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Browse the Medical Dictionary:: A; B; C; D; E; F; G; H; I; J; K; L; M; N; O; P; Q; R; S; T; U; V; W; X; Y; Z; #

villus

Main Entry:: vil·lus
Pronunciation:: \ˈvil-əs\
Function:: noun
Inflected Form(s):: plural vil·li \-ˌī\

: a small slender vascular process: as

[villus illustration]

a: one of the minute fingerlike processes which more or less thickly cover and give a velvety appearance to the surface of the mucous membrane of the small intestine and serve in the absorption of nutriment and of which each has a central blindly ending lacteal surrounded by blood capillaries and covered with epithelium b: one of the branching processes of the surface of the chorion of the developing embryo of most mammals that are restricted to particular areas or diffusely arranged and over parts of the surface become vascular and help to form the placenta

Learn more about "villus" and related topics at Britannica.com

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