Absorption of the products of digestion

Question 1

What is the function of the ileum?

Answer 1

The function of the ileum is to absorb the products of digestions

Question 2

Describe the structure of the ileum’s wall

Answer 2

The wall of the ileum folds, has finger like projections called villi and is very thin.

Question 3

What size are villi?

Answer 3

Villi are 1mm in size

Question 4

Describe the structure of the villi

Answer 4

Villi have thin walls, with epithelial cells on one side and a network of blood capillaries on the other side

Question 5

Where is the villi found?

Answer 5

Villi are situated between the lumen of the small intestine + blood and tissues in the body

Question 6

What is an advantage of villi on the ileum wall?

Answer 6

The villi increases the surface area of the ileum, therefore accelerating the rate of absorption

Question 7

What are the properties of villi that increase the efficiency of absorption?

Answer 7

1. There are finger like projections on the villi, these increase surface area to volume ratio
2. villi has very thin walls, which reduce the distance diffusion takes place over