Question

What would likely happen if a person had poorly functioning mucous membranes throughout their respiratory tract?

A. This would reduce a person's ability to ventilate.
B. The person would be at increased risk of respiratory infections.
C. The oxygen content of inspired air would be reduced.
D. The flexibility of the upper airways would be reduced.

Answer 1

A person with poorly functioning mucous membranes in the respiratory tract would likely face an increased risk of respiratory infections due to compromised mucociliary escalator effect. The correct option is B.

Step-by-step explanation:

If a person had poorly functioning mucous membranes throughout their respiratory tract, the most likely consequence would be that the person would be at increased risk of respiratory infections.

The mucous membranes are essential for trapping pathogens and particles in the mucus and using ciliated epithelial cells to move this mucus out of the respiratory system, as part of the mucociliary escalator effect.

When these membranes are compromised, pathogens can more easily adhere to the respiratory epithelium and infect it, leading to illness.

Moreover, as the mucus usually works to warm and humidify incoming air, its dysfunction could contribute to airway irritation and potentially exacerbate any existing respiratory issues. Option B. is the correct one.