Villi are finger-like structures on the inner wall of the small intestine that increase the surface area for nutrient absorption. Learn more about their function, location and microvilli with Vedantu, a live online learning platform for CBSE students. Villi are tiny, finger-like projections found on the inner surface of the small intestine that significantly increase its surface area. These structures are critical for the absorption of nutrients, as they provide a greater surface area for nutrient uptake and contain specialized cells that assist in this process. Their structure and function play a vital role in the overall digestion and absorption of food, highlighting their importance in both mechanical and chemical digestion. The small intestinal villus and its associated epithelium includes enterocytes as the main cell type and differentiated goblet and argentaffin cells, while the invaginated crypt epithelium is the site of cell division and hence the origin of all ... Villus , singular villi , can be observed as thin, slender, vascular projections in anatomy that are responsible for increasing a membrane's surface area. The placenta and the mucous membrane lining of the small intestine are major villous membranes. The small intestine villi projects into the intestinal cavity, substantially expanding the area of the surface for absorption of food and adding digestive secretions. Villi in the human body are around 10 to 40 per square millimetre of tissue ...
