Measurement of Nasal Mucociliary Clearance

Mucociliary clearance (MCC), a vital key defense mechanism is especially important in the upper airways and sinuses, as it protects the body against noxious inhaled materials [1]. The removal of debris-laden mucus in the sinuses completely depends on MCC, whereas in the lower airways, MCC can be compensated for by other mechanisms like coughing [2]. The nasal mucociliary clearance (NMC) system functions to transport the mucous layer lining the nasal epithelium towards the naso pharynx by ciliary beating in a metachronous fashion at a frequency of 7-16 Hz at body temperature [3, 4]. NMC depends upon two principal components physiochemical qualities & quantities of mucus and the properties of cilia that propel it (beat frequency& coordination) [5].