Question

Sometimes, in response to irritants, mucous cells secrete excess mucus. What symptoms might this produce if it occurred in the (a) digestive tract or (b) respiratory passageway? What is the purpose of the mucus production in this situation. Give an example to help support your answer.

Answer 1

The secretion of excess mucous in the digestive tract may result in loose stools or diarrhea. The purpose of the excess secretions is to lubricate the digestive tract so that food can pass through during digestion with greater ease. The secretion of excess mucous in the respiratory passageway could result in increased coughing as the body attempts to expel the mucous (and the offending irritants) from the lungs and bronchial tubes. This occurs when either physical debris (such as inhaled dust or dirt particles) or pathogens (such as bacteria and viruses) have entered the respiratory passageway and the body attempts to remove them; an example is the common cold.