Small Intestine

The absorptive surface area of the small intestine is actually about 250 square meters (almost 2,700 square feet) – the size of a tennis court!

It is Built with circular folds which not only increases the surface area, but also regulates the flow of digested food.

The folds are covered with cells that help absorb nutrients from the food that passes through. These projected cells are called villi. On the villi  tiny hairlike structures called microvilli. The microvilli increase the surface of each individual cell so that it can absorb more nutrients.

Although the small intestine is narrower than the large intestine, it measures about 22 feet (or seven meters) on average!