Intestinal villus. Light micrograph of an intestinal villus in cross section. The villus is lined with simple columnar epithelium, containing two main types of cell. The enterocytes (pale brown with long grey nuclei) are involved in digestion and absorption. The goblet cells (pink) make and secrete mucus to lubricate food and protect against self digestion. In the centre of the villus is the lamina propria. This contains blood and lymph and is where digestive products are absorbed. Villi are folded projections of the lining of the small intestine. They greatly increase the surface area where absorption can take place. Stain and magnification unknown.