THE INTESTINAL VILLI 



291 



the muscle fibres of the villas aid in expelling the contents of the 

 lacteal. 



The body of the villus consists of diffuse lymphoid tissue hav- 

 ing a reticular stroma in which the lacteal, the muscle fibres, and 

 the blood vessels are embedded. 



Each villus is supplied with one or more arterioles which enter 

 at the base and pass to the inner third, where they form an abun- 

 dant capillary plexus about the blind extremity of the lacteal and 



FIG. 238. SEVERAL VILLI FROM THE SMALL INTESTINE OF THE DOG, IN LONGITUDINAL 



SECTION. 



a, villi ; i, crypts of Lieberkuhn. Hematein and eosin. Photo, x 185. 



in the apex of the villus. Minute venules collect the blood from 

 this plexus, and, following the course of the lacteal, make their 

 exit from the base of the villus to join the venous plexus in the 

 deeper part of the mucosa. 



The lining epithelium of the intestine, which also clothes the 

 villi, rests upon a distinct reticulated basement membrane and 

 consists of columnar and goblet cells. The large number and 

 peculiar appearance of the goblet cells is highly characteristic of 

 this tissue. 





