A 45-Year-Old Man Is Evaluated for Persistent Cough and Progressive

A 45-year-old man is evaluated for persistent cough and progressive dyspnea on exertion.  The patient has no medical issues but has been exposed to large quantities of coal dust while working as a miner for the past 15 years.  Chest imaging reveals small, nodular opacities in the upper lobes.  Lung biopsy shows fine carbon particles within the patient's respiratory bronchioles and alveolar ducts.  Which of the following mechanisms is most directly responsible for clearing the foreign particles from this patient's respiratory tract?

A) Coughing and sneezing
B) Immunologic memory
C) Mucociliary transport
D) Phagocytosis
E) Upper airway trapping

Correct Answer:

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