Ciliary movement and structure

• • movement of cilia is bidirectional
  • power stroke = where cilia hooks into mucus to move it up towards mouth
  • then cilia whips back around in opposite direction to get ready for next power stroke = recovery stroke

  
• • cilia beat at a frequency of 20 cycles per second, moving mucus towards mouth at rate of around 2 cm per minute
• • cilia below the larynx (vocal chords) will move / power stroke in an upwards direction to move mucus up towards larynx
  • cilia in nose, above the larynx move / power stroke down towards the larynx
  • if there is a lot of mucus brought to the carina in the larynx, a cough is produced
  • if there isnt a lot of mucus, it is swallowed via the oesophagus