Brush border
Brush border
Brush border (pronunciation: /brʌʃ ˈbɔːrdər/) is a term used in histology to describe the microvilli-covered surface of simple columnar epithelial cells and cuboidal epithelium that is found in certain locations of the body.
Etymology
The term "brush border" is derived from the appearance of this region under a microscope, as the dense covering of microvilli gives the cell surface a look that is similar to the bristles of a brush.
Definition
A brush border is a specialized structure of the cell membrane that greatly increases the surface area for absorption. It is particularly prominent in the small intestine, where it serves to increase the rate of nutrient uptake.
Related Terms
- Microvilli: Tiny, finger-like projections from the cell surface that increase the surface area for absorption.
- Epithelial cells: Cells that line the surfaces of organs and structures throughout the body.
- Small intestine: The part of the gastrointestinal tract following the stomach and followed by the large intestine, and is where much of the digestion and absorption of food takes place.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Brush border
- Wikipedia's article - Brush border
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski