Hello! I have been a doctor for 21 years. My name is Georgy Olegovich Sapego. In this article I will talk about mucus in the gastrointestinal tract.
The topic came from complaints about mucus filling the bodies of some readers. These unfortunates believe that the process of mucus formation must be stopped at the very bottom, until the mucus gets out of the nose. Therefore, I'll tell you just about the lower sources of mucus, which are located closer to the priest.
Mucus is secreted on the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, eyes, vagina and cervix. In each of these protected areas, mucus performs some of its specialized tasks. In fact, it is a semi-permeable barrier through which nutrients, water, gases, hormones and germ cells can pass. Normally, most bacteria cannot pass through mucus. That is, mucus protects the epithelium (lining) of the mucous membrane.
Special cells and glands in the mucous membranes continually secrete mucus and keep it moving.
Mucus is so structured that it can exhibit the properties of both a liquid and a solid.
There are usually two layers of mucus on the mucous membrane. The bottom layer looks more like a solid. They stick to the epithelium and lie motionless. The upper layer is more fluid and mobile. This is to ensure that the mucus is not washed off.
When people blink, swallow, digest food and do something else, then only the upper, more fluid and mobile layer is displaced from the mucous membranes, and the lower one remains in place.
In the stomach and colon, the mucus layer is especially thick. In the stomach, mucus must protect against acid and rough food. In the large intestine, mucus protects against the huge number of microbes that live there.
Colon
The bottom layer of mucus in the large intestine works like a sieve. It is called the "network". It does not allow microbes larger than 0.5 micrometers to pass through. This is important because the contents of the colon are solid bacteria.
If something happens to the mucus layer in the large intestine, bacteria will attack the intestinal wall. From this, inflammation will begin. Germs will attack the intestines, bleeding ulcers and all that.
The inner dense layer of mucus in the intestine gradually dissolves, liquefies, absorbs water, increases in volume 2 - 3 times and shifts into the intestinal lumen closer to the intestinal contents. In 1 - 2 days, the mucus layer is completely replaced. This roughly corresponds to the time it takes for food to travel through the entire digestive tract.
The closer to the rectum, the more bacteria in the intestine. Accordingly, the mucus layer will be thicker. So the readers are right - there is a particularly thick layer of mucus in the lower parts of our body.
The microbes in the intestines feed not only on our food, but also on mucus from the intestinal walls. This is usually done by pathogenic bacteria. They eat up the mucus layer and get up to the intestinal wall. There they can cause infection.
Prebiotics
Germs don't need to eat away mucus. If they have enough tasty food (prebiotics), then they will not digest our mucus and will not attack the intestines. Therefore, prebiotics are useful. Prebiotics include, for example, dietary fiber (fiber). Therefore, fiber is good for the intestines.
We ourselves do not know how to digest prebiotics. We don't need them. Therefore, microbes do not steal anything from us. They just eat up the undigested leftovers.
It turns out like this
We eat fiber. Then the microbes feed on this fiber and, in gratitude, do not eat our mucus on the intestinal wall. The mucus stays in place and protects the intestines from microbial attack. Everyone is happy.
You still don't want mucus in your gut? What's wrong with her?
If you liked the article, then like it and subscribe to my channel. Check out my articles on related topics:
Gut bacterial overgrowth
Irritable bowel syndrome
How soap is produced in the intestines
