How does your immune system know which germs are in your gut? M cells grab little samples and pass them through, like a mail slot in a door.
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Your small intestine has little patches of immune cells, called Peyer's patches. M cells sit in the lining right on top of these patches.
Most gut lining cells have a thick brush of tiny fingers on top. M cells only have short little folds. Their bottom side has a deep pocket, where immune cells snuggle in.
Scroll up to the 3D model and press Pass it through to watch a sample travel to the immune cells.
M cells grab tiny bits from inside the gut, like pieces of germs. They carry them straight through the cell and drop them into the pocket.
The immune cells waiting there study the samples. If something is harmful, they get your body ready to fight it. That helps your gut stay healthy.
M cells are like a mail slot. They don't keep the mail. They just pass it through to the immune cells inside!