Atlas One · Host Biology · Scale 05 — Tissue

Intestinal Epithelium

Single-layer columnar epithelium lining the small and large intestine. Largest surface area in the body (~32 m² via villi and microvilli). Absorbs nutrients and water; secrets mucus (goblet cells); transduces microbial signals to gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT).

Also known as: gut epithelium, intestinal mucosa, enteric epithelium, intestinal lining, GALT-associated epithelium

Scale 05 — TissueScale
draftStatus
2026-06-05Last Reviewed
This is an auto-generated stub page built from atlas entry frontmatter. A richer hand-crafted page is planned. See the atlas source for the full entry including detailed body sections.
intestinal-epithelium

Intestinal Epithelium

Single-layer columnar epithelium lining the small and large intestine. Largest surface area in the body (~32 m² via villi and microvilli). Absorbs nutrients and water; secrets mucus (goblet cells); transduces microbial signals to gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT).