villus
Gut lining protrusion
A villus is a tiny fingerlike projection from certain membranes, especially the lining of the small intestine, where millions of villi increase surface area for absorbing nutrients.
Similar projections appear in the placenta, facilitating exchange between maternal and fetal blood.
The plural is villi.
Shaped like digits
- projectionSomething that extends outward
- protrusionPart extending outward
- papillaSmall anatomical projection
- foldBend onto itself
Microscopic membrane protrusions
- epitheliumTissue covering body surfaces
- cryptsSubterranean burial chambers
- lactealOf or like milk
- capillariesTiniest blood vessels
mucosa · submucosa · serosa · basement membrane · core · stroma
Digestive absorption organ
Vital dietary substances
- glucosePrimary cellular fuel
- amino acidsOrganic compounds forming proteins
- fatty acidsOrganic molecules in fats
- electrolytesConducting ions in solution
minerals · vitamins · osmosis · permeability · uptake · assimilation · surface area
Composed of small units
- epithelialSurface-lining tissue type
- cytoplasmGel surrounding the nucleus
- organellesSpecialized cell subunits
- mitochondriaCell's energy-producing organelles
nucleus · membrane · histology · magnification · biopsy · electron microscopy
fingerlike
Shaped like digits
- projectionSomething that extends outward
- protrusionPart extending outward
- papillaSmall anatomical projection
microvilli
Microscopic membrane protrusions
- epitheliumTissue covering body surfaces
- cryptsSubterranean burial chambers
- lactealOf or like milk
capillaries · mucosa · submucosa · serosa · basement membrane · core · stroma
small intestine
Digestive absorption organ
nutrients
Vital dietary substances
- glucosePrimary cellular fuel
- amino acidsOrganic compounds forming proteins
- fatty acidsOrganic molecules in fats
electrolytes · minerals · vitamins · osmosis · permeability · uptake · assimilation · surface area
cellular
Composed of small units
- epithelialSurface-lining tissue type
- cytoplasmGel surrounding the nucleus
- organellesSpecialized cell subunits
mitochondria · nucleus · membrane · histology · magnification · biopsy · electron microscopy
- anatomybrain, heart, bones, liver, stomach
- biostructurescell membrane, cell wall, cytoskeleton, mitochondria, nucleus
- body tissuestissue, connective tissue, muscle, bone, cartilage
- surface coveringscoat, paint, covering, tiles, felt
- threadlikefilament, fiber, strand, threadlike, filamentous
- histologyhistology, tissue, cells, microscope slides, tissue sections