Respiratory Defense Systems
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- Respiratory Defense Systems
- Airway
- Nasal hairs
- Filter out large dust particles
- Mucociliary escalator
- Lining of trachea has layer of mucus over cilia
- Trap particles in mucus and move them up out of airway
- Mucus can be spit/coughed out or swallowed and destroyed by stomach acid
- Mucus traps particulate matter and bacteria
- Thick, sticky substance secreted by epithelial cells
- Cilia beat synchronously to move mucus and dust back toward pharynx
- Small, hair-like organelles projecting from the epithelium that move back and forth
- Nasal hairs
- Alveolar macrophages
- Large white blood cells in alveoli
- Engulfs (phagocytizes) and digests foreign material
- Airway