Villi

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Small intestinal villi in the microscopic image

Intestinal villi are leaf-shaped or finger-shaped elevations on the mucous membrane of the small intestine and are primarily used for absorption . Through the formation of intestinal villi and the filling of intestinal epithelial cells with microvilli , the intestinal surface is considerably enlarged (in humans to approx. 180 m²).

There are numerous gland cells in the depressions between the villi. They produce up to three liters of digestive juice a day. Villi are processes of the lamina propria that are covered by epithelium and protrude into the intestinal lumen. The stroma consists of cellular connective tissue through which the finest blood vessels flow. There is also a system of lymphatic vessels in the villi .

Individual evidence

  1. ^ A b Renate Lüllmann-Rauch: Histology. 2nd, completely revised edition. Georg Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart 2003, ISBN 3-13-129242-3 .
  2. ^ Rüdiger Wehner, Walter Gehring: Zoologie. 23rd, revised edition. Georg Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart 1995, ISBN 3-13-367423-4 .