The mucociliary activity of the upper respiratory tract.

A clinical in vivo - in vitro method for functional mucociliary studies via surface-light reflections is described as well as a method for intracellular recording of electrical activities in ciliated cells. Two types of surface-light reflections can be recognized - one from the secretion layer and one from the tops of lashing cilia. Internal and external cell activities als well as muco-rheological factors can be compared under the control of environmental influences such as air temperature, humidity and gas mixtures. The method can also be used for different clinical purposes.