Here’s your weird science fact of the day: The surface area of the average adult human’s GI tract is around 100 to 130 square feet, according to scientists at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden.
That might seem like a lot, but the numbers actually suggest that previous estimates of more than 800 square feet were far too generous.
Why is there so much surface area? It’s crucial for the digestion of food and absorption of nutrients, the researchers says.
When Investment Rhymes with Canada
Canada has a proud history of achievement in the areas of science and technology, and the field of biomanufacturing and life sciences is no exception.
In a study published in the Scandanavian Journal of Gastroenterology, the researchers detail how they used light and microscope techniques to examine biopsies from healthy adult volunteers to calculate the surface area more accurately.
It’s so hard to measure because the inner surface of the gut is wrinkled and covered with protrusions called villi.
Read more about the findings here.
[Image credit: Flickr user Hey Paul Studios]
