mucociliary clearance


mucociliary clearance

the movement of the mucous covering of the respiratory epithelium by the beating of cilia: rapid, forward (effective) stroke and slow, return (recovery) stroke. In the nose, mucus is moved toward the pharynx. In the tracheobronchial tree, mucus is moved toward and through the larynx and swallowed. Synonym(s): mucociliary transport

mu·co·cil·i·ar·y clear·ance

(myū'kō-sil'ē-ar-ē klēr'ăns) The movement of the mucous covering of the respiratory epithelium by the beating of cilia: rapid, forward (effective) stroke and slow, return (recovery) stroke.