The second consequence of such an arrangement is a delay in the absorption of nutrients. For a example, as nutrients are absorbed by the epithelium and enter the capillary and venous net works, they may diffuse down a concentration gradient from the veins into the arteriole. Therefore they are recirculate back to the tip of villus, where they may be taken up by the villous epithelial cells at their basolateral membrane. Such an arrangement may be important for nutrition of epithelial cells, but it delays nutrient transport into the general circulation. As with the case for oxygen, a decrease in blood flow increase the efficientcy of this countercurrent exchange.