Ciliary adaptations for the propulsion of mucus |
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| Authors: | M A Sleigh |
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| Institution: | Department of Biology, University of Southampton, U.K. |
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| Abstract: | The cilia that propel mucus are specialised for the function in their arrangement, length, some details of structure, beat pattern, beat cycle characteristics, metachronal coordination, local control of beat rate by response to mechanical stimulation and generalised control of beat rate by neurohormones. These features are matched to the properties of the visco-elastic mucus gel that is propelled at the ciliary tips above a low-viscosity periciliary layer whose depth must be regulated within defined limits. |
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