What do you mean by villi? What is the function of villi? Explain briefly
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Answer:
Villi (singular is villus) are small, finger-like structures in the small intestine. They help to absorb digested food. Each villus has microvilli which increase the surface area of the intestinal walls.
Functions of the Villi
We've already stated that the small intestine's main job is to absorb nutrients from the food you eat and that your villi help by increasing the surface area the intestine has for absorption.
The small intestine has millions of tiny finger-like projections called villi. These villi increase the surface area for more efficient food absorption. Within these villi, are present numerous blood vessels which absorb the digested food and carry it to the blood stream.
Villi are only the most obvious feature of the mucosa which houses a dynamic, self-renewing population of epithelial cells that includes secretory cells, endocrine cells and the mature absorptive epithelial cells which take up nutrients from the lumen and transport them into blood, fulfilling the basic function of the .
The inner lining of the ileum is made into a great number of tiny finger-like projections called villi( singular villus).
The villi enormously increase with the increase of the inner surface area of the intestines ( nearly 8 times that of the outer body surface) which facilitates the absorption of digested food. Between the villi are small holes through which facilitates the absorption of digested food. Between the villi are small holes through which the intestinal juice is being secreted by its glandular cells is prepared into the lumen of the intestine. Each villus is covered by a single-cell thick epithelium. Inside the villus are contained an artery, a vein, inter- connecting blood capillaries and a lymph vessel, called lacteal.
The small intestine serves both for digestion and absorption. It receives the bile and the pancreatic juice in the duodenum and its own walls secrete the intestinal juice in the ileum.