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    Mucus secretion

    Mucus is produced mainly by the submucosal glands of cartilaginous airways (off-whiteforms on graphic), and to some extent by the goblet cells in the airway epithelium. Mucus hyper-secretion can be caused by:

    • Chronic airway irritation
    • Infection
    • Sterile inflammation such as asthma
    1

    Mucus and lymphocytes can be present in infectious and non-infectious airways. 

    2

    Most airway mucus is produced in submucosal glands.