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What Are Brunner's Glands?

H. Colledge
H. Colledge

Brunner's glands are found in a part of the digestive system known as the duodenum. The duodenum is the section of gut through which food passes after leaving the stomach. These glands produce alkaline mucus, which neutralizes acid from the stomach as it enters the duodenum. As long as Brunner's glands function normally, this mucus helps protect the duodenal lining. Occasionally, the glands can grow abnormally and develop into a tumor, but this is typically benign, or non-cancerous.

The duodenal glands which came to be known as Brunner's glands were named after the Swiss anatomist Johann Conrad Brunner. He first described the glands in 1687. At the junction between the stomach and the intestine, the pyloric glands of the stomach end and are replaced by the duodenal Brunner's glands. These glands extend through the duodenum, although they are not found beyond the sphincter of Oddi. The sphincter of Oddi is a valve, located in the wall of the duodenum, which controls the flow of digestive juices from the liver and pancreas into the gut.

Brunner's glands are found in the duodenum, the part of the digestive system connecting the stomach to the small intestines.
Brunner's glands are found in the duodenum, the part of the digestive system connecting the stomach to the small intestines.

Brunner's glands are located in a part of the duodenal wall known as the submucosa. This is a layer of tissue full of blood vessels and nerves which supports the mucosa, or inner lining, of the gut. The glands are densely packed inside the submucosa, filling it completely. An individual gland may secrete its mucus directly into the intestine, or its secreting tubes or ducts could join up with other glands in the gut wall.

Brunner's gland hyperplasia can be diagnosed using an endoscopy.
Brunner's gland hyperplasia can be diagnosed using an endoscopy.

Rarely, a disorder known as hyperplasia can affect Brunner's glands. The cells which make up the glands increase until abnormal numbers are present, forming a tumor. Most often there are no symptoms, but sometimes abdominal pain occurs at night, or after meals, and there may also be bleeding from the gut. This is usually in such small amounts that it is not visible, but it can cause anemia and occasionally patients may pass or vomit blood. Although complications are uncommon, a Brunner's gland tumor can sometimes block the gut.

A CT scan will be performed if a patient is suspected of having Brunner's glands hyperplasia.
A CT scan will be performed if a patient is suspected of having Brunner's glands hyperplasia.

Brunner's gland hyperplasia is diagnosed using techniques such as endoscopy and CT scans, in order to view the tumor. A sample of the growth may be taken using an endoscope, a flexible viewing instrument with associated surgical tools. Although a tumor in this area is not usually cancerous, tumors are typically removed surgically if there are symptoms, or if the diagnosis is uncertain.

Discussion Comments

serenesurface

My aunt had a Brunner's gland tumor removed a few months ago. The doctors actually couldn't confirm whether it was malignant or not. And a blockage of the intestine wasn't the concern either. They removed it because it was causing too many bad symptoms for my aunt. She had chronic pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. She just couldn't take it anymore.

Thankfully, her surgery was successful and she is doing just fine. Her symptoms are gone. Of course, she was a little sore after surgery and needed to rest and take a few pain killers. But she's so happy that she had the tumor removed.

I think it might be a good idea to have these tumors removed even if they are benign and non-symptomatic because they might grow and turn malignant later on.

bear78

@donasmrs-- The only main dysfunction of the Brunner's glands I've heard of is hyperplasia.

Hyperplasia of the Brunner's glands is actually caused by over-stimulation. It leads to inflammation in the duodenum, which then leads to a tumor. So damage at the entry of the small intestine is actually a result of the glands working over-time, rather than the glands not working enough. And the reason that they work over-time is too much acid produced by the stomach, which then passes into the intestines.

That's why it's important for people who suffer from too much stomach acid to get it treated as soon as possible. Treatment can prevent these types of complications.

donasmrs

I did not know that there are glands in the small intestine. That's really cool that there is a gland neutralizing the acid from the stomach so that it doesn't harm the intestines. Do Brunner's glands ever dysfunction? Will the acid damage the intestines in that case?

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    • Brunner's glands are found in the duodenum, the part of the digestive system connecting the stomach to the small intestines.
      By: Jeffrey Collingwood
      Brunner's glands are found in the duodenum, the part of the digestive system connecting the stomach to the small intestines.
    • Brunner's gland hyperplasia can be diagnosed using an endoscopy.
      By: Stephan Morrosch
      Brunner's gland hyperplasia can be diagnosed using an endoscopy.
    • A CT scan will be performed if a patient is suspected of having Brunner's glands hyperplasia.
      By: Hakan Kızıltan
      A CT scan will be performed if a patient is suspected of having Brunner's glands hyperplasia.
    • A disorder called hyperplasia may impact the Brunner's glands, causing abdominal pain.
      By: WavebreakmediaMicro
      A disorder called hyperplasia may impact the Brunner's glands, causing abdominal pain.
    • Food passes through the duodenum after leaving the stomach.
      By: designua
      Food passes through the duodenum after leaving the stomach.
    • The pyloric glands of the stomach end where the stomach and intestine meet.
      By: graphicgeoff
      The pyloric glands of the stomach end where the stomach and intestine meet.