Explain Role of the Mucous in Body Systems and Organs
- The gastrointestinal tract: The microbes which enter through the mouth are caught in the mucous and eliminated with sputum. A coating of the mucous over the intestinal lining also traps the microbes for removal in the faeces.
- Respiratory tract: The microorganisms and dust particles often enter the respiratory tract with air during breathing. Many of these are caught in the hair mesh present in the nostrils. Those which are filtered are trapped in the mucous that covers the tract. The cilia sweeps the mucous loaded with pathogens and dust particles into the pharynx. Further it is thrown out, swallowed or eliminated through the faeces.
- Eyes: The secretions from the tear glands, flickering movements of the eyelids flush out the microorganisms setting on the eyeballs from air.
- Internal tracts: Various tracts in the body are flushed with fluids such as saliva, digestive juices, bile and urine. All of these can sweep and trap the microbes away.