|
The ciliated epithelium is the inner lining of the trachea, also called the windpipe. Part of the respiratory tract, the trachea extends from the larynx to the bronchi, anterior to the oesophagus. The epithelium forms a protective mucous membrane, which spans the entire interior of the wind pipe, including the pharynx and bronchi. Thanks to the epithelium, the trachea is able to remove impurities from the air and ‘clean’ each breath that one takes in. This aids in the prevention of infection and is made possible by tiny hair-like structures called cilia (hence “ciliated”) that are found on each cell of the membrane, which are in constant motion to push particulate and excess fluid away from the lungs. It is a soft tissue that can be easily damaged through inflammation by infection or smoking. Smoking actually paralyzes the cilia, rendering them incapable of pushing mucous away from the bronchi, which is one of the major contributors to the ‘smoker’s cough’, among other respiratory problems. |
|
