The portion of the small intestine that extends from the jejunum to the colon.
Comment:
[homology-note] "Although all vertebrates have a digestive tract and accessory glands, various parts of this system are not necessarily homologous, analogous, or even present in all species. Therefore, broad comparisons can be best made under the listings of headgut, foregut, midgut, pancreas and biliary system, hindgut.[uncertain][VHOG]" xsd:string {date_retrieved="2012-09-17", external_class="VHOG:0000647", ontology="VHOG", source="ISBN:978-0521617147 Stevens CE and Hume ID, Comparative physiology of the vertebrate digestive system (2004) p.11", source="http://bgee.unil.ch/"}; [taxon-note] "The ileum is the final section of the small intestine in most higher vertebrates, including mammals, reptiles, and birds. In fish, the divisions of the small intestine are not as clear and the terms posterior intestine or distal intestine may be used instead of ileum.[Wikipedia:Ileum]"