this post was submitted on 27 Feb 2024
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I recall this question coming up on Reddit with some regularity (no pun intended). The typical answer I saw was something like "your rectum has a really strong immune system"
Rectum? Damn near killed um
They hate us cuz they anus.
Butt, butt what?
We donβt love them holes
Reddit tier comment
This line never fails to make me chuckle
Rectum? I hardly knew 'em
That's what I remember reading, too. I think that particular area gets its own lymph node system or something like that. Similar to how our head and neck have their own dedicated system.
Those areas are prone to bacteria, so they get beefed up protections.
Something kinda like that. They're called Peyer's Patches, and they're like a base of operations for immune cells. They not only gather there, but they also scout out the bacteria present by reaching through the intestinal lining and pulling some of the stuff through.
Also, a lot of bacteria in our guts aren't really trying to get into our system. The intestinal epithelium produces mucus to prevent bacteria from getting close to the intestinal lining, and most bacteria are pretty chill with that
Damn, it's gotta suck to be born an immune cell and get assigned to work out of the butthole for your short life.
It suck to be an immune cell in general. Many disease-causing bacteria have evolved ways to subvert and kill immune cells in spectacular ways. And immune cells generally just have pretty short lifespans to begin with
Yep. I recall the same thing. More immune system stuff hangs out around your butthole all ready to woop some ass.