noun
definition
A slippery secretion from the lining of the mucous membranes.
Examples of mucus in a Sentence
These are expelled along with mucus by the sneezing of the host.
They appear to be the principal source of the mucus these animals secrete.
This causes the entire skin to become dry - as in the case of the local action above mentioned; and it arrests the secretion of saliva and mucus in the mouth and throat, causing these parts to become very dry and to feel very uncomfortable.
A hot soup or hot curry can encourage mucus secretion.
The cilia sweep out particles in the respired air that are caught in the mucus secreted by the goblet cells.
The CFTR protein helps to produce mucus.
The young pigeons are fed by both parents with a peculiar stuff, the product of the strongly proliferating epithelial cells of the crop, which cells undergo a cheese-like fatty degeneration, and mixed with mucus, perhaps also with the proventricular juice, make up a milklike fluid.
Also pulsatile irrigation is more effective in removing thick mucus.
Little piglets, still wet and smeared with mucus, scrabbled on the metal floor to find their mother 's teats.
When the mucus changes from a cloudy, tacky substance to a clear, slippery substance, you are nearing ovulation and at your most fertile.
At the same time, infection becomes more likely since the mucus is a rich source of nutrients.
When allergies are diagnosed, a number of nasal sprays are available to assist in preventing inflammation within the nasal passageways, thus allowing the normal flow of mucus.
It plays an important role in loosening mucus and improving blood flow.
Reduced secretion of mucus in the lungs predisposes to irritation and infection throughout the upper and lower respiratory tract.
Saliva is a mixture of mucus and serous fluids, each produced to various extents in various glands.
It causes the muscles in these tubes to contract, the tubes themselves to swell and also causes sticky mucus to be produced.
The earliest sign may be slight redness and dryness of the laryngeal lining with stringy mucus between the vocal cords.
The desktop pattern has the feel of a vapor trail crossed with the geometry of mucus strands.
These contractions may last as long as a minute, and you may also notice the loss of your mucus plug during this time.
It has mucus around the eyes, spits up mucous and is kind of sickly looking.
When inhaled into nasal passages and further into the lungs, it can theoretically become stuck to mucus membranes and cause breathing problems.
You should also be sure you drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and to help thin mucus.
Designed for external application only, avoid getting DHA onto your lips, eyes or mucus membranes for safety.
Coughing - This happens because mucus is breaking up in your lungs as your body purges built-up toxins.
As dehydration begins to set in, the fluid in the lungs begins to thicken into mucus, and this makes breathing even more difficult.
A lack of hydration causes mucus formation in the lungs.
Eliminate foods that product mucus including dairy and fruits like bananas for a period of two weeks.
Make sure the child is in a comfortable posture, lying on his or her side, so the airway does not become obstructed by drool or mucus.
The bloody show is a slight discharge of blood and mucus.
It usually occurs after the cervix has started to dilate slightly and the mucus plug that keeps the cervix sealed from potential pathogens becomes dislodged.
Antihistamine-A drug used to treat allergic conditions that blocks the effects of histamine, a substance in the body that causes itching, vascular changes, and mucus secretion when released by cells.
When the child's airway becomes increasingly swollen and more mucus is secreted, it becomes more challenging to breathe.
This defect causes the lungs and pancreas to secrete thick mucus, blocking passageways and preventing proper function.
Mucus is a complex mixture of salts, water, sugars, and proteins that cleanses, lubricates, and protects many passageways in the body, including those in the lungs and pancreas.
When the chloride ions leave these cells, water follows, thinning the mucus.
In this way, the CFTR protein helps to keep mucus from becoming thick and sluggish, thus allowing the mucus to be moved steadily along the passageways to aid in cleansing.
With less chloride leaving, less water leaves, and the mucus becomes thick and sticky.
Mucus in the lungs may plug the airways, preventing good air exchange and, ultimately, leading to emphysema.
The mucus is also a rich source of nutrients for bacteria, leading to frequent infections.
The meconium of a newborn with meconium ileus is thickened and sticky, due to the presence of thickened mucus from the intestinal glands.
In CF, thick mucus blocks the pancreatic duct, which is eventually closed off completely by scar tissue formation, leading to a condition known as pancreatic insufficiency.
The bronchioles and bronchi normally produce a thin, clear mucus that traps foreign particles including bacteria and viruses.
Tiny hair-like projections on the surface of these passageways slowly sweep the mucus along, out of the lungs and up the trachea to the back of the throat, where it may be swallowed or coughed up.
The thickened mucus of CF prevents easy movement out of the lungs and increases the irritation and inflammation of lung tissue.
This inflammation swells the passageways, partially closing them down, further hampering the movement of mucus.
The body's response to infection is to increase mucus production; white blood cells fighting the infection thicken the mucus even further as they break down and release their cell contents.
As mucus accumulates, it can plug up the smaller passageways in the lungs, decreasing functional lung volume.
In addition, clearing mucus from the lungs helps to prevent infection, and mucus control is an important aspect of CF management.
Several drugs are available to prevent the airways from becoming clogged with mucus.
Mucociliary escalator-The coordinated action of tiny projections on the surfaces of cells lining the respiratory tract, which moves mucus up and out of the lungs.