Where does undigested chyme go after leaving the ileum?

After leaving the ileum, undigested chyme enters the cecum. The cecum is the first part of the large intestine and acts as a connector between the small intestine and the large intestine. This transition is crucial, as the cecum serves to receive the remaining undigested material from the small intestine, where nutrient absorption has predominantly occurred.

Following this point, the chyme undergoes further processing in the colon, where water and electrolytes are reabsorbed. The cecum also plays a role in the fermentation of the remaining undigested materials, particularly dietary fibers, and provides a site for beneficial gut bacteria to thrive. The transition from the ileum to the cecum is marked by the ileocecal valve, which helps to regulate the flow and prevents backflow into the ileum. Thus, the cecum is the correct anatomical destination for undigested chyme leaving the ileum.