Why does our anus have receptors for spicy stuff?
In: Biology
It’s not just your anus – it’s your entire skin too. And this receptor isn’t really for detecting spicy stuff – it’s actually to detect heat (i.e. high temperature). Your skin has heat receptors to prevent damage, so that you can quickly move away from something hot (e.g. pull away your hand) before it burns you (too badly). For some reason, these heat receptors (at least some of them) are also chemically sensitive to a molecule that’s present in spicy foods like chili peppers (specifically the *capsaicin* molecule).
So the reason the anus has these receptors is because your entire skin has them. Only, your anus isn’t protected by an outer, tougher layer, like say the skin on your arms, and so your anus is generally more sensitive. But if you rub a hot chili pepper on your arm you’ll feel it burning too.
In addition to being more sensitive, the reason the anus may stand out as “uniquely” sensitive to spicy food (or the remains thereof) is that these receptors don’t exist in your intestines. So you don’t feel that extra spicy Thai Curry going through your guts, but only when you poop it out as it suddenly hits those pesky receptors again, making it seem like your anus is the culprit, when arguably it’s more the absence of these receptors in your gut that is causing this surprising sensation (basically, just be happy it doesn’t burn the whole time).
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