Question

If an individual has abnormal microtubules, due to a hereditary condition, in which organs or tissues would you expect dysfunction?

A) limbs, hearts, areas with a good deal of contraction
B) microvilli, alveoli, and glomeruli: cellular projections that increase surface area
C) all ducts, such as those from salivary or sebaceous glands, that transport fluids
D) sperm, larynx, and trachea: cells and tissues that contain flagella or cilia
E) phagocytic cells and white blood cells that exhibit amoeboid movement

Answer 1

Abnormal microtubules would likely cause dysfunction in organs and tissues with flagella or cilia, such as the sperm cells, larynx, and trachea, affecting sperm motility and the respiratory system's ability to clear mucus.

Step-by-step explanation:

If an individual has abnormal microtubules due to a hereditary condition, one would expect dysfunction in organs and tissues that contain flagella or cilia. Hence, the correct answer among the provided options would be D) sperm, larynx, and trachea: cells and tissues that contain flagella or cilia. These structures are critically important for a range of bodily functions, such as the propulsion of sperm cells and the movement of mucus out of the respiratory tract.

Microtubules are crucial structural elements of these cellular appendages. For instance, in the respiratory system, ciliated epithelial cells line the airways and rhythmically beat to move mucus, dust, and bacteria away from the lungs. Similarly, in the reproductive system, the flagellum of sperm cells, which is essentially made of microtubules, is vital for the motility required to reach and fertilize the female egg. Therefore, abnormal microtubules would likely impair these vital processes.