Ciliary adaptations for the propulsion of mucus

Issue title: Proceedings of the Seventh International Congress of Biorheology. Part I. Palais des Congrès, Nancy, France, 18–23 June 1989. Dedicated to Richard Skalak

Guest editors: Alfred L. Copley and Jean-François Stoltz

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Sleigh, M.A.

Affiliations: Department of Biology, University of Southampton, Southampton S09 3TU, U.K.

Note: [] Accepted by: Editor E. Puchelle

Abstract: The cilia that propel mucus are specialised for the function in their arrangement length, some details of structure, beat pattern, beat cycle characteristics, metachronal coordination, local control of beat rate by response to mechanical stimulation and generalised control of beat rate by neurohormones. These features are matched to the properties of the visco-elastic mucus gel that is propelled at the ciliary tips above a low-viscosity periciliary layer whose depth must be regulated within defined limits.

Keywords: Ciliary beating, Ciliary coordination, Ciliary control, Ciliary propulsion, Mucus propulsion, Periciliary layer

DOI: 10.3233/BIR-1990-273-431

Journal: Biorheology, vol. 27, no. 3-4, pp. 527-532, 1990