Abstract
The primary function of gastrointestinal mucus is considered to be protection of the surface mucosal cells (Hollander, 1954; Florey, 1955). Mucus forms a gel which, throughout the gut, protects the mucosal surfaces from the vigorous shear forces that attend digestion (Fig. 1). The mucus gel provides a slimy lubricant for the passage of solid material through the gat while some of the gel layer remains firmly stuck to the mucosa to protect it from the next round of mechanical abuse. Mucus has particular physical properties which allow it to flow and if sectioned, anneal. Such properties, which show mucus to be a weaker gel than a rigid gel such as agar, facilitate the spread of the mucus over the mucosal surface. However, mucus will not dissolve with infinite dilution and is quite distinct from a viscous liquid.
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Allen, A., Bell, A., Mantle, M., Pearson, J.P. (1982). The Structure and Physiology of Gastrointestinal Mucus. In: Chantler, E.N., Elder, J.B., Elstein, M. (eds) Mucus in Health and Disease—II. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 144. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-9254-9_15
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-9254-9_15
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