gut flora

(noun)

The microorganisms that normally live in the digestive tract of animals.

Related Terms

  • saccharolytic
  • vitamin

Examples of gut flora in the following topics:

  • Digestive Processes of the Large Intestine

    • In the large intestine, a host of microorganisms known as "gut flora" help digest remaining food matter and create vitamins.
    • Gut flora consists of microorganisms that live in the digestive tracts of animals and is the largest reservoir of human flora.
    • It is estimated that these gut flora have around a hundred times as many genes in aggregate as there are in the human genome.
    • Without gut flora, the human body would be unable to utilize some of the undigested carbohydrates it consumes; some types of gut flora have enzymes that human cells lack for breaking down certain polysaccharides.
    • Summarize the digestive processes of the gut flora of the large intestine
  • Bacterial Flora

    • The normal flora is also essential for the development of certain tissues, including the cecum and lymphatics.
    • Bacterial flora is also involved in the production of cross-reactive antibodies.
    • These are antibodies produced by the immune system against the normal flora, that are also effective against related pathogens, and prevent infection or invasion.
    • Escherichia coli is one of the many species of bacteria present in the human gut.
  • Is Being Too Clean a Bad Thing?

    • ., gut flora or probiotics), and parasites increases susceptibility to allergic diseases by suppressing natural development of the immune system.
  • Development of Metabolism

    • The gut or gastrointestinal tract is an endoderm-derived structure.
    • These terms describe both segments of the primitive gut and components of the definitive gut.
    • In later development each segment of the gut gives rise to specific gut and gut-related structures.
    • Components derived from the gut proper, including the stomach and colon, develop as swellings or dilatations of the primitive gut.
    • In contrast, gut-related derivatives—those structures that derive from the primitive gut but are not part of the gut proper—mainly develop as out-pouchings of the primitive gut.
  • Digestive System Development

    • The gut is an endoderm-derived structure.
    • Although these terms are often used in reference to segments of the primitive gut, they are also used regularly to describe components of the definitive gut as well.
    • Each segment of the gut gives rise to specific gut and gut-related structures in later development.
    • Components derived from the gut proper, including the stomach and colon, develop as swellings or dilatations of the primitive gut.
    • In contrast, gut-related derivatives (structures that derive from the primitive gut, but are not part of the gut proper), generally develop as out-pouchings of the primitive gut.
  • Absorption and Feces Formation in the Large Intestine

    • Within the large intestine, digestion is retained long enough to allow fermentation via gut bacteria, which break down some of the substances that remain after processing in the small intestine.
    • Intestinal flora are also essential in the development of certain tissues, including the cecum and lymphatics.
  • Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)

    • These have been found to be integral in autonomic function, particularly in the gut and the lungs.
    • Numerous afferent sensory fibers innervate the gut.
    • As well as sending information concerning irritation and over distension, they can also pick up the presence of chemical signals in the gut.
    • An illustration of neural control of the gut wall by the autonomic nervous system and the enteric nervous system.
  • Enteric Nervous System

    • When stimulated, this plexus increases the tone of the gut as well as the velocity and intensity of its contractions.
    • This plexus is concerned with motility throughout the whole gut.
    • More than 90% of the body's serotonin is in the gut, as well as about 50% of the body's dopamine, which is currently being studied to further our understanding of its utility in the brain.
    • If the gut tract is irritated or distended, afferent nerves will send signals to the medulla of the brain for further processing.
    • An illustration of neural control of the gut wall by the autonomic nervous system and the enteric nervous system.
  • Submucosa

  • Acne

    • The most common bacteria that causes acne is Propionibacterium acnes, an anaerobic bacteria that is part of the natural bacterial flora of the face.
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