Describe and explain how the structure of the small intestine is adapted for absorbing the products of digestion.

The small intestine's structure is adapted in two main ways to aid in the absorption of the products of digestion. Firstly, the small intestine's surface is covered in villi which help to increase the surface area of the small intestine. These villi are also filled with capillaries meaning they have a rich blood supply. This is beneficial for absorption as it means that a low diffusion gradient can be maintained as absorbed products are quickly removed from the small intestine.
Both Villi and the capillaries are one cell thick, which allows for quicker diffusion as the diffusion pathway is very short.