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Respiratory Diseases and Treatment

Pollutants and the respiratory system

  • 3 things to know
  • Components 01, 02 and 03

Overview

Recall questions on the short-term effects of irritants and tobacco smoke on the airways, carbon monoxide and tar, the long-term diseases smoking causes, asbestos, fibrosis and mesothelioma, and allergic reactions to fungal spores in farm workers.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Your recallNot started
Key term

Describe the long-term effect of asbestos exposure on lung tissue.

Key term

State three short-term effects of inhaling an irritant pollutant on the airways.

Key term

Explain the short-term effect of tobacco smoke on the ciliated epithelium of the airways.

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    State three short-term effects of inhaling an irritant pollutant on the airways.

    Model answer

    The lining becomes inflamed, goblet cells secrete more mucus, and the smooth muscle of the bronchioles contracts so the airways narrow.

  2. 2

    Explain the short-term effect of tobacco smoke on the ciliated epithelium of the airways.

    Model answer

    Chemicals in the smoke paralyse and then destroy the cilia, so mucus containing trapped dirt and bacteria is no longer swept up to the throat and collects in the airways instead.

  3. 3

    Why does a smoker develop a persistent cough?

    Model answer

    Cilia are destroyed while mucus production is increased, so the only way to clear the accumulated mucus from the airways is by coughing.

  4. 4

    Explain how the carbon monoxide in tobacco smoke reduces the oxygen supply to the tissues.

    Model answer

    Carbon monoxide binds to the haem groups of haemoglobin far more strongly than oxygen does, forming carboxyhaemoglobin, so fewer binding sites remain available to carry oxygen.

  5. 5

    Name the component of tobacco smoke that contains carcinogens, and state where its long-term damage is seen.

    Model answer

    Tar, which deposits on the lining of the airways and causes mutations in the DNA of the bronchial epithelial cells, leading to lung cancer.

  6. 6

    Name three long-term diseases of the respiratory system caused by tobacco smoke.

    Model answer

    Chronic bronchitis, emphysema and lung cancer.

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BA high-quality diet is needed to sustain it.
CThe large head makes birth difficult.

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TrueFalse

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