You may think of the small intestine as a smooth tube that winds its way through your abdomen. But if you were to look really closely at the inside of the intestine, you would see that it is lined ...

Science is well aware of the important role that gut bacteria and their interactions with the gastrointestinal tract play in our overall health. Villi, tiny finger-like structures that line the inside ...

The intestinal epithelium of our body consists of a myriad of elongated villi microarchitectures which increase the total surface area of the inner wall for better absorption of digested nutrients.

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, ...