Which Age-Related Changes in the Respiratory System Are Responsible for an Increased

question 8

Multiple Choice

Which age-related changes in the respiratory system are responsible for an increased susceptibility to pneumonia in older clients?

• A) Weaker cough reflex
• B) Diminished gag reflux
• C) Calcified costal cartilage
• D) Osteopenia in the vertebrae
• E) Increased stiffness of the thoracic cage

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Definitions:

Molecule

The smallest unit of a chemical compound that can exist, consisting of two or more atoms bonded together.

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid, a molecule that carries the genetic instructions used in the growth, development, functioning, and reproduction of all known living organisms and many viruses.

RNA

Ribonucleic acid, a nucleic acid present in all living cells. Its principal role is to act as a messenger carrying instructions from DNA for controlling the synthesis of proteins.

Human Genome

The complete set of nucleic acid sequences for humans, encoded as DNA within the 23 chromosome pairs in cell nuclei and in a small DNA molecule found within individual mitochondria.