A 16-year-old male with cystic fibrosis is admitted to the inpatient pulmonary unit. He has been hospitalized several times in the past year with respiratory infections, including Pseudomonas and H. influenza. Because of his thick mucous, airway inflammation, and immobile mucosal cilia, microorganisms are unable to be effectively cleared from his lungs. He is supposed to perform vigorous airway mucous clearance measures at home with a vibrating vest and IPV (intrapulmonary percussive ventilation) device. However, the patient states that his treatment takes hours and he does not always feel sick. He estimates his compliance with home airway clearance regimen to be less than 50%.
-The patient asks the nurse to explain what cilia are.All of the following statements are correct except ________.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Cilia are not chemical-excreting natural killer cells, but rather microscopic hair-like structures that beat rhythmically to help move and expel foreign invaders from the airways. Cilia form a brush-like lining in the respiratory system and work together to create a sort of microscopic "escalator" to move mucus and trapped particles out of the lungs.

A 16-Year-Old Male with Cystic Fibrosis Is Admitted to the Inpatient