Question

The client, a chemistry graduate student, was interested in the urgent care clinic nurse's talk about the human body's natural protection from infection. The nurse talked about low pH and high acidity prevent microbial growth. Which areas of the body have this protection?

1) Vagina
2) Stomach
3) Lungs
4) Eye
5) Mouth

Answer 1

Areas of the body that are protected by low pH and high acidity include the stomach, vagina, and mouth; the eye has protective lysozyme in its tears, and the lungs utilize mucus and cilia for defense.

Step-by-step explanation:

The human body has several regions that use low pH and high acidity to prevent microbial growth. The stomach is one such area where the secretion of hydrochloric acid creates a highly acidic environment fatal to many pathogens. Another area is the vagina, where acidic secretions inhibit microbial proliferation. Additionally, lysozyme-rich saliva in the mouth protects against bacterial infection by breaking down bacterial cell walls. Finally, the tears of the eye contain lysozyme, helping to prevent bacterial growth. The lungs, while not acidic, are protected by other mechanisms such as mucus and ciliated cells that trap and expel pathogens.