Mucus Defense Mechanism
Jessica Wellman
PHSL-P215
Paper 1
The respiratory system is protected by an innate defense system. The entire respiratory tract in lined with a mucus membrane that collects foreign particles. Once the mucus, or airway surface liquid (ASL) traps particles, mucus clearance is an essential mechanism to remove the foreign particles, such as dust, bacteria, viruses and other potential pathogens, and to keep our airways and lungs clean and free of obstruction. An important mechanism for clearing mucus involves moving water across the membrane, out of the cell, into the mucus. This movement of water is a result of chloride and sodium transport across the membrane. This method, along with other mechanisms is what ensures fluidity of the mucus, resulting …show more content…
The most important component of the respiratory tract’s defense mechanism is the clearance of mucus from our airways and other parts of our respiratory system, including the lungs. With cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator and other channels, chloride and sodium are able to flow out of the cell, allowing water to leave the cell and into the mucus layer to keep it thin and fluid. Because of this, our respiratory tract is able to stay clean and free of obstruction and potentially harmful particles. When there is a mutation found in the CFTR gene, chloride isn’t able to leave the cell, preventing sodium and water from leaving as well. This results in a thick mucus layer, obstructing the airway and trapping potentially harmful particles in our body, which could lead to infection. This gene mutation is what causes Cystic Fibrosis, the thick mucus buildup mostly affecting the lungs, but also seen in the pancreas, liver, and other …show more content…
A., & Hanrahan, J. W. (2012). Physiology of epithelial chloride and fluid secretion. Cold Spring Harbor perspectives in medicine, 2(6).
Randell, S. H., & Boucher, R. C. (2006). Effective mucus clearance is essential for respiratory health. American journal of respiratory cell and molecular biology, 35(1), 20-28.
Stanfield, C.L. (2016). Principles of human physiology. New York City, New York:
PHSL-P215
Paper 1
The respiratory system is protected by an innate defense system. The entire respiratory tract in lined with a mucus membrane that collects foreign particles. Once the mucus, or airway surface liquid (ASL) traps particles, mucus clearance is an essential mechanism to remove the foreign particles, such as dust, bacteria, viruses and other potential pathogens, and to keep our airways and lungs clean and free of obstruction. An important mechanism for clearing mucus involves moving water across the membrane, out of the cell, into the mucus. This movement of water is a result of chloride and sodium transport across the membrane. This method, along with other mechanisms is what ensures fluidity of the mucus, resulting …show more content…
The most important component of the respiratory tract’s defense mechanism is the clearance of mucus from our airways and other parts of our respiratory system, including the lungs. With cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator and other channels, chloride and sodium are able to flow out of the cell, allowing water to leave the cell and into the mucus layer to keep it thin and fluid. Because of this, our respiratory tract is able to stay clean and free of obstruction and potentially harmful particles. When there is a mutation found in the CFTR gene, chloride isn’t able to leave the cell, preventing sodium and water from leaving as well. This results in a thick mucus layer, obstructing the airway and trapping potentially harmful particles in our body, which could lead to infection. This gene mutation is what causes Cystic Fibrosis, the thick mucus buildup mostly affecting the lungs, but also seen in the pancreas, liver, and other …show more content…
A., & Hanrahan, J. W. (2012). Physiology of epithelial chloride and fluid secretion. Cold Spring Harbor perspectives in medicine, 2(6).
Randell, S. H., & Boucher, R. C. (2006). Effective mucus clearance is essential for respiratory health. American journal of respiratory cell and molecular biology, 35(1), 20-28.
Stanfield, C.L. (2016). Principles of human physiology. New York City, New York: