ASSESSING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF OSCILLATING POSITIVE EXPIRATORY PRESSURE DEVICE VERSUS USUAL AIRWAYCLEARANCE TECHNIQUES IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC PULMONARY DISEASE AND ICU PATIENTS

Mucociliar clearance is an innate defense mechanism that protects the pulmonary system from the harmful consequences of inhaled agents, including those of biological, chemical, and physical nature. Ciliated cells, which line the surface epithelium of the airways, provide the force necessary for mucociliary clearance by the coordinated beating of their cilia. These highly specialized cells are therefore critical to the health and function of the pulmonary system. In this article, the basic biology of ciliated cells and the structure of the cilium are described. Their function and interaction with other components of the mucociliary system and the importance of mucociliary clearance to respiratory disease such as airway epithelium, Asthma, Bronchitis, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Cilia, Ciliary be