Intestinal cells can change specializations during their lives. The BMP signaling pathway -- an important communication mechanism between cells -- appears to be the driver of these changes, according ...

Theoretically, for drugs that easily penetrate the intestinal mucosa, reduced villus blood flow could delay diffusion and, therefore, the rate of absorption. For example, the absorption rate for ...

Villi are tiny projections in the small intestine that help absorb nutrients and aid digestion. Damage to your villi can lead ...

Eating fructose appears to alter cells in the digestive tract in a way that enables it to take in more nutrients, according to a preclinical study from investigators at Weill Cornell Medicine and ...

This story is part of a series exploring human anatomy and physiology complexities. Each story in this collection showcases discoveries reshaping our understanding of the body's inner workings, ...

Researchers have found that the small intestine grows in response to pregnancy in mice. This partially irreversible change may help mice support a pregnancy and prepare for a second. Researchers at ...