📚 What is the Brush Border?
The brush border is the absorptive surface of the small intestine formed by microvilli on the surface of epithelial cells (enterocytes). It significantly increases the surface area for absorption. Think of it like a super-efficient nutrient-absorbing machine! 🚀
🧪 Quick Study Guide
- 🔬Microvilli: Finger-like projections that increase the surface area of enterocytes.
- 🧬Glycocalyx: A layer of glycoproteins and glycolipids covering the microvilli, containing enzymes for digestion.
- 📦Enterocytes: Specialized epithelial cells with microvilli, responsible for nutrient absorption.
- enzimMembrane-bound Enzymes: Enzymes like disaccharidases and peptidases embedded in the microvilli membrane, aiding in the final stages of digestion.
- 🔄Absorption: The process by which digested nutrients are transported from the intestinal lumen into the bloodstream.
Practice Quiz
-
Which of the following structures primarily contributes to the increased surface area of the small intestine for absorption?
- Cell membrane
- Microvilli
- Golgi apparatus
- Mitochondria
-
What is the glycocalyx primarily composed of?
- Phospholipids and cholesterol
- Glycoproteins and glycolipids
- Cellulose and lignin
- Nucleic acids and proteins
-
Which type of cells possesses the brush border in the small intestine?
- Goblet cells
- Enterocytes
- Paneth cells
- Chief cells
-
Which of the following enzymes is typically found in the brush border membrane?
- Amylase
- Lipase
- Disaccharidase
- Trypsin
-
What is the primary function of the brush border in nutrient absorption?
- Secretion of digestive enzymes
- Increasing surface area for absorption
- Protection against pathogens
- Hormone production
-
Where does the final digestion of carbohydrates and proteins mainly occur?
- Stomach
- Pancreas
- Liver
- Brush border
-
Which process facilitates the transport of digested nutrients from the intestinal lumen into the bloodstream?
- Secretion
- Excretion
- Absorption
- Filtration
Click to see Answers
- B
- B
- B
- C
- B
- D
- C