Figure 2. The mucus layers of small and large intestine.
Anti-bacterial compounds secreted by the Paneth cells together with the mucus keep bacteria from the epithelium in the small intestine. The inner mucus layer of colon is formed by mucins and other molecules from the icGC and crypt GC to generate a bacterial barrier. The commensal bacteria live and utilize the mucins of the outer colon mucus layer. Created with BioRender.com