What it means
The inner wall of the small intestine is covered in millions of villi. Each has a network of capillaries and a small lymph vessel inside, and its surface cells carry even smaller projections (microvilli). Together they make a huge surface for absorbing nutrients into the blood. Diseases that flatten the villi, such as celiac disease, cause poor absorption and weight loss.
At a glance
| Spanish | vellosidad |
|---|---|
| Also written | villi |
Related terms
small intestine
The long, narrow part of the bowel between the stomach and the large intestine, where most digestion and absorption happen.
celiac disease
An autoimmune disease in which eating gluten, a protein in wheat, barley and rye, damages the lining of the small intestine.
chyme
The thick, soupy mix of partly digested food and digestive juices that passes from the stomach into the small intestine.