villus

Definition

A small projection from a membrane, particularly those found in the mucous membranes of the intestines.

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin villus (“shaggy hair”).

Example Sentences

• "where a villus comes next to a gland the short cubical cells of the gland may be traced into the columnar cells of the villus , the hyaline border becoming more marked"
• "Studies of the viable blood cells with phase contrast microscopy showed peculiar cells that had numerous short villi and were arbitrarily called “hairy cells.”"

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