Journeys: Lungs. Stop 3

Cilia

This is the windpipe wall up close. Tiny hairs called cilia grow on it, with sticky slime on top. Run your finger to the right!

Dust stuck to the slime, and the cilia push the slime up to the throat in a wave.

Cilia wave more than ten times a second and keep your airways clean. And when there's too much dust, we cough.

to the throat