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How do the villi of the small intestine function?

Answer 1

Villi of small intestine increases surface area of absorption and the overlying cells absorb digested nutrients from intestinal lumen.

Villi increase the absorptive surface also by possessing microvilli: microscopic finger like projections on the cell surface. Villi (plural) are finger like projections present on inner wall of small intestine. These are covered by columnar epithelial cells like some other parts of GI tract. Inside each villus (singular) there are extensive blood capillaries and prominent lymphatic vessel.

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Except digested dietary fat and fat soluble vitamins, other nutrients are absorbed and delivered in blood capillaries. Fat is transferred as chylomicron (microscopic droplets) to lymphatic vessel within each villus where a milky fatty fluid accumulates, called chyle.

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Answer 2

Natalie Ahrens

Moreover, the villi contain blood vessels and lymphatic vessels to carry absorbed nutrients from the small intestine to other parts of the body. The villi of the small intestine serve to increase the surface area for absorption of nutrients. They have microvilli on their surface which further increase the surface area. This increased surface area allows for more efficient absorption of nutrients such as glucose, amino acids, and fatty acids into the bloodstream.

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When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.