At the core of each villus is a lymphatic capillary called a lacteal (HA27). The lacteal contains absorbed fats in the form of chylomicrons. Blood capillaries are arranged along the periphery of the villus just beneath the epithelium. They form a loop in the villus with ladder-like connections between the two limbs of the loop. The large number of cells in the lamina propria of the villi are part of the immune system.