IGCSE Biology / Food and digestion

The villus and absorption

Edexcel International GCSE Biology (4BI1), chapter 4: Food and digestion, specification point 2.32. Part of the full course.

Read the revision notes · IGCSE Biology past papers

The small intestine is adapted to absorb digested food quickly. Its folds, villi and microvilli give it a large surface area, while the villus structure helps substances cross into the blood or lymph.

More lessons in Food and digestion

• Carbohydrates, proteins and lipids
• Testing for starch, sugars, protein and fat
• The seven parts of a balanced diet
• What changes how much energy you need
• The parts of the digestive system
• Teeth, chewing and peristalsis
• Amylase, protease and lipase
• Bile, the liver and emulsifying fat
• Practical: measuring the energy in a food sample