National Geographic - USA (2020-01)

Crypt

Gut lining

Enteroen

docrine^

cells

N(teou vraognuss^ nerve)

Dendritic

cells

Bloods

tream

Dendritic cells

Neuron

Bloodstream

Enteroendocrine cells Enterochromaffin

cells

Enteroch

romaffin

cells

Mucosa

Epithelia

cell barriel

r

Thalamus

Amygdala

ENLARGEDAREA

AREA ENLARGED

Hypothalamus

nervous Enteric

system

Microbes

Free-floatin

microbesg

Outer mucu

s

Inner (^) mucus
Enteric nervous
system
Imsystemmune
Free-floating microbes
WHAT MICROBES CAN TELL US
Mwith us. But those floating free icrobes in mucosa can work
inside the intestine tend to focus more on their own survival, some-
timif they’re harmes to our detrimful parasites.ent, especially
Ming can be sensed by imicrobial disturbance in the gut lin-mune mes-
saging (aka dendritic) cells. They
can then activate other imcells or signal distress to the brain.mune
WE NEED AN IMMUNE BOOST
The biggest comof microbes, more than munity
90 percent of the body’s total, thrives in our large intestine.
FRIENDS AND FOES
PUT DOWN THE FORK WE’RE HURT, OR HAPPY
Scientists suspect that menteroendocrine cells to release icrobes get
chemicals signaling the hypothala-
mbody in balance—to tell us we’re full.us—the brain area that keeps our
Mmaffin cells, which hold microbes can trigger enterochro-ost of the
body’s “happy chemical,” serotonin,
to signal the brain, ceptions of pain and well-being. influencing per-
Intestinal depressions called crypts provide a large surface
area to absorb fluids and interact with microbes.
DENPLAQTAUEL SKIN SALIVA INSMTESTINALL E STOMACH
1 trillion 180 billion 100 billion 40 billion 9 million
LA DIVISION OF