Villous erosion of the lining of the small intestine, pill camera view. Normal villi are seen surrounding a bare pink area (upper centre). Villi are finger-like projections from the wall of the small intestine that serve to increase the surface area for absorption of food. It is not known what causes localised erosion such as this, but unless it is widespread there are no symptoms. A pill camera is a pill-sized camera that is swallowed to image the digestive tract.