Cough is a sudden, short, and forceful sound due to the release of air to clear irritation in the throat or in the airways. It may not always be due to disease but it can also be a normal clearing of airways due to irritants like gas, smoke, tobacco, improperly swallowed food or liquid.
When we talk about cough, we need to talk a bit about the cough reflex and respiratory tract consisting of pharynx, larynx, trachea, and bronchi which conduct air to the lungs and also about the muscles of respiration. Within the tracheal and bronchial airways, the inner layer cells have cilia, which are microscopic hair-like projections on the cell surface and goblet cells that secrete mucous. Below the inner layer is the sub-mucous layer which contains mast cells that respond to allergy.
The ciliated epithelium has an important defence mechanism. Each cell contains many cilia beating in an organized wave of contraction. Mucous which....
