intestinal barrier
Type: concept Aliases: gut barrier tight junctions intestinal permeability
Systems Analogy
A physical perimeter gate that lets authorized transport trucks enter the compound while keeping external contaminants out.
The mucosal epithelial layer and associated tight junction complexes of the gastrointestinal tract that selectively regulate nutrient absorption while blocking pathogens and macromolecules.
Scientific Sources & Verbatim Definitions
- Empirical StudyTurner JR. Intestinal mucosal barrier function in health and disease. Nat Rev Immunol. 2009;9(11):799-809. ↗
"The intestinal barrier prevents the crossing of luminal antigens while facilitating the transport of nutrients and solutes."