Intestinal villi

Intestinal villi are small, finger-like projections that extend into the lumen of the small intestine. They are part of the intestinal mucosa, and their function is to increase the surface area of the intestine and thus enhance the absorption of nutrients.

Structure

Each villus is approximately 0.5-1.6 mm in length, and has many microvilli (tiny hair-like structures) on the cells of its surface. This gives the villus a fuzzy appearance, which is why the surface of the small intestine is often described as being "brush border". The villi are covered with a single layer of columnar epithelial cells, which are responsible for the absorption of nutrients.

Function

The main function of the intestinal villi is to increase the surface area of the intestine, which allows for a greater absorption of nutrients. The villi and microvilli can increase the surface area of the small intestine by 30 times. This is crucial for the efficient absorption of nutrients, as the small intestine is the main site of nutrient absorption in the body.

Clinical significance

Damage to the intestinal villi can lead to malabsorption of nutrients, which can cause a variety of health problems. For example, in celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder, the immune system attacks the villi in response to the ingestion of gluten, leading to malabsorption of nutrients.

See also

• Small intestine
• Microvilli
• Celiac disease

References

Intestinal villi Resources
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