Learning Objectives

• Discuss how and where airway mucus is produced, and the effect on airflow and airway resistance, both normally and in response to an inflammatory trigger
• Discuss how inhaled particles are cleared from the lung (nasal conchae, mucocilary escalator (inl. ASL), alveolar macrophages)
• Discuss the origins of COPD (COAD)
• Discuss the pathogenesis, pathophysiology, and treatment of chronic bronchitis, cystic fibrosis, primarily cilia dyskinesis

Airway Mucus & Mucus Production

• what are the functions of airway mucus?
• airway mucus is an extracellular gel composed of?
• what are the consequences of mucus dehydration?
• what are the consequence of a deficient mucus barrier?
• what are the consequence of excessive mucus/ impaired clearance?
• what are the 2 principal cell types of the surface epithelium?
• where are submucosal glands located in the respiratory system?
• what are the functions of the submucosal glands?
• what conditions stimulate the mucus overproduction? consequences?

Airway Surface Liquid

• what 2 layers does airway surface liquid (ASL) consist of?
• which layer of the ASL do cilia beat in? why only this layer?
• how thick is ASL? does it change throughout the airway?