Intestinal villi
Intestinal Villi
Intestinal villi (/ɪnˈtɛstɪnəl vɪˈlaɪ/) are small, finger-like projections that extend into the lumen of the small intestine. They are part of the intestinal mucosa and increase the internal surface area of the intestinal wall thereby increasing absorption of nutrients.
Etymology
The term "villi" comes from the Latin word 'villus' which means shaggy hair, referring to the hair-like appearance of the villi. The prefix "intestinal" is derived from the Latin 'intestinum' which means gut.
Structure
Each villus is approximately 0.5-1.6 mm in length and has many microvilli, which are even smaller projections on the villi, further increasing the surface area for absorption. The villi contain a network of capillaries and lacteals which aid in the absorption of nutrients and fats respectively.
Function
The primary function of the intestinal villi is to increase the surface area of the intestine to allow for greater absorption of nutrients. The villi and microvilli increase the intestinal absorptive surface area 30-fold and 600-fold, respectively, providing exceptionally efficient absorption of nutrients in the lumen of the small intestine.
Related Terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Intestinal villi
- Wikipedia's article - Intestinal villi
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