Question

What happens if there is no mucus in the oesophagus?

Answer 1

The absence of mucus in the oesophagus can cause dryness of the cell which will cause an obstruction in the smooth passage of the food and also loss in the proper functioning of the muscles of the oesophagus.

Complete answer:
Mucus is a viscous fluid that moistens, lubricates and protects many of the passages or tracts of our digestive and respiratory system in the body. It is composed of water, epithelial cells, dead leukocytes, mucin, and inorganic salts. It is produced by mucus cells of small glands located on the mucous membrane that virtually lines the entire digestive tract. In the mouth, a large number of mucus cells occur that is used to moisten food and to keep the oral membranes moist. In the oesophagus, the mucus helps in the movement of the food in the downward direction by peristalsis and the movement is called peristaltic movement. If there will be no mucus in the oesophagus then this will result in drying of the cells of the inner lining of the oesophagus. This will create an obstruction in the smooth passage of the food pipe. The absence of mucus in the oesophagus will also hamper the proper functioning of the muscles in these regions, as a result, the proper forward movement food is also hampered.

Note: -Mucus serves to protect epithelial cells in the linings of the respiratory, digestive, and urogenital systems, and also the structures in the visual and auditory systems from pathogenic fungi, bacteria and viruses.
-In our body maximum amount of mucus is secreted or produced in the gastrointestinal tract.
-In the oesophagus, the mucus helps in a smooth forward movement of food towards the stomach whereas in the stomach the mucus is protecting the organ from highly acidic gastric juice and preventing the stomach from being digested by its own gastric juice.