Irritable bowel syndrome and the gut microbiota

Figures & data

Figure 1. Anatomy of the gastrointestinal tract; the myenteric plexus (6), a part of the enteric nervous system, sits between the two layers of smooth muscle that form the muscularis (5). The gut microbiota live in and on the mucous layer (2) that covers the mucosa (3) as well as within the lumen of the gastrointestinal tract (1). The gut microbiota affect and are effected by the enteric, autonomic and central nervous systems as well as being effected by the life style of the host through a variety of mechanisms. (A) The position of the small and large intestines in the human body; (B) an enlarged cross section of the small intestine; (C) a magnification of B. (1) Gut microbiota in the GI lumen; (2) mucous layer; (3) mucosa; (4) submucosa; (5) muscularis; (6) myenteric plexus.