Question

patient #1 (34 - year - old female) symptoms: chronic cough, shortness of breath, off - and - on chest pain, hoarse voice. patient came in today after a cold 4 weeks ago that was followed by a cough that would not go away and eventually got worse. she has been having a hard time breathing. physical exam reveals: no fever, wheezing heard in lungs, high blood pressure, normal weight/height, normal diet and no recent changes in behavior. patient history: no family history of any genetic disorders; no family history of high blood pressure or cancer; smoker since high school; no recreational drug use; job requires her to be on her feet all day. lab results: a biopsy of the cells lining the bronchi, or passageway to the lungs, shows badly damaged (and in some cases destroyed) organelles that would normally help move dirt and mucus out of the lungs. which of the following organelles is damaged? a mitochondria b flagella c cilia d golgi apparatus

Explanation:

Cilia are hair - like structures in the bronchial lining that help move dirt and mucus out of the lungs. Damage to cilia can lead to respiratory problems such as chronic cough and difficulty breathing as described in the patient. Mitochondria are for energy production, flagella are mainly for cell movement in some organisms and not relevant here, and the Golgi apparatus is involved in modifying, sorting, and packaging proteins and lipids.

Answer:

C. cilia