Campbell Biology (10th Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0321775651
ISBN 13: 978-0-32177-565-8

Chapter 6 - Test Your Understanding - Level 3 - Synthesis/Evaluation - Page 123: 12

Answer

The intestinal epithelial cells shown have lots of surface area facing the lumen of the small intestine, surface are being critical for absorption, while they act as a barrier due to the impervious tight junctions which connect them, preventing the leakage of material between them from the lumen to other parts of the abdomen or vice versa.

Work Step by Step

Review the structure of these cells and their special parts/aspects: the microvilli and the tight junctions.
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