A 55-year-old male with a 30-year history of smoking is examined for respiratory disturbance. Examination of his airway (bronchial) reveals that stratified squamous epithelial cells have replaced the normal columnar ciliated cells. The type of cellular adaptation is called:

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The replacement of the normal columnar ciliated cells with stratified squamous epithelial cells is a form of metaplasia, which is a reversible cellular adaptation in response to chronic irritation or inflammation. Hypertrophy and hyperplasia refer to the increase in size and number of cells, respectively, while dysplasia refers to abnormal cellular changes that can be a precursor to cancer.

A 55-Year-Old Male with a 30-Year History of Smoking Is