Question

Most of absorption of digested food in mammals takes place in the ileum. In what ways is it adapted for this function

Answer 1

1. It is very long and the inner lining is highly folded offering a large surface area for absorption.
2. Its surface area is increased further by villi and microvilli.
3. Its epithellum is very thin allowing soluble food materials to pass through faster.
4. It is richly supplied with blood capillaries and lacteals for transport of absorbed food materials.