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    • Diagram of the villi in the small intestine.
    Rights: The University of Waikato Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato Published 1 July 2011 Size: 120 KB Referencing Hub media

    Millions of tiny finger-like structures called villi1 project inwards from the lining of the small intestine2. The large surface area3 they present allows for rapid absorption of digestion4 products.

    1. villi: (Singular: villus) Thin finger-like structures that project from the internal lining of the jejunum and ileum. They greatly increase the surface area of the small intestine, allowing for rapid absorption of the products of digestion into the bloodstream.
    2. small intestine: That part of the gastrointestinal tract that connects the stomach to the large intestine. It consists of three parts: the duodenum, the jejunum and the ileum.
    3. surface area: The total area of an object or surface.
    4. digestion: The mechanical and chemical breaking down of food into smaller components that can be absorbed into a bloodstream.

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    • ARTICLE

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      villi

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      2. (Singular: villus) Thin finger-like structures that project from the internal lining of the jejunum and ileum. They greatly increase the surface area of the small intestine, allowing for rapid absorption of the products of digestion into the bloodstream.

      digestion

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      3. The mechanical and chemical breaking down of food into smaller components that can be absorbed into a bloodstream.

      small intestine

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      4. That part of the gastrointestinal tract that connects the stomach to the large intestine. It consists of three parts: the duodenum, the jejunum and the ileum.

      surface area

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      5. The total area of an object or surface.

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