Villi are tiny projections in the small intestine that absorb nutrients from food. Diseases like celiac disease and inflammatory bowel disease can damage villi and cause malabsorption. Villi are ...

Intestinal tuft cells are epithelial sentinels that trigger host defense upon detection of parasite-derived compounds. While they represent potent targets for immunomodulatory therapies in ...

The intestinal epithelium undergoes fast turnover, and the villus length in the small intestine gradually decreases from the duodenum to the ileum. However, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly ...

Intestinal cells can change specializations during their lives. The BMP signaling pathway -- an important communication mechanism between cells -- appears to be the driver of these changes, according ...

Villi are tiny projections in the small intestine that help absorb nutrients and aid digestion. Damage to your villi can lead ...

Cells on the inner surface of the intestine are replaced every few days. But, how does this work? It was always assumed that cells leave the intestinal surface because excess cells are pushed out. In ...

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, ...