This magnified image of a scan shows a cut away in the deeply folded lining of the duodenum, the first section of the small intestine. The folds are called villi, and these greatly increase the area of the lining – creating a larger surface through which food nutrients can be absorbed.
Nutrients from food are absorbed by microvilli on the surface of the villi, shown here as a green, fur-like layer. Nutrients then pass through a layer of cells (shown in blue-green) before being carried away by blood vessels in in the middle.
Their function is to increase the surface area of the small intestinal wall for absorption of the digested food. These projections absorb the protein molecules and help in the transfer of the proteins to all cells and tissues. Many blood vessels are present within these villi, that help in the absorption of digested food and carry it to the bloodstream. Later, from the bloodstream, the absorbed food is delivered to each and every cell of the body.
Picture Credit : Google