villus
noun pl. villi
- Anat. any of numerous hairlike or fingerlike vascular processes on certain mucous membranes of the body, as of the small intestine, serving to secrete mucus, absorb fats, etc., or of the chorion in the mammalian placenta, serving in the exchange of food materials, etc. between the mother and the fetus
- Bot. any of the long, soft, fine hairs on certain plants, as mosses
See villus in American Heritage Dictionary 4
(vĭlˈəs)
noun pl. vil·li (vĭlˈī) - Biology A minute projection arising from a mucous membrane, especially:
a. One of the numerous vascular projections of the small intestine.
b. One of the fingerlike projections of the chorion that contribute to the formation of the placenta in mammals.
- Botany A fine, hairlike epidermal outgrowth.
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