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Mucus is a defense against infection as it hepls to catch foreign substances in the airways and other places.

(I'm going to use the respiratory system becasue I know the most about it)

Mucus is secreted by goblet cells in the lining of the aesophagus, where is is pushed up and out by little cilliated epithelium cells. The mucous acts as an impermeable, sticky barrier - imagine it to be like honey.

The mucus helps to catch substances that you have breathed in, such as dust, pathogens, and pollen. The mucus stops this from entering the lungs, and particularly for the pathogens, it stops them from entering the bloodstream.

The cillia cells then move the mucous up and out of the aesophagus and into the stomach, where they are killed by your stomach acids. Of course, another way to get rid of it is to cough...

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13y ago

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