Light microscopy of small bowel epithelium showing goblet cells filled with pale stained mucoid droplets. Tall slender enterocytes are abundant. Goblet cell mucus protects the epithelium. The purple-stained band lining the epithelial surface is composed of many millions of microvilli (a brush border ) that are finger-like membrane projections serving to increase cell surface are for absorbing nutrients. Magnification x520 when printed at 10cm.