Mucinproducing goblet cells of the colon (400X)

Mucinproducing goblet cells of the colon. Image copyright: University of Oslo, CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. (Tissue stain: H+E).

What is the function of the goblet cells?

The goblet cells produce mucin, which lies as a protective "mucus blanket" over the cylindrical epithelial cells towards the intestinal lumen. The bacteria in the lumen will therefore largely not penetrate completely to the surface of the epithelial cells, but will be blocked by the mucus.

Notice the following:

lumen of crypts
mucin inside goblet cells
lymphocytes
lamina propria surrounding the crypts
smooth muscle cells

Published August 31st 2020, updated October 20th 2021.