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In vertebrates, snot is a slippery secretion produced by, and covering, mucous membranes. It is a viscous colloid containing antiseptic enzymes (such as lysozyme) and immunoglobulins that serves to protect epithelial cells in the respiratory, gastrointestinal, urogenital, visual, and auditory systems in mammals; the epidermis in amphibians; and the gills in fish. Snails, slugs, hagfish, and certain invertebrates also produce external mucus, which in addition to serving a protective function, can facilitate movement and play a role in communication.

Snot also contains mucins, produced by goblet cells in the mucous membranes and submucosal glands, and inorganic salts suspended in water. The average human body produces about a liter of snot per day.^[1]

Most of this article is about snot in humans and other mammals.

Digestive system

In the digestive system, snot is used as a lubricant for materials which must pass over membranes, e.g., food passing down the esophagus. A layer of snot along the inner walls of the stomach is vital to protect the cell linings of that organ from the highly acidic environment within it. The same protective layer of snot is what comes out when you sneeze. Snot does not digest in the intestinal tract, so snot commonly appears in fecal matter whether it's origin is from the intestines, or swallowed.

Reproductive system

In the female reproductive system, cervical snot prevents infection. The consistency of cervical snot varies depending on the stage of a woman's menstrual cycle. At ovulation cervical snot is clear, runny, and conducive to sperm; post-ovulation, snot becomes thicker and is more likely to block sperm.

In the male reproductive system, the seminal vesicles contribute up to 60% of the total volume of the semen and contain snot, amino acids, and fructose as the main energy source for the sperm.

References

^ http://kidshealth.org/kid/talk/yucky/booger.html

[1] ttp://kidshealth.org/kid/talk/yucky/booger.html

[1]

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 {{Citations missing|date=November 2007}}
 [[Image:Mucus cells.png|thumb|Mucus cells.]]
-In vertebrates, '''mucus''' is a slippery secretion produced by, and covering, [[mucous membrane]]s. It is a [[viscous]] [[colloid]] containing [[antiseptic]] enzymes (such as [[lysozyme]]) and [[immunoglobulin]]s that serves to protect epithelial cells in the [[respiratory]],
+In vertebrates, '''snot''' is a slippery secretion produced by, and covering, [[mucous membrane]]s. It is a [[viscous]] [[colloid]] containing [[antiseptic]] enzymes (such as [[lysozyme]]) and [[immunoglobulin]]s that serves to protect epithelial cells in the [[respiratory]],
 [[gastrointestinal]], [[urogenital]], visual, and auditory systems in [[mammals]]; the [[epidermis]] in [[amphibians]]; and the [[gills]] in [[fish]]. [[Snail]]s, [[slugs]], [[hagfish]], and certain [[invertebrates]] also produce external mucus, which in addition to serving a protective function, can facilitate movement and play a role in communication.
-Mucus also contains [[mucins]], produced by [[goblet cell]]s in the mucous membranes and [[submucosal glands]], and inorganic salts suspended in [[water]].
+Snot also contains [[mucins]], produced by [[goblet cell]]s in the mucous membranes and [[submucosal glands]], and inorganic salts suspended in [[water]].
-The average human body produces about a liter of mucus per day.<ref>http://kidshealth.org/kid/talk/yucky/booger.html</ref>
+The average human body produces about a liter of snot per day.<ref>http://kidshealth.org/kid/talk/yucky/booger.html</ref>
-Most of this article is about mucus in [[human]]s and other mammals.
+Most of this article is about snot in [[human]]s and other mammals.
 ==Digestive system==
-In the digestive system, mucus is used as a lubricant for materials which must pass over membranes, e.g., food passing down the [[esophagus]].  A layer of mucus along the inner walls of the [[stomach]] is vital to protect the cell linings of that organ from the highly acidic environment within it. The same protective layer of mucus is what comes out when you sneeze. Mucus does not digest in the intestinal tract, so mucus commonly appears in fecal matter whether it's origin is from the intestines, or swallowed.
+In the digestive system, snot is used as a lubricant for materials which must pass over membranes, e.g., food passing down the [[esophagus]].  A layer of snot along the inner walls of the [[stomach]] is vital to protect the cell linings of that organ from the highly acidic environment within it. The same protective layer of snot is what comes out when you sneeze. Snot does not digest in the intestinal tract, so snot commonly appears in fecal matter whether it's origin is from the intestines, or swallowed.
 ==Reproductive system==
-In the female reproductive system, [[Cervix#Cervical mucus|cervical mucus]] prevents infection. The consistency of cervical mucus varies depending on the stage of a woman's menstrual cycle. At ovulation cervical mucus is clear, runny, and conducive to sperm; post-ovulation, mucus becomes thicker and is more likely to block sperm.
+In the female reproductive system, [[Cervix#Cervical mucus|cervical snot]] prevents infection. The consistency of cervical snot varies depending on the stage of a woman's menstrual cycle. At ovulation cervical snot is clear, runny, and conducive to sperm; post-ovulation, snot becomes thicker and is more likely to block sperm.
-In the male reproductive system, the [[seminal vesicles]] contribute up to 60% of the total volume of the [[semen]] and contain mucus, amino acids, and fructose as the main energy source for the sperm.
+In the male reproductive system, the [[seminal vesicles]] contribute up to 60% of the total volume of the [[semen]] and contain snot, amino acids, and fructose as the main energy source for the sperm.
 ==See also==