea. Altered enterocyte function can be studied using intestinal biopsy or in vitro models like Caco-2 cell lines. Understanding enterocytes is fundamental to nutrition, pharmacology, and gastroenterology.