Villus

A minute finger-like projection from a membranous surface. Millions of villi are present on the mucous lining of the small intestine. Each intestinal villus contains a small lymph vessel and a network of capillaries. Its surface is covered with hundreds of hairlike structures (microvilli). The villi and microvilli provide a large surface area for absorption of food molecules from the intestine into the blood and the lymphatic system.