Mucus

Mucus (Latin for " mucus ") is a viscous organic secretion, especially of mucous membranes, which are usually used to protect the organ surface from drying out, foreign particles or abrasion. Mucus may also be the envelopment and encapsulation of unwanted foreign bodies serve. Structure defining major components of mucus are the mucins.

Function in humans

Mucus coats as sticky substance epithelia as an organ-specific, protective shell. The thickness of the mucus will vary depending on the organ in healthy people, with the exception of the eye, between 200 and 500 microns.

The mucus has at various mucous membranes a different protection function:

• Nasal mucosa containing the nasal secretions, which serves the interception of dust from the air.
• Oral mucosa / saliva: binding site for bacteria
• Protects gastric mucosa from the gastric acid
• Intestinal mucosa in the large intestine is in close contact with the intestinal flora. The mucus is an important part of the barrier function of the intestine, which prevents a strong immune response with the intestinal flora.
• Endometrium

Examples of the function in the animal world

• Mucus of terrestrial slugs and snails, which serves the protection and adhesion to smooth surfaces.