microvillus

[mahy-kroh-vil-uhs]

noun

Cell Biology.

plural

microvilli 

1. any of the small, fingerlike projections of the surface of an epithelial cell.

microvillus

/ ˌmaɪkrəʊˈvɪləs /

noun

1. physiol a thin protuberance present in great abundance at the surface of some epithelial cells, notably in the gut, thus increasing the surface area available for absorption

Other Word Forms

• microvillar adjective
• microvillous adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of microvillus¹

First recorded in 1950–55; micro- + villus

Example Sentences

A microvillus is a little finger-like cell membrane projection.

Read more on Scientific American

Five days later, however, they could see “baby cells” budding, some of them with the distinctive hair, or microvillus, on top.

Read more on Scientific American