MUCUS

Invertebrates, mucus (adjectival form: “mucous”) is a slippery secretion produced by and covering mucous membranes. Mucous fluid is typically produced from mucous cells found in mucous glands. Mucous cells secrete products that are rich in glycoproteins and water. Mucous fluid may also originate from mixed glands, which contain both serous and mucous cells. It is a viscous colloid containing antiseptic enzymes (such as lysozyme), immunoglobulins, inorganic salts, proteins such as lactoferrin, and glycoproteins mucins that are produced by goblet cells in the mucous membranes and submucosal glands. This mucus protects epithelial cells in the respiratory, gastrointestinal, urogenital, visual, and auditory systems in mammals, the epidermis in amphibians, and the gills in fish. This mucus’s major function is to protect against infectious agents such as fungi, bacteria, and viruses. The average human body produces about a liter of mucus per day. Bony fish, hagfish, snails, slugs, and some other invertebrates also produce external mucus. In addition to serving a protective function against infectious agents, such mucus provides protection against toxins produced by predators, can facilitate movement, and may play a role in communication.

RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

In the respiratory system, mucus aids in protecting the lungs by trapping foreign particles that enter it, particularly through the nose, during normal breathing. “Phlegm” is a specialized term for mucus restricted to the respiratory tract, whereas the term “nasal mucus” describes the nasal passages’ secretions. The nasal mucosa produces nasal mucus, and mucal tissues lining the airways (trachea, bronchus, bronchioles) are produced by specialized airway epithelial cells (goblet cells) and submucosal glands. Small particles such as dust, particulate pollutants, and allergens, and infectious agents such as bacteria are caught in the viscous nasal or airway mucus and prevented from entering the system. This event, along with the respiratory mucus layer’s continual movement toward the oropharynx, helps prevent foreign objects from entering the lungs during breathing. This explains why coughing often occurs in smokers. The body’s natural reaction is to increase mucus production. 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 are produced continuously, with most of them swallowed unconsciously, even when dried. Increased mucus production in the respiratory tract is a symptom of many common illnesses, such as the common cold and influenza. Hypersecretion of mucus can occur in inflammatory respiratory diseases such as respiratory allergies, asthma, and chronic bronchitis. The presence of mucus in the nose and throat is normal, but increased quantities can impede comfortable breathing and must be cleared by blowing the nose or expectorating phlegm from the throat.

DISEASES INVOLVING THE MUCUS

In general, nasal mucus is clear and thin, serving to filter air during inhalation. During times of infection, mucus can change color to yellow or green either as a result of trapped bacteria or due to the body’s reaction to viral infection. The green color of mucus comes from the heme group in the iron-containing enzyme myeloperoxidase secreted by white blood cells as a cytotoxic defense during a respiratory burst. In the case of bacterial infection, the bacterium becomes trapped in already clogged sinuses, breeding in the moist, nutrient-rich environment. Antibiotics may be used to treat the secondary infection in these cases but will, in general, not help with the original cause; in the case of a viral infection such as cold or flu, the first stage and also the last stage of the infection cause the production of clear, thin mucus in the nose or back of the throat. As the body begins to react to the virus (generally one to three days), mucus thickens and may turn yellow or green. Viral infections cannot be treated with antibiotics and are a major avenue for their misuse. Treatment is generally symptom-based; often, it is sufficient to allow the immune system to fight off the virus over time.

MUCUS AS A MEDICAL SYMPTOM

Increased mucus production in the upper respiratory tract is a symptom of many common ailments, such as the common cold. Nasal mucus may be removed by blowing the nose or by using traditional methods of nasal irrigation. As with a cold or allergies, the excess nasal mucus may be treated cautiously with decongestant medications. Excess mucus production in the bronchi and bronchioles, as may occur in asthma, bronchitis, or influenza, may be treated with anti-inflammatory medications as a means of reducing the airway inflammation, which triggers mucus over-production. Thickening of mucus as a “rebound” effect following overuse of decongestants may produce nasal or sinus drainage problems and circumstances that promote infection.

CYSTIC FIBROSIS

Cystic fibrosis is an inherited disease that affects the entire body, but symptoms begin mostly in the lungs with extremely viscous (thick) production of mucus that is difficult to expel.

DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

In the digestive system, mucus is used as a lubricant for materials that must pass over membranes, e.g., food passing down the esophagus. A layer of mucus along the stomach’s inner walls is vital to protect the organ’s cell linings from the highly acidic environment within it. Mucus does not digest in the intestinal tract. Mucus is also secreted from glands within the rectum due to stimulation of the mucous membrane within.

REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

In the female reproductive system, cervical mucus prevents infection. The consistency of cervical mucus varies depending on the stage of a woman’s menstrual cycle. At ovulation, cervical mucus is clear, runny, and conducive to sperm; post-ovulation, mucus becomes thicker and is more likely to block sperm. In the male reproductive system, the seminal vesicles contribute up to 100% of the total volume of the semen. They contain mucus, amino acids, prostaglandins, vitamin C, and fructose as the main energy source for the sperm.

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