by the mucous membranes that line your mouth, nose, throat, sinuses, and respiratory tract. In a healthy state, this mucus is thin, clear, and largely unnoticeable. It forms a protective blanket over delicate tissues, trapping dust, allergens, bacteria, and viruses before they can reach the lungs. Tiny hair-like structures called cilia then sweep this mucus, along with the trapped particles, upward toward the throat, where it is typically swallowed without conscious awareness.
The Crucial Difference Between Mucus and Phlegm
While the terms are often used interchangeably in everyday conversation, medical
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