How colds work

By at 1:51 am Tuesday, May 4

Someone has given me a vicious cold. My third this year. I thought that quitting smoking meant fewer colds, not more. Bugger. Anyway, here's how colds work:
The nose contains shelf-like structures called turbinates, which help trap particles entering the nasal passages. Material deposited in the nose is transported by ciliary action to the back of the throat in 10-15 minutes. Cold viruses are believed to be carried to the back of the throat where they are deposited in the area of the adenoid. The adenoid is a lymph gland structure that contains cells to which cold viruses attach.
Link (via Plastic Bag)

Cory Doctorow

Upcoming appearances

* Feb 9, 2012, DeKalb, IL: Day of Doctorow, NIU
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