Molecular Biology Of The Cell 6th Edition by Bruce Alberts, Alexander Johnson, Julian Lewis, David Morgan, Martin Raff, Keith Roberts, Peter Walter

Exercise 6

Microvilli increase the surface area of intestinal cells, providing more efficient absorption of nutrients. Microvilli are shown in profile and cross section in Figure Q11-1. From the dimensions given in the figure, estimate the increase in surface area that microvilli provide (for the portion of the plasma membrane in contact with the lumen of the gut) relative to the corresponding surface of a cell with a "flat" plasma membrane.