Which of the following correctly describes a structural difference between the small intestine and the colon?

• A. The small intestine has villi, while the colon does not.
• B. The small intestine lacks mucosal folds, while the colon has them.
• C. The colon has a longer length than the small intestine.
• D. The colon contains more digestive enzymes than the small intestine.

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Begin by understanding the structural and functional differences between the small intestine and the colon. The small intestine is primarily responsible for nutrient absorption, while the colon focuses on water absorption and waste processing.
2. Step 2: Recall that the small intestine has specialized structures called villi and microvilli, which increase the surface area for nutrient absorption. The colon lacks these structures because its primary function is not nutrient absorption.
3. Step 3: Consider the presence of mucosal folds. The small intestine has circular folds (plicae circulares) to further increase surface area for absorption, while the colon does not have these folds.
4. Step 4: Compare the lengths of the small intestine and the colon. The small intestine is significantly longer (approximately 6 meters) compared to the colon (approximately 1.5 meters).
5. Step 5: Evaluate the presence of digestive enzymes. The small intestine produces enzymes like maltase, sucrase, and lactase for digestion, while the colon does not produce digestive enzymes but relies on bacterial fermentation for processing undigested food.