title: Ciliary function.
abstract: In this article a review is presented of the morphology and function of respiratory cilia and emphasis is placed on the importance of mucociliary clearance as the most important defense mechanism of the upper and lower airways. Physical factors and pharmacological substances which can influence ciliary activity and mucociliary transport are mentioned. Finally, a description is given of changes, mostly reversible, of the mucociliary transport system in infections and IgE-mediated allergy and of the, irreversible changes in congenital diseases like cystic fibrosis and primary ciliary dyskinesia, with some remarks as to the therapeutical consequences of these disturbances.
authors.affiliation: ENT Department, Univ. Med. Centrum Utrecht, Huizen, Nederland. vanderbaan@planet.nl
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: van der Baan
mesh_terms: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000494:pharmacology; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000150:complications; D001548:Benzalkonium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D002923:Cilia / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D002925:Ciliary Motility Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D006813:Humidity; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology; D009079:Mucociliary Clearance / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism; D020545:Respiratory Mucosa / Q000502:physiology; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D001548:Benzalkonium Compounds; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D010100:Oxygen