Ciliated epithelial cells - A physical barrier of the immune system

Music makes your heart beat and music makes columnar epithelial cells' cilia beat!

The respiratory tract, from the tip of the nose to the bronchioles, is exposed to pathogens present in the air. The innate immune system protects us against these pathogens by acting as a physical barrier.

The respiratory tract is lined with sticky mucus secreted by goblet cells, which traps pathogens. Underneath the mucus, the epithelial cells are covered with cilia. The beating of these cilia transports the pathogens to the pharynx or nose, where they are swallowed or sneezed out.

It is a brilliant anatomical barrier.

I always imagine ciliated epithelial cells as little people nodding there head to music. Anything that gets stuck in their hair gets moved out of the system as a result of their head banging. They clean up the respiratory tract while bobbing to music, making them totally groovy!

The wonderful work respiratory epithelium does in the presence of music makes us recommend that you work with music on too :D