lacteal

Small vessel responsible for absorbing fat in the small intestine. Occurring in the fingerlike villi of the ileum, lacteals have a milky appearance and drain into the lymphatic system.

Before fat can pass into the lacteal, bile from the liver causes its emulsification into droplets small enough for attack by the enzyme lipase. The products of this digestion form into even smaller droplets, which diffuse into the villi. Large droplets re-form before entering the lacteal and this causes the milky appearance.