Question

The small intestine secretes digestive enzymes to breakdown food particles and plays an important role in the absorption of nutrients from food. Cilia and microvilli on top of the epithelial cells of the small intestine beat back-and-forth to move food down the digestive tract. The small intestine likely contains which epithelial cell?

Answer 1

Simple columnar epithelium

Step-by-step explanation:

Simple columnar epithelium tissue is characterized by the presence of longer non-ciliated columnar cells. These cells are longer than their width. The cells of the simple columnar epithelium may be modified to perform specific functions such as mucus-secreting goblet cells.

Some of the main functions of simple columnar epithelium are protection, secretion, and absorption. Simple columnar epithelium tissue lines the small intestine. The cells of this tissue have oval nuclei near their base and the columnar epithelial cells have microvilli at their apical surface to increase the surface area for absorption of food.