Damage to epithelial cells

Question 1

What can cause damage to epithelial cells?

Answer 1

smoking

Question 2

what can smoking cause?

Answer 2

chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD)

Question 3

What is chronic bronchitis?

Answer 3

inflammation of airways in lungs

blocked airways = difficulty breathing

Question 4

What happens to the squamous epithelial when one has got chronic bronchitis?

Answer 4

squamous epithelial thickens

Question 5

What happens to the ciliated epithelium when one has got chronic bronchitis?

Answer 5

excessive secretion of mucus

resulting in cough

Question 6

What is emphysema?

Answer 6

damage to the air sacs in the lungs

Question 7

What happens to the body when one has emphysema?

Answer 7

• destruction of alveoli walls
• abnormally large air spaces in lungs
• decreased surface area for gas exchange
• destruction of elastin (alveoli cannot recoil)

Question 8

What is atherosclerosis?

Answer 8

Hardening and narrowing of arteries

heart attacks and strokes occur the most

Question 9

Stages of atherosclerosis

Answer 9

1) endothelium becomes damaged (bc high blood pressure + carbon monoxide from smoking)

2) Damage causes inflammatory response:
- white blood cells move into artery wall
- cholesterol from blood accumulate under endothelium
- deposit = atheroma

3) Calcium salts + fibrous tissue build up at site, forming hard swelling (plaque)
- Artery lose some elasticity , causing it to narrow

4) Atheroma breaks through endothelium forming plaque
- reducing lumen, making it difficult for heart to pump blood around body