Question

Brief about the absorptive structures of the small intestine.

Answer 1

Small intestine:

1. The small intestine is the longest part of the gastrointestinal tract (alimentary canal).
2. It has three regions- a C-shaped ‘duodenum’, a long coiled ‘jejunum’ (middle portion), and an extremely coiled ‘ileum’.

Absorptive structures of the small intestine:

1. The innermost layer of the small intestine is known as ‘mucosa’. The surface of mucosa has finger-like projections called ‘villi’.
2. The cells lining the villi form several microscopic projections called ‘microvilli’ that give a brush border appearance.
3. Both villi and microvilli increase the surface area for absorption of digested food.