ciliaepiteel

Ciliated epithelium, sometimes referred to as ciliaepiteel (ciliaepitelial epithelium) in Dutch, is a form of columnar epithelium bearing motile cilia on its apical surface. It lines several tracts and cavities where movement of mucus, fluids, or cells is required. The most familiar example is pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium of the respiratory tract, where goblet cells secrete mucus and the coordinated beating of cilia propels mucus toward the pharynx. In the female reproductive tract, ciliated epithelium lines the fallopian tubes to transport the ovum; in parts of the male reproductive tract it helps move sperm.

Structure: Each cell carries apical cilia whose axoneme has a 9+2 arrangement of microtubules, powered by dynein motors that generate whip-like movement. Basal bodies anchor the cilia to the cytoskeleton. Goblet cells intersperse among the epithelium to form a mucus layer that traps particles.

Function: The primary role is mucociliary clearance and directed movement of fluids or cells. The synchronized ciliary beating creates a current that removes inhaled particles and pathogens from the airways or moves oocytes toward the uterus.

Clinical relevance: Defects in ciliary motility underlie ciliopathies such as primary ciliary dyskinesia (Kartagener syndrome), which can present with chronic sinus and lung infections, reduced fertility, and, in some cases, situs inversus. Understanding ciliated epithelium informs studies of respiratory health, fertility, and development.