How does snot come from?

People will not have a runny nose when they are healthy, but if they have a cold, most of them will have a runny nose, and some have clear nasal discharge and some have thick nasal discharge. Different nasal discharge conditions also reflect the disease problem. The formation of nasal mucus is related to the glands contained in the nasal mucosa. When the glands are stimulated, a large amount of liquid will be formed, which is what we call nasal mucus. In addition, some of the mucus contains tears.

The formation of nasal mucus

The human nasal mucosa is rich in glands that secrete a large amount of mucus to increase the humidity of the inhaled air, prevent the respiratory mucosa from drying out, and maintain ciliary movement. Most of the mucus is secreted by the nasal mucosa itself. The nasal mucosa contains a goblet cell that produces a lot of mucin. After the mucin is released outside the cell, it absorbs a large amount of water to form nasal mucus for use in the nasal cavity. Some of the snot is actually tears. These tears flow from the tear ducts that connect the eyes and nasal cavity into the nose and become part of the nasal mucus.

Composition of nasal mucus

The main components of the mucus we secrete include: water, inorganic salts, a small amount of sugar, fat, protein, a small amount of shed mucosal cells, adsorbed dust and chemicals in the air, etc.

Where does the snot go?

Generally, the nasal mucosa secretes hundreds of milliliters of mucus every day. Part of it evaporates, part of it dries up and becomes nasal mucus, and most of it flows along the direction of the movement of the cilia of the nasal mucosa, to the posterior nasal aperture and then to the pharynx. Because the nasal cavity is connected to the esophagus, it is usually swallowed without being noticed. So you can't see it flowing out of the nasal cavity.

The role of nasal mucus

Nasal secretions are very important to the human body. Nasal mucus can moisten the nasal membrane, moisten the inhaled air, prevent the respiratory mucosa from drying out, and stick to dust, microorganisms inhaled from the air to prevent them from irritating the respiratory tract or causing infection.