Question

When someone smokes a cigarette, smoke moves through the respiratory system. The smoke deposits tar and other materials inside the alveoli. Alveoli are tiny air sacs in the lungs. Oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange take place in the alveoli. What effect would a build-up of materials inside the alveoli have on other organ systems?

A. It would increase the effort required by the lungs to breathe, but would have no effect on the efficiency of other organ systems.
B. It would increase the oxygen taken in by the lungs and increase the carbon dioxide given off by other organ systems, making them more efficient.
C. It would increase the oxygen in the blood and decrease the carbon dioxide given off by other organ systems, making them less efficient.
D. It would increase the carbon dioxide in the blood and decrease the oxygen delivered to other organ systems, making them less efficient.

Answer 1

A build-up of materials from cigarette smoke inside the alveoli leads to less efficient exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide, which in turn makes other organ systems less efficient by reducing oxygen delivery and increasing carbon dioxide in the blood.

Step-by-step explanation:

When tar and other materials from cigarette smoke build up inside the alveoli, they hinder the gas exchange process. This build-up can decrease the oxygen diffusion into the blood and increase the carbon dioxide concentration within it, as the alveoli's surface area and permeability are compromised. The decreased oxygen delivery and increased carbon dioxide result in other organ systems becoming less efficient.

The compromised gas exchange significantly affects the circulatory system, which relies on the efficient uptake of oxygen and expulsion of carbon dioxide to function properly and deliver nutrients and oxygen to cells throughout the body. If tissues do not receive enough oxygen, they cannot perform their functions adequately, leading to symptoms of fatigue, and in severe cases, organ failure.