Light micrograph of several villi of the small intestine. Villi have a core of connective tissue forming a lamina propria supporting a simple columnar epithelium. Nerve fibres, smooth muscle, vessels and lymphoid cells are found in the core. The absorption of nutrients occurs across the many enterocytes (blue). Secretion of mucus by the small bowel is provided by the goblet cells (red) with secreted mucus seen as a thin layer that coexists with epithelial surface microvilli. Together this layer is known as the brush border as the microvilli (beyond the optical resolution seen here) resemble the hairs of a brush. Paraffin section, haematoxylin eosin/PAS stain. Magnification: x 150 when width printed at 10cm.