Medical Encyclopedia

Medical Encyclopedia

Respiratory cilia

Respiratory cilia

The bronchus in the lungs are lined with hair-like projections called cilia that move microbes and debris up and out of the airways.  Scattered throughout the cilia are goblet cells that secrete mucus which helps protect the lining of the bronchus and trap microorganisms.

Update Date: 6/19/2008

Updated by: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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