Mucociliary clearance in health and disease
Hypersecretory conditions
Healthy individuals will produce up to 100mls of sputum a day which is essential to lubricate the airways, trapping debris and maintaining patent and healthy distal airways. Conditions such as cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis and COPD typically result in hypersecretion of mucous by the goblet cells in the epithelial lining. This increase in secretion volume overwhelms the ability of the mucociliary escalator, resulting in secretion retention and possible development of infection.
Summary:
- Healthy people produce 100mls sputum a day
- CF, COPD, bronchiectasis produce more secretions
- Overwhelms clearance mechanisms, leading to secretion retention and infection
