A Literature review

On
Mucociliary clearance mechansim
By Uwagboe Iyobosa Christabel
(BMS2005129)
Introduction
• Mucociliary clearance is the primary innate defense
mechanism of the lung.
• The functional components are the protective
mucous layer, the airway surface liquid layer and
the cilia surface of ciliated cells. (Ostrowski, 2016).
• It can also be described as the self clearing
mechansims of ghe airways in the respiratory
system.
Introduction
• It is one of the two mechanisms that protect the
lungs from inhaled particles, including infections,by
preventing them from getting to the sensitive lung
tissues.
• It is also one of the major defense mechansims of
the lungs in which mucus and potentially harmful
foreign subsg6ances contained in it are moved out.
Antomy and physiology related to
mucociliary clearance
 The cilia
• The cilia are specialized organelles that beat in
metachronal waves to propel pathogens and inhaled
particles trapped in the mucous layer out of the
airways.
• In humans, cilia are found in the lining of the
respiratory tract including the middle ear and the
sinuses,the fallopian tubes of fhe female and the
ependymal of the brain (Meeks and Bush, 2000).
• Each cilium is about 6um long and has a diameter of
250nm.
CONTD.
 The cilia
• Ciliated cells, which line the surface of the epithelium of
the airways, provide the force necessary for mucociliary
clearance by the coordinated beating of the cilia.
• They provide a force necessary to transport foreign
materials in the respiratorytract toward the mouth
where they can be swallowed.
• Proper ciliary function is absolutely required for
effective clearance.
• Any disturbance in the closely regulated functioning of
the cilia, can cause a disease.
CONTD.
• The role of cilia in the respiratory system.
1. The cilia helps to clear dust, pollen and other
debris from the airways.
2. The function of the cilia in the respiratory tract is
to beat in a synchronized manner, thereby
propelling mucus as well as substances trapped
within the mucus.
3. It helps to trap pathogens and move them out of
the respiratory tract.
The Mucus Layer
Apart from the numerous ciliated cells, the epithelial
lining of the intrapulmonary airways consists mainly
of secretory cells. These cells secrete different
antimicrobial molecules and large glycoproteins
called mucins that bund considerable amounts of
water whereby the deformable gel know has muchs
is generated. (Evans et al. 2010).The mucus ks lifted
away from the cilia by the perciliary liquid layer.
(Knowles and Boucher. 2002)