Anatomy & Histology · single question
In COPD, what is the primary metaplastic change in the respiratory epithelium?
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Correct answer: D. Stratified squamous non-keratinized epithelium
- A. ❌ 'Pseudostratified squamous' is not a recognized histological classification.
- B. ❌ Stratified columnar is not the direction of COPD-related metaplasia.
- C. ❌ Keratinized squamous may occur in severe/prolonged metaplasia, but non-keratinized squamous is the primary early change.
- D. ✅ Correct. In COPD (especially from chronic smoke exposure), the normal pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium undergoes SQUAMOUS METAPLASIA, converting to stratified squamous epithelium. The early-stage metaplasia is typically non-keratinized.
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