The purpouse of the Crypts of Lieberkuhn are to generate
cells by
mitotic division, to replace those at the tip of the
villi in the
small intestine. The villi constantly have cells removed by the
friction of
food rubbing against them, and between 50 and 200 grams of small intestine are lost every day through
faeces.
Cells produced in the Crypts of Lieberkuhn
migrate up the villi to reform parts of them at the tip.