About Lesson
Adaptations of the ileum to its functions
- It is long to provide a large surface area for digestion and absorption of food.
- It is narrow to bring digested food into close contact with the walls of the ileum for easier absorption of food.
- It is highly coiled to slow down movement of food and thus allowing more time for digestion and absorption.
- It is highly coiled to increase the surface area for digestion and absorption of food.
- Has numerous villi and microvilli to increase surface area for digestion and absorption of food.
- Has thin epithelium to shorten diffusion distance for faster absorption of food.
- Has highly vascularized villi (with dense network of blood capillaries) to maintain a steep concentration gradient for faster diffusion of digested food
- Presence of lacteals in the villi for absorption of fatty acids and glycerol.
- More muscular walls to allow peristalsis;
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