Question

What is the role of cilia in the epithelium of airways and how they work?

Answer 1

Answer

• Most of the region of the respiratory tract is lined with psuedostratified ciliated columnar epilthelium.
• The cells in the epithelium contain cilia.
• The function of cilia is to remove foregin particles and pathorgens from the airway and prevent them from reaching the lungs.
• The goblets cells present in mucosal lining of respiratory tract secrete mucus in order to trap foreign substances.
• Ciliary movement through the mucous layer sweeps the mucus and foregin particles in one direction out of the tract.
• This mucus reaches throst or nasal cavity where it is expelled through mouth and nose respectively.