• Dave@lemmy.nz
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    1 day ago

    It says spines, rather than spine. The esophagus is covered in spines (think like the spines on a porcupine, not a backbone).

        • Crankenstein@lemmy.world
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          8 hours ago

          More a biology lesson. It’s the scientific word for the appendage. Human’s — I believe all mammals as well — have them lining our lower intestines. They help us absorb nutrients by increasing surface area.

          The word itself, papillae, just means “a small, rounded part which protrudes from an organ/ nipple” from Latin.