Airway Responses in Asthma Attacks

Steps:

• Recall asthma causes bronchoconstriction and excess mucus, impairing gas exchange.
• Assess statement 1: Cilia beat faster to move mucus out of airways.
• Assess statement 2: Goblet cells secrete more mucus, but endocytosis (cellular uptake) does not increase.
• Assess statement 3: Smooth muscle contracts around bronchi, narrowing tubes.

Why C is correct:

• Respiratory physiology defines asthma attacks by heightened ciliary action to clear debris and smooth muscle hyperactivity causing airway constriction.

Why the others are wrong:

• A includes 2, but endocytosis in goblet cells decreases or stays unchanged, not increasing.
• B omits 3, ignoring key smooth muscle role in narrowing.
• D includes 2, wrongly assuming endocytosis rises, and omits 1.

Final answer: C