a-short-review-of-histology

Area for Absorption:

Absorbtion of nutrients and water is a main fimction of the small and large intestines
This is facilitated by four structural adaptations of the gut tube
Two of these are gross adaptations which can be seen with the naked eye
Two are features which can only be visualised by microscopy
The four structural adaptations of the intestine to facilitate absorbtion are:

The long length of the intestine itself provides a large surface area across which absorbtion can take place
In the small intestine, there are permanent folds in the submucosa - the plicae circulares - these greatly increase the surface area of the lumen
The mucous membrane in the small intestine forms villi which project into the lumen of the gut tube
The absorbtive cells have microvilli on their apical surface