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Features That Increase The Surface Area Of Small Intestines For Absorption

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Features That Increase The Surface Area Of Small Intestines For Absorption

Question

What features increase the surface area of small intestines?

Answer

- Presence of villi
- Long length

Explanation

The small intestine has several structural features that increase its surface area, allowing for efficient absorption of nutrients from digested food. These features include: 1. Presence of villi and Microvilli: The inner lining of the small intestine is covered with millions of finger-like projections called villi, which significantly increase the surface area available for nutrient absorption. On the lining, there are also smaller microscopic projections called microvilli, which increase the surface area for absorption.
2. Length of the Small Intestine: The small intestine itself is quite long, reaching up to 20 feet, about 6 meters, in an adult human. This length provides a large surface area for digestion and absorption of nutrients to take place.

The increased surface area of the small intestine allows for enhanced contact between the digestive enzymes and the nutrients in the chyme, promoting efficient nutrient absorption into the bloodstream.