Villi are tiny projections in the small intestine that absorb nutrients from food. Diseases like celiac disease and inflammatory bowel disease can damage villi and cause malabsorption. Villi are ...

Intestinal cells can change specializations during their lives. The BMP signaling pathway—an important communication mechanism between cells—appears to be the driver of these changes. That is what ...

The human small intestine is an essential organ that helps us absorb nutrients and vitamins from food. It is an average of 6 meters long and is covered with millions of villi that are separated by ...

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have identified three types of nerve cells connected to the intestinal villi, suggesting that previously unknown neural networks regulate fluid balance in the gut.

This story is part of a series exploring human anatomy and physiology complexities. Each story in this collection showcases discoveries reshaping our understanding of the body's inner workings, ...