But anyway, what exactly is this slippery secretion found in our body? Well for starters, if you think its only found in our noses, you're wrong. You can find it in throat, oesophagus and even your stomach!
It is produced by mucous cells found in mucous glands.The mucus serves to protect against infectious agents such as fungi, bacteria and viruses.
The average human produces about a litre of mucus everyday. To put this into perspective, 1 litre is the same as 2 500ml Coca Cola Plastic Bottles.
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| That is a lot of Mucus. |
In the Respiratory System:
Mucus aids in the protection of the lungs by trapping foreign particles that enter it, in particular, through the nose, during normal breathing. Small particles such as dust, particulate pollutants, and allergens are caught in the nasal or airway mucus and are prevented from entering the system. In addition, mucus aids in moisturizing the inhaled air and prevents tissues such as the nasal and airway epithelia from drying out. Nasal and airway mucus is produced continuously, with most of it swallowed unconsciously even when the mucus is dried.
In the Digestive System:
Mucus acts as a lubricant for materials that must pass over membranes. For example, mucus is present in the oesophagus for food to slide down easily, and not get stuck in the tube. A layer of of mucus along the inner walls of the stomach is vital to protect the cell linings of the stomach from the highly acidic environment within the stomach.
During Cold Weather:
The cillia which normally sweeps mucus away from the nostrils and toward the back of the throat, become sluggish, which causes the mucus to run down and drip from the nose. This is known as a runny nose. It is a symptom of the common cold. It may also thicken in the cold weather, causing what is known as a blocked nose.
This concludes my last post of the month, see you in March!
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