Villus
From Memory Alpha, the free Star Trek reference.
- For the telepathic criminal, please see Villus Thed.
Villi (singular: villus) are small projections shaped like fingers extending into the interior of the small intestine and related internal organs of many living beings. In humans, the villi increase intestinal absorptive surface area 30-fold providing exceptionally efficient absorption of nutrients. There are also enzymes on the surface to aid digestion. Villus capillaries collect amino acids and simple sugars taken up by the villi into the blood stream.
In 2269, Montgomery Scott cut off a piece of the living cosmic cloud's villi and used it to regenerate the ship's antimatter reserves. (TAS: "One of Our Planets Is Missing")
