What is ‘villus’ in human body? Write the role of the villus in digestive system.
Answers
Answer:
Villi are specialized for absorption in the small intestine as they have a thin wall, one cell thick, which enables a shorter diffusion path. They have a large surface area so there will be more efficient absorption of fatty acids and glycerol into the blood stream.
Part of: Wall of small intestine
Latin: villi intestinales
Definition
The tiny projections on the inner surface of the small intestine which help in absorbing the digested food are called villi. These helps to increase the surface area of intestinal walls.
Location
These are located in the inner walls of the small intestine.
Functions
Their function is to increase the surface area of the small intestinal wall for absorption of the digested food.
These projections absorb the protein molecules and help in the transfer of the proteins to all cells and tissues.
Many blood vessels are present within these villi, that help in the absorption of digested food and carry it to the bloodstream. Later, from the bloodstream, the absorbed food is delivered to each and every cell of the body.