What is cystic fibrosis in the lungs?

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an inherited disease that causes thickened mucus to form in the lungs, pancreas and other organs. In the lungs, this mucus blocks the airways, creating lung damage and making it hard to breathe.

What part of the lung is affected by cystic fibrosis?

CFTR controls the flow of water and salt in and out of the body’s cells. Changes cause mucus to become thickened and sticky. This first affects the small airways in the lungs. Over time, it can affect all airways.

Where is cystic fibrosis located?

The location of the CFTR protein, which is found in several organs, determines where the symptoms of CF occur. The organs that are typically involved in CF are the skin, pancreas and lungs.

How is cystic fibrosis inherited Punnett Square?

Cystic fibrosis affects the lungs. To predict how many offspring will have a particular genotype you use a Punnett square. For example in cystic fibrosis if both parents are heterozygous, each child has a 25% chance of being born with cystic fibrosis. Some genetic diseases are caused by a dominant gene.

What causes cystic fibrosis?

Cystic fibrosis is caused by a change (mutation) in the gene that makes cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR) protein. To have CF, a baby must get two copies of the CF gene, one from each parent.

How does cystic fibrosis affect lung volumes?

In people with CF, this mucus is much thicker and clogs the lungs, creating the perfect environment for harmful bacteria. This means that people with the condition experience persistent coughing or wheezing, and produce thicker, stickier mucus (sputum).

Who has cystic fibrosis?

Cystic fibrosis is one of the most common genetic disorders in white people in the United States, occurring in one of every 3,200 live births. It is less common in African Americans (1 in 17,000), Asian Americans (1 in 31,000) and Native Americans.

What is cystic fibrosis inheritance pattern?

This condition is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern , which means both copies of the gene in each cell have mutations. The parents of an individual with an autosomal recessive condition each carry one copy of the mutated gene, but they typically do not show signs and symptoms of the condition.

Which gene causes cystic fibrosis?

Cystic fibrosis is caused by mutations in the gene that produces the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein. In people with CF, mutations in the CFTR gene can disrupt the normal production or functioning of the CFTR protein found in the cells of the lungs and other parts of the body.

Why is it called cystic fibrosis?

The mucus traps germs and leads to infections. It can also cause severe lung damage like cysts (fluid-filled sacs) and fibrosis (scar tissue). That’s how CF got its name.

What organs does cystic fibrosis affect?

This is how most cases are diagnosed. CF causes thick mucus that clogs certain organs, such as the lungs, pancreas, and intestines. This may cause malnutrition, poor growth, frequent respiratory infections, breathing problems, and chronic lung disease.

What happens to the body with cystic fibrosis?

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an inherited disorder that causes severe damage to the lungs, digestive system and other organs in the body. Cystic fibrosis affects the cells that produce mucus, sweat and digestive juices. These secreted fluids are normally thin and slippery.