Tiny finger-like folds of the lining

Why are villi important?

They greatly increase surface area

What happens to villi in untreated celiac disease?

They become damaged and flattened

Small Intestine Villi Quiz: How Your Gut Absorbs Food

This small intestine villi quiz zooms in on the finger-like folds that turn digested food into fuel. Play an interactive set of 10 questions on the duodenum, jejunum and ileum, villi and microvilli, the brush border, capillaries and lacteals, surface area, vitamin B12 and celiac disease.

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🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 150 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 150s

Length
About how long is the adult small intestine?
Parts
Which is the first part of the small intestine?
Middle
Which part lies between the duodenum and ileum?
Villi
What are villi?
Area
Why are villi important?
Micro
What covers the surface of villi?
Blood
Where do absorbed sugars and amino acids go?
Lacteal
What does a lacteal absorb?
B12
Which part absorbs vitamin B12?
Celiac
What happens to villi in untreated celiac disease?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: About how long is the adult small intestine?
Answer: About 6 meters
It is folded into the abdomen.
Q2: Which is the first part of the small intestine?
Answer: Duodenum
It receives food from the stomach.
Q3: Which part lies between the duodenum and ileum?
Answer: Jejunum
Much absorption happens there.
Q4: What are villi?
Answer: Tiny finger-like folds of the lining
They cover the inner wall.
Q5: Why are villi important?
Answer: They greatly increase surface area
More surface means more absorption.
Q6: What covers the surface of villi?
Answer: Microvilli
Together they form a brush border.
Q7: Where do absorbed sugars and amino acids go?
Answer: Into capillaries in the villi
Blood carries them to the liver.
Q8: What does a lacteal absorb?
Answer: Fats
It is part of the lymph system.
Q9: Which part absorbs vitamin B12?
Answer: The ileum
It also reabsorbs bile salts.
Q10: What happens to villi in untreated celiac disease?
Answer: They become damaged and flattened
Gluten triggers the damage.

Small Intestine Villi Quiz – How Your Gut Absorbs Food

The small intestine runs about 6 meters and has three parts: the duodenum, jejunum and ileum. Its lining is covered in tiny finger-like folds called villi, which hugely increase the surface for absorbing nutrients.

Each villus is covered in even smaller microvilli that form a brush border with digestive enzymes. Sugars and amino acids pass into capillaries, while fats enter small lymph vessels called lacteals.

The ileum absorbs vitamin B12 and recycles bile salts. In celiac disease, gluten triggers damage that flattens the villi, making it harder for the body to absorb food.

What This Quiz Teaches

Biology fans will enjoy these questions.

How long it is
Which parts it has
What villi do
Where nutrients go
What celiac disease does

Did You Know?

Most digestion finishes in the small intestine.
Muscle waves called peristalsis move food along.
The pancreas sends enzymes to the duodenum.
Villi cells are replaced every few days.
Its total surface area is roughly that of a small apartment.