Question

How do villi work in the small intestines to aid in digestion and absorption?

Answer 1

ok here is the new question @Abhisar

Answer 2

Villi or microvilli increases the surface area of the intestine, also it has a very good network of capillaries. All these features aid in the process of digestion and mainly ABSORPTION

Answer 3

read this u'll get it

Answer 4

U have very colourful textbooks @Somy :D :)

Answer 5

See some part of diagram is also visible, which is showing the vascular networks in villi

Answer 6

this is the rest

Answer 7

and this

Answer 8

ok so ummm I think I get it....basically all villi do is help increase the surface area?...but like whats do theya absorb?

Answer 9

and this is last part

Answer 10

@Abhisar and @Somy thanks for the textbook images

Answer 11

but like whats do theya absorb?
???

Answer 12

sorry...im a fast typer and I make lots of typos.... what do the villi absorb?

Answer 13

thats why i told u to read @B_O_R_E_D it's very clear there

Answer 14

it's written below the picture of villi

Answer 15

the second image is a little more confusing

Answer 16

@Abhisar lol this book made me love bio (that i hated for 11 years)

Answer 17

In simple villi absorbs the digested food like mentioned in the first image

Answer 18

oh so not water?

Answer 19

water is also food

Answer 20

Large surface area and highly vascular nature of villi helps it in that

Answer 21

actually food is dissolved in water in our body and it gets absorbed with water

Answer 22

im sorry I'm still confused...

Answer 23

oh wait i hope im not mixing anything @Abhisar

Answer 24

I'll be back in like 30min...sorry

Answer 25

But u should remember that most of the water absorption takes place in LARGE INTESTINE

Answer 26

oh ok....ummm I think it makes sense...but if I'm still confused...will u be here in like a half hour?

Answer 27

yes...just ping me

Answer 28

@Abhisar pinggg

Answer 29

LOL

Answer 30

say :P

Answer 31

i hav a doubt...do digested nutrients get absorbed with water ?
@Somy

Answer 32

i think yes, it has to be so @Abhisar why do u think nutrients can actually be absorbed? i think its because water is acting as a solvent

Answer 33

nutrients are absorbed via diffusion and active transport...that's why i think so

Answer 34

and all nutrients are not water soluble

Answer 35

@Somy

Answer 36

well yeah, but there are some, so water still will be absorbed even if it's in small quantity right?

Answer 37

yes that's true....that's why most of the water is needed to be reabsorbed in the LARGE INTESTINE

Answer 38

yeah)

Answer 39

oh wait wasn't reabsorption kidney's work?

Answer 40

Ok Im back.... @Abhisar and somy

Answer 41

@Somy

Answer 42

ok I just read over your convo while I was gone...so nutrients/broken down food are abosrbed with water but sometimes their not?

Answer 43

we think so

Answer 44

since small intestine still does absorb some water

Answer 45

Ok so basically villi aid in the digestion of nutirents and a small part of it also absorbs watter?

Answer 46

all in the small intestines

Answer 47

wait, vill only absorbs stuff

Answer 48

and yes it absorbs food molecules as well as some quantity of water

Answer 49

and it increases the surface area?...the villi?....idk...I think....

Answer 50

yes, Villi does increase the surface area because they are large in number so absorption is fast and efficient

Answer 51

ok...and aren't they like at the very end of the small intestines?

Answer 52

@B_O_R_E_D Hai, seems like Still confused, well read this topic full and ask questions if u have more doubts !

Ref: http://www.vetmed.vt.edu/education/curriculum/vm8054/Labs/Lab19/Lab19.htm

Answer 53

Ok thanks I'll take a look at that! @koikkara

Answer 54

From my textbook --
The inner surface of the small intestine is folded into millions of tiny finger-shaped structures called Villi. Villi, greatly increase the surface area of the small intestine. More surface area means more nutrients can be absorbed. Nutrient molecules pass from cells on the surface of a villus into blood vessels and are then delivered to body cells.

From an online article at - http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/villi-affect-absorption-nutrients-9113.html

How Do Villi Absorb Nutrients?
When food is broken down in the stomach, it forms a substance called chyme, which is a slurry of nutrients. When that slurry passes into the small intestine, it comes into contact with the villi. The carbohydrates and proteins in the chyme enter the bloodstream passively via the vein and artery. The fat is absorbed by the lacteal into the lymphatic system, which eventually empties into the bloodstream. In a process called active transport, specialized intestinal cells of the villi allow the passage of B-12, iron and calcium into the bloodstream.

Answer 55

Thank you! @mstv1112

Answer 56

Did It Help?

Answer 57

yes it did! @mstv1112