Chapter 49.3, Problem 1BC

Core Skill: Connections In what other organ is a brush border found (refer back to Figure 46.6)? What general conclusions can you draw about the function of such specialized epithelia?

Figure 46.6 The specialized arrangement of tissues in the small intestine. The inner surface of the small intestine is folded into numerous villi, which increase the surface area for digestion and absorption. Within each villus are capillaries and a lymphatic vessel called a lacteal, into which absorbed nutrients are transported. The epithelial cells of the villi have extensions from their surface called microvilli. The microvilli constitute the brush border of the intestine and greatly add to the total surface area.