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Question

What are villi? What is their location and function?

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Solution

Villi:

  1. Intestinal villi are small, finger-like projections that are present in the lumen of the small intestine.
  2. Villi are approximately 0.5–1.6 mm in length and have many microvilli which are about 1 µm in length.
  3. This gives the velvety look to the small intestine lumen and is called brushed border epithelium.
  4. Villi increase the internal surface area of the intestinal walls.
  5. The villi are connected to the blood vessels and lacteals.

Location:

  1. These are fount in the inner surface of the lumen of small intestine.
  2. They are specifically found in jejunum and ileum of the small intestine as these parts are involved in the absorption of the nutrients and food components.

Function:

  1. The villi and microvilli highly increase the internal surface area of the small intestine, providing more area for the absorption.
  2. These usually have one celled thin layer for the diffusion, so that the rate of diffusion of the food components and nutrients is very fast.
  3. They are highly supplied with the blood vessels to allow direct and quick diffusion of nutrients like glucose, amino acids, minerals, etc.
  4. They are also supplied with lymph vessels called lacteals to allow the easy absorption of fats and lipids.


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