How does snot form?

damnyanks

This is a somewhat serious question. How does it form, become solid and so on.

I woke up this morning with a stuff nose. Lo and behold I had an almighty bugger up there. The thing was pretty big. Can't find it on google

Downtime

According to numerous medical Web sites, nasal mucus is 95 percent water, but also includes proteins (giving it elasticity), fats, carbohydrates and salt (providing a reportedly appealing flavor). It can also contain quite a bit of dirt and germs, making it an even more distasteful treat.

The healthy human nose produces more than a pint of snot a day. Tiny glands within your sinus and nasal cavities produce a blanket of the slime, which covers the delicate tissue lining the cavities. Little hairs called cilia beat along the nasal passages to move the mucus out. It drains down the back of the throat, where it is promptly and unknowingly swallowed.

The mucus moistens the nasal membranes while acting like fly paper, trapping particles of pollen, dust and germs that come blowing through your nose with each inhalation.

When the mucus fails to protect and too much pollen penetrates, or a bacterium or virus takes hold, your sinuses kick into high gear, churning out even more mucus in an attempt to flush the invader away. The result? A runny nose.

mackerski

Some good info here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/alabaster/A692813

Dermot

Capt'n Midnight

Another discussion of nasal mucopolysaccharides
IIRC there is a type of antibody ( immunoglobulin IgG ?) that's associated with the nose. [edit - nope it was IgA that's associated with secretions.]

One of the problems with living in a desert is that you can cut your self because when dried out it gets very sharp !

Nasal Mucociliary Transport - most of the nasal secretions end up going down your throat.


http://wwwold.ajou.ac.kr/~ent/RHINODATA/physiology.htm

damnyanks

Who would of thought it... snot is not only fun but educational

garthv

Edutainment to the enph degree

Flukey

More here>
http://www.kidzworld.com/site/p3267.htm

modular

Frankly, I don't trust a site with 'Kidz' in its name.

eljono

Hey, thanks for starting this post. It's something I always wanted to know but never thought of looking up. I remember asking my biology teacher and she couldn't give me a proper answer

Neuro

I think eating your own snot is actually an evolutionary adaptation; those who wasted valuable proteins, fats and salts by blowing their noses were at a survival disadvantage compared to those individuals that ate their snot and as a result snot-eaters swelled in numbers and eventually displaced the nose-blowers.

That's why most people eat their own snot (but few will admit it).

Strange but true...

quank

I wonder how long you could survive on only snot...

Guiness World Records attempt away!

alleepally

I tried to resist it while reading this thread but I couldn't help picking my nose

Adam

I would imagine with a week long cold you would have a fairly runny nose, i cant (and dont want to) imagine what pickin that bad boy was like... messtastic!

damnyanks

I like to pick but eating is orrible

BrianD3

I eat my own snot all the time, it's yummy. I especially like it when it's dry and crusty and my favourite time to snack is when stuck in a traffic jam. Other drivers who get disgusted by this are uptight, nosey (no pun intended) idiots - pay attention to the road, not to what other drivers are doing with their snot. As well as being a tasty snack, eating snot strengthens the immune system. Apparently.

BrianD3

eljono

BrianD3 wrote:

I eat my own snot all the time, it's yummy. I especially like it when it's dry and crusty and my favourite time to snack is when stuck in a traffic jam. Other drivers who get disgusted by this are uptight, nosey (no pun intended) idiots - pay attention to the road, not to what other drivers are doing with their snot. As well as being a tasty snack, eating snot strengthens the immune system. Apparently.

BrianD3

Lol