Villus. Coloured scanning electron micrograph of a villus in the small intestine. Villi are folded projections of the mucous membrane that lines the i

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Villus. Coloured scanning electron micrograph of a villus in the small intestine. Villi are folded projections of the mucous membrane that lines the inside wall of the small intestine. They serve to increase the surface area available for absorption of the products of digestion. Covering the villus is a layer of absorptive epithelial cells, which themselves are covered with microvilli (not visible). The dark pits are goblet cells. These produce mucus to lubricate the passage of food and protect the intestinal wall from self-digestion. The dark creases are folds in the epithelium covering the villus. Magnification: x340 at 5x7cm size. x170 at 35mm

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Size: 3603px × 4863px
Photo credit: © PHOTO INSOLITE REALITE/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: anatomy, body, cell, digestion, digestive, goblet, gut, human, intestine, mucosa, small, system, villus