Question

How is small intestine designed to absorb digested food?

• A. Lined by epithelium, which is specialized to absorb.
• B. Villi are transverse folds of intestinal wall that increase surface area of absorption.
• C. Villi possess blood capillaries and lacteals (lymph vessels) for quick transport of absorbed food.
• D. All of the above.

Answer 1

The correct option is D All of the above.

• The small intestine is the most important part of the alimentary canal for digestion and absorption of food.
• It has three regions a U-shaped duodenum, a long coiled middle portion jejunum and highly coiled ileum.
• The innermost layer lining the lumen of the alimentary canal is the mucosa. This layer forms irregular folds (rugae) in the stomach and small finger-like foldings called villi in the small intestine.
• These modifications increase the surface area for more absorption. Villi are supplied with a network of capillaries and a large lymph vessel called the lacteal.
• It transports lipid molecules. The wall of the intestine is surrounded by the blood vessels which assimilates the food molecules to the different parts of the body.
  Thus, the correct answer is option D.