Microvillus
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(Redirected from Microvilli)
A microvillus (usually not occurring alone, so usually referred to as the plural microvilli) is a small (0.08 µm in diameter, some µm long) hairlike structure on the surface of absorptive and secretory epithelial cells to increase their surface area approximately 600-fold (human), thus facilitating absorption and secretion, for example in the gut.
Microvilli also occur in sensory cells of the inner ear, in the cells of taste buds, and in olfactory receptor cells.
Microvilli are composed of actin filaments, and are cross-linked by fimbrin and villin, the latter being exclusive to microvilli.
See also
