SUPPLEMENTARY:

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Metaplasia (HP)

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Some parts of the respiratory tract which are exposed to direct air flow or physical abrasion such as the epiglottis and vocal folds, are usually lined by a protective stratified squamous epithelium. If air flow patterns alter, when for example an individual has a chronic cough, the normal ciliated epithelium may be replaced more widely by a stratified epithelium. This is a reversible change and is called metaplasia. Since ciliated epithelial cells are lost, mucus will accumulate and congestion will occur.

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Core	Supplementary Material on Respiratory Epithelium
Return to Core	specialisations of respiratory epithelium	goblet cells & cilia	cilia
	EM of cilia (TS)	pathological increase in goblet cells	metaplasia of the respiratory epithelium
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