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Lesson: Chapter 6 — Human body processes

Absorption and the large intestine 1 of 3

Built for absorption

The end products of digestion are absorbed mainly in the small intestine, and it is adapted to absorb them efficiently.

  • It is very long.
  • Its inner wall has circular folds.
  • The folds carry many finger-like projections called villi.
  • The villi carry microvilli.
  • The walls of the villi are very thin.
  • The villi have a good blood supply.

Figure to be added

Figure 6.5 — a villus of the small intestine: epithelial cells with microvilli, blood capillaries and a central lacteal.

Every one of these adaptations does one of two things: makes the surface bigger, or makes the path into the blood shorter.