Anatomy & Histology · single question
In a patient with COPD (chronic irritation), the respiratory pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium undergoes metaplasia. It changes into which epithelium?
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Correct answer: A. Stratified squamous (non-keratinized) epithelium
- A. Correct. Chronic irritation causes squamous metaplasia — the protective change from respiratory epithelium to stratified squamous (non-keratinized) epithelium.
- B. Simple cuboidal lines ducts/tubules, not metaplastic airway from irritation.
- C. Transitional epithelium lines the urinary tract.
- D. Glandular metaplasia (e.g., Barrett) occurs in the esophagus, not the COPD airway in this context.
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