To be healthy is the cherished desire of every person. To do this, one should understand all the intricacies of a complex human body. Everyone should know what the natural microflora is. Without it, the respiratory and intestinal organs cannot function properly, many other vital processes will become impossible. Therefore, it is necessary to determine all its functions and understand the characteristics of the impact on health.
What is microflora?
The normal and natural microflora of the human body is a combination of populations of a huge number of varieties of microorganisms. All of them are combined in one name - microbiocenosis. They consider the totality of microorganisms that are in the same habitat. For example, oral microbiocenosis or intestinal microbiocenosis. All of them are invariably interconnected, representing the general microflora of the human body. The entire area of action of one microbiocenosis is called a biotope. They are called each individual microflora: the oral cavity, intestines, respiratory organs.
The natural flora of the human body
Normal microflora can be divided into optional and obligate. The main part of the microbiocenosis is obligate microflora. The optional occupies only a small area of all biotopes. The natural microflora of a healthy person forms a biological film, which creates a kind of barrier that protects the human body from various kinds of external influences. It is the result of the constant interaction of micro- and macroorganisms. Many of them penetrate the human body from water, food, various objects, as well as from the air.
Only the external integuments - the skin and mucous membranes, the oral, nasal cavity and intestinal tract - have abundant and constant natural microflora. A long evolution adapted it to dwell in the environment of the human body. As for the internal organs, they do not directly interact with the external environment and therefore do not have their own microorganisms.
What causes a violation of natural microflora
A thin biofilm covering hundreds and thousands of microorganisms of the natural flora can be damaged. The thickness of the microflora of the human body does not exceed 0.5 mm, so it is extremely sensitive to various kinds of external influences and disturbances in the functioning of internal organs. If the factor of self-defense of bacteria exceeds the compensatory capacity of the body, violations may occur associated with the development of pathologies and processes of an unfavorable nature. The most common include:
- Formation of antibiotic resistant strains.
- The appearance of other biotopes that will change the physiological and chemical structure of the former.
- The number of microorganisms involved in the process of an infectious nature will increase, as a result of which the number of pathological and dangerous conditions of human microflora will increase.
- Infections localized in different parts of the body will begin to develop: bacteria with reduced resistance to pathogens of serious diseases will appear.
- The effectiveness of treatment with chemotherapy and hormonal drugs will decrease.
Functions of normal microflora
Without a protective biofilm, the human body will not be able to work in normal mode. The natural microflora of the human body has many functions that help him carry out vital processes. Among them, the following should be highlighted:
- Participation in the metabolism.
- Involvement in the synthesis of vitamins.
- Natural microflora destroys and neutralizes toxic substances and harmful bacteria.
- It isolates elements with antibacterial properties that inhibit pathogenic bacteria.
- Helps digest detoxifying exogenous substrates and metabolites, reminiscent of the work of the liver.
- It plays a role in the development of internal organs, participates in the physiological process of inflammation of the mucosa, which allows the epithelium to be replaced.
- Normal microflora is able to perform antimutagenic work, destroying carcinogens in the intestine.
- Participates in the metabolism of carbohydrates, nitrogen compounds, steroids, as well as water-salt metabolism.
- Positive effect on the immune system.
- Participates in colonization resistance. This feature is one of the most significant.
The natural microflora of the human body and its significance should be studied by everyone who wants to have a clear idea of the state of their own body. Knowing this science will help prevent many infectious and bacterial diseases.
Age features of the microflora of the human body
Everyone is born sterile. However, during the passage of the birth canal, he captures the mother’s microflora, which was functioning at that time. Its formation begins during childbirth: microorganisms get on the baby’s mucosa and on his skin, which, under the influence of oxygen, form their own microflora on his body. In the future, it depends on the room where the birth took place, and the state of the environment. An important role in its formation is played by the method of feeding. Natural microflora becomes normal by about 3 months of life. It is at this age that it is already almost the same as that of an adult. In the future, it can change from climatic conditions, hygiene, diet, and many other external factors.
Initially, aerobes live in the oral cavity, and by the time of teething they are replaced by anaerobes. During breastfeeding, the basis of the entire microflora of the baby is bifidobacteria. They lack children who are fed artificial nutrition. Instead of bifidobacteria, gram-negative and coccal bacteria predominate in them. Microflora in this case becomes predominantly transient. That is why those who are fed with artificial mixtures so often have problems with the intestines. As they grow older, regardless of the method of feeding, a person in a normal amount appears lactobacilli and bifidobacteria.
Microflora of the skin
In humans, it is quite constant. The main types of microorganisms are contained on the skin: staphylococcal and streptococcal non-pathogenic, as well as diphtheroids, spores, rod and yeast-like fungi. In the deepest layers of the epidermis, non-pathogenic staphylococci can be found. Microbes of a pathogenic type die quickly, getting on the skin. This happens due to the antagonistic actions of natural microflora on them. Also, they are disastrously affected by the secretion of certain glands.
Scientists estimate that when people bathe or wash their hands, up to 2.5 billion diverse microorganisms are washed off their skin. Therefore, the state of a person’s natural microflora largely depends on his skin care. When it becomes contaminated or injured, even purulent inflammation may appear, which is a consequence of the action of pathogenic staphylococci and streptococci. That is why clean skin and constant hygiene are the key to health. People who wash their hands before each meal warn themselves against a huge amount of harmful bacteria.
Microflora of the oral cavity
Unlike the microflora of the skin, it is very diverse. Favorable temperature, high humidity, constant salivation, as well as food particles make it an ideal abode for many organisms. In the mouth of all people are: micrococcal, streptococcal, staphylococcal microorganisms, spore and acidophilus coli, as well as many others. About 50% of Candida yeast-like fungi predominate in the oral cavity. The simplest microorganisms live in the oral cavity: small gingival amoeba, oral trichomonads.
It is microorganisms that contribute to many diseases of the teeth and gums. They provoke: caries, purulent inflammatory processes, abscesses, phlegmon of soft tissues, stomatitis and periostitis. Therefore, the oral mucosa needs daily cleaning. There should always be an antibacterial film in the oral cavity that will prevent the development of inflammation, protect the teeth from deposits and contribute to their mineralization. By brushing your teeth after each meal, you can prevent the development of bacteria and pathogens in the microflora. You can choose the appropriate hygiene products at the dentist's consultation.
The microflora of the respiratory system
Respiratory organs do not have constant microflora. With each breath, a huge amount of dust, dirt and various microorganisms gets into the lungs of a person. Some inhaled microbes do not leave the body along with exhalation. Most of them settle in the nasal cavity, as well as in the bronchi. The upper respiratory tract contains a small part of the permanent microorganisms: staphylococcal, streptococcal bacilli, as well as pentococci and diphtheroids. Only a small part of them enters the bronchi. Most bacteria are retained in the nose, gradually being excreted with the help of eyelashes of the ciliated epithelium, which line the nasopharynx and bronchi.
Intestinal microflora
The role of the microflora of the human body begins from birth. A healthy child takes the microflora of the mother while passing through the birth canal. A few hours after the birth of the light in his stomach, traces of maternal bacteria can be detected. They spread throughout the body from the oral cavity to the anus. Around the 3rd day, normal and natural microflora completely colonize the intestines of the child. On day 10, the intestinal microflora begins to actively replenish with bifidobacteria. They enter the body from breast milk.
What affects the microflora of a newborn
There are several factors that affect the normal microflora of the human body. Among them, the most important are the following:
- Diseases of a woman, especially of a gynecological nature.
- Heavy labor.
- Taking antibacterial medications by the mother.
- Violations of the feeding process.
- Lesions of internal organs of various nature, including the central nervous system of the child.
All these factors have a significant impact on the formation of the microflora of the body in a healthy person. They also determine its composition. A healthy one-year-old child should have microflora with a bifidobacteria content of at least 90%. They will be able to provide the body with proper protection against pathogenic microorganisms.
Natural microflora of an adult
In adulthood, a person stabilizes the growth of microflora. The composition of intestinal fungi begins to change. This is an absolutely normal physiological process that does not require treatment. In older people, the number of bifidobacteria is significantly reduced, lactobacillary flora becomes less saturated. The aging process of the whole organism is reflected in the microflora. The content of Escherichia rises. The active fermentation activity of E. coli is also reduced.
The microflora of the human body and microbiology are an incredibly interesting science. When studying it, many are amazed at how complex the human body is. Not a single microorganism remains indifferent when it enters the human body. Microbiology is one of the most popular sciences of the modern world.