mucus
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- Nature - New developments in goblet cell mucus secretion and function
- Harvard University - Science in the News - All About That Mucus: How it keeps us healthy
- Cleveland Clinic - Phlegm and Mucus: How To Get Rid of It
- National Center for Biotechnology Information - PubMed Central - Mucus
- Frontiers - Mucus and Mucins: The Underappreciated Host Defence System
- Verywell Health - What is Mucus?
- WebMD - What Is Postnasal Drip?
- Healthline - What Causes Excess Mucus in Your Throat and What to Do About It
- MedicineNet - What is Mucus?
- Related Topics:
- mucous membrane
- secretion
- sputum
- mucoid cell
mucus, viscous fluid that moistens, lubricates, and protects many of the passages of the digestive and respiratory tracts in the body. Mucus is composed of water, epithelial (surface) cells, dead leukocytes, mucin, and inorganic salts. Mucus is produced by mucous cells, which are frequently clustered into small glands located on the mucous membrane that lines virtually the entire digestive tract. Large numbers of mucous cells occur in the mouth, where mucus is used both to moisten food and to keep the oral membranes moist while they are in direct contact with the air. Mucus in the nose helps to trap dust, bacteria, and other small inhaled particles. The stomach also has large numbers of mucous cells. Gastric mucus forms a layer about one millimetre thick that lines the stomach, protecting the organ from highly acidic gastric juice and preventing the juice from digesting the stomach itself.