Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Drugs Used in Upper Respiratory Disorders: Overview01:16

Drugs Used in Upper Respiratory Disorders: Overview

421
Upper respiratory tract disorders, including viral infections and allergic rhinitis, cause significant discomfort and disrupt daily life. Managing these conditions involves a variety of drugs, such as antihistamines, intranasal steroids, decongestants, antitussives, expectorants, and mucolytics. Specific examples of drugs in each category are provided.
Antihistamines (e.g., Benadryl) block histamines from binding. Histamines are chemicals released during an allergic reaction in the body. As a...
421
Surface Membrane Barriers01:18

Surface Membrane Barriers

1.8K
The skin and mucous membranes serve as the primary line of defense against pathogens by providing both physical and chemical protection. These barriers are essential in preventing the entry and establishment of microbes, thereby maintaining the integrity of the host.
The outer layer of the skin, the epidermis, is a robust barrier comprising layers of closely packed keratinized cells. This dense arrangement prevents microbes from penetrating the body. The periodic shedding of epidermal cells...
1.8K
Tissue Membranes01:27

Tissue Membranes

7.6K
A tissue membrane is a thin layer of cells that covers the outside of the body, the organs, internal passageways that lead to the exterior of the body, and the lining of the moveable joint cavities. There are two basic types of tissue membranes— connective tissue and epithelial membranes.
Connective Tissue Membranes
The connective tissue membrane is formed solely from connective tissue. These membranes encapsulate organs, such as the kidneys, and line our movable joints. A synovial...
7.6K
Exocrine Glands: Types of Secretions01:13

Exocrine Glands: Types of Secretions

3.1K
Exocrine glands produce and release a variety of glandular products. Exocrine glands can be classified into serous, mucous, or mixed types based on their secretory products.
Serous glands produce watery secretions rich in digestive enzymes and proteins. The constituent cells of the serous gland have centrally located nuclei and eosinophilic secretory granules in the cytoplasm. The parotid gland is an example of a serous gland. It secretes saliva, which contains enzymes, such as lipases and...
3.1K
Mucosal Barrier of the Stomach01:25

Mucosal Barrier of the Stomach

1.0K
The gastric glands contain parietal cells that secrete hydrochloric acid (HCl) for digestion. The cells secrete HCl because it is highly corrosive and essential for breaking down food. To achieve this, they secrete hydrogen and chloride ions into the lumen of the gastric glands, which combine to form HCl.
Within parietal cells, carbonic acid is first formed through the reaction of water and carbon dioxide. The dissociation of carbonic acid releases bicarbonate and hydrogen ions. The bicarbonate...
1.0K
Upper Respiratory Drugs: Antitussives, Expectorants, and Mucolytics01:23

Upper Respiratory Drugs: Antitussives, Expectorants, and Mucolytics

587
Respiratory symptoms, such as congestion and cough, commonly accompany respiratory tract conditions. Various medications, such as antitussives, expectorants, and mucolytics, play crucial roles in providing relief.
Antitussives include codeine, dextromethorphan (Robitussin), and benzonatate (Tessalon). Codeine and dextromethorphan exert their effects centrally by suppressing the cough reflex center in the medulla.  Benzonatate operates peripherally within the respiratory tract by...
587

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Methods for studying mucin-microbe interactions.

Methods in enzymology·2026
Same author

Mucin-induced metabolic reprogramming in <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> clinical isolates.

mSystems·2026
Same author

Enhanced B cell priming induces broadly neutralizing HIV-1 apex antibodies.

Nature·2026
Same author

Rapid boosting increases germinal center responses to sequential vaccines.

Nature immunology·2026
Same author

Atomic layer deposition for core-shell microparticle vaccines enabling programmable antigen delivery to lymph nodes enhance humoral immune responses.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Gut-derived, inflammatory ILC2s disseminate type 2 immunity to remote lung in food allergen-challenged mice.

Journal of leukocyte biology·2026
Same journal

Hunting ecology predicts eye arrangements in the modular visual system of spiders.

Current biology : CB·2026
Same journal

Sub-second fluctuations between top-down and bottom-up modes distinguish diverse human brain states.

Current biology : CB·2026
Same journal

Queen bees offload pesticide burden to eggs when social buffering is overwhelmed.

Current biology : CB·2026
Same journal

Pitch selectivity in ferret auditory cortex.

Current biology : CB·2026
Same journal

A cell size-dependent competition between geometry and polarity governs nuclear and spindle positioning in early embryos.

Current biology : CB·2026
Same journal

Trophic cascades drive sustainability in the agricultural heritage rice-fish coculture system.

Current biology : CB·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 25, 2025

Rapid Viscoelastic Characterization of Airway Mucus Using a Benchtop Rheometer
08:47

Rapid Viscoelastic Characterization of Airway Mucus Using a Benchtop Rheometer

Published on: April 21, 2022

3.6K

Mucus.

Abigail McShane1, Jade Bath2, Ana M Jaramillo3

  • 1Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02141, USA; National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program.

Current Biology : CB
|August 10, 2021
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Mucus, a glycoprotein hydrogel, acts as a vital barrier and microbial home, playing diverse roles from nutrient passage to fertilization. Its complex structure and functions are conserved across species, with broad applications.

More Related Videos

Three-dimensional Quantification of Intestinal Mucus Using Whole-mount Tissue Imaging
05:09

Three-dimensional Quantification of Intestinal Mucus Using Whole-mount Tissue Imaging

Published on: September 12, 2025

166
Using Unfixed, Frozen Tissues to Study Natural Mucin Distribution
11:39

Using Unfixed, Frozen Tissues to Study Natural Mucin Distribution

Published on: September 21, 2012

48.0K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Oct 25, 2025

Rapid Viscoelastic Characterization of Airway Mucus Using a Benchtop Rheometer
08:47

Rapid Viscoelastic Characterization of Airway Mucus Using a Benchtop Rheometer

Published on: April 21, 2022

3.6K
Three-dimensional Quantification of Intestinal Mucus Using Whole-mount Tissue Imaging
05:09

Three-dimensional Quantification of Intestinal Mucus Using Whole-mount Tissue Imaging

Published on: September 12, 2025

166
Using Unfixed, Frozen Tissues to Study Natural Mucin Distribution
11:39

Using Unfixed, Frozen Tissues to Study Natural Mucin Distribution

Published on: September 21, 2012

48.0K

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Microbiology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Mucus is a complex hydrogel lining mucosal surfaces throughout the body.
  • It is composed of glycoproteins and serves multiple protective and supportive functions.
  • Mucus is essential for maintaining health and is found across diverse species.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a comprehensive overview of mucus structure and function.
  • To highlight the diverse roles of mucus in biological systems.
  • To explore the cross-species conservation and applications of mucus.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and synthesis of existing research on mucus.
  • Analysis of mucus composition, including glycoproteins and glycans.
  • Examination of mucus's role in barrier function, microbiota interaction, and signaling.

Main Results:

  • Mucus acts as a protective barrier, lubricant, and selective filter.
  • It harbors diverse microbial communities and influences their behavior.
  • Mucus glycans are critical for cell adhesion, signaling, and inter-species communication.

Conclusions:

  • Mucus is a multifunctional biopolymer with conserved roles across species.
  • Its unique properties are crucial for health, reproduction, and sensory functions.
  • Mucus has significant potential for applications in medicine, industry, and food science.