Understanding Villi 2025

What role do they play in digestion? Does this matter to M'Kenna's condition?

Watch the video clip to review and then interact with the questions.

You will earn participation credit for completing the lesson.

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​Understanding Villi

VILLI ARE MICROSCOPIC STRUCTURES THAT LINE THE SMALL INTESTINE

THEY CAN BE SEEN WITH A MICROSCOPE

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VILLI

THIS IS A PICTURE OF HEALTHY VILLI OF THE SMALL INTESTINE

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VILLI

Multiple Choice

What must happen to food molecules AS or BEFORE they reach the middle of the small intestine, for digestion to be successful?

• the molecules have to be broken into smaller molecules

• food molecules have to be joined together to make bigger molecules

• food molecules have to be elimated

• food molecules have to disappear

Multiple Choice

What is the function/goal of the VILLI in the small intestine, based on what you saw in the simulation?

• increase space for absorption of food molecules

• create enzymes

• to help move food through the intestine

• to help break down food molecules

Dropdown

When there are taller ​

Select answer

there are more ​

Select answer

that have openings for the food molecules to move through to the blood stream.

Dropdown

When/if you have FLAT VILLI, ​

Select answer

absorption happens.

Match

Match the variables from our villi simulation.

• Manipulated or Independent Variable

• Responding or Dependent Variable

• Controlled Variable

Villi Height

% Food Absorption

amount of food particles in intestine

• Villi Height

• % Food Absorption

• amount of food particles in intestine

Multiple Choice

Look at the sample data pictured. What does it tell us?

• The longer the villi, the more absorption occurs

• The shorter the villi, the more absorption occurs.

• There is no pattern in villi length & absorption.

• Absorption can be high with short villi.

Dropdown

M'Kenna has ​

Select answer

food molecules in her small intestine than a healthy person. Her villi might be ​

Select answer

than a healthy person's.

Cells to Systems...

We can see how the digestive system is made up of other, smaller parts, and those parts are made of other parts! The digestive system is a subsystem of the human body, but the parts of the digestive system are also subsystems. Each part of the digestive system has components that work together to complete a task, making each part a subsystem.

Match

Match & sequence the body systems together:

• M'Kenna's Body

• Digestive System

• Small Intestine

• Villi

• Cells of Villi

System

Subsystem

Organ

Tissue

Cells

• System

• Subsystem

• Organ

• Tissue

• Cells

Analysis was mixed but based on the previous analysis, you eliminated 2 conditions, possibly 3.

That means we are left with:
Celiac
Irritable Bowel
Crohn's Disease (possibly)

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Class Analysis
at this point:

Consider the remaining conditions

Look through the next 3 slides to review all information you have seen: Symptoms, Endoscope Images, and M'Kenna's biopsy (new).

Which one do you think BEST accounts for her digestive system distress?

Multiple Choice

What do you believe should be M'Kenna's diagnosis?

• IRRITABLE BOWEL

• CROHN'S

• CELIAC

Open Ended

What do you think is the STRONGEST evidence toward this diagnosis?