Intestinal villus

High school (ages 12+)
Human Body

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/intestinal-villus

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the adaptive plasticity?Villus height and density can adapt to dietary intake and physiological demands
2. What are intestinal villi?Intestinal villi are tiny finger‑like projections inside the small intestine that help absorb food.
3. How do intestinal villi help us get energy from food?They increase the surface area inside the intestine, letting more nutrients touch the lining and be taken into the blood.

Villous Atrophy: The flattening or loss of intestinal villi, significantly reducing absorptive capacity.
Lacteal: A lymphatic capillary within a villus that absorbs dietary fats.
Brush Border Enzymes: Enzymes located on the microvilli that complete the digestion of carbohydrates and proteins.