Question 1

Which structure is primarily responsible for filtering, warming, and humidifying air as it enters the upper respiratory tract?

Accepted Answer

Nasal cavity

Question 2

The movement of mucus across the respiratory epithelium is mainly facilitated by which cellular structure?

Accepted Answer

Cilia

Question 3

Which equation best describes Boyle’s Law as it applies to pulmonary ventilation?

Accepted Answer

$P = \frac{1}{V}$

Question 4

During inhalation, which muscles contract to increase the volume of the thoracic cavity?

Accepted Answer

Diaphragm and external intercostals

Question 5

A patient presents with a collapsed lung following a chest injury. Which condition is most likely responsible?

Accepted Answer

Pneumothorax

Question 6

Which of the following best explains the effect of decreased blood pH on the oxygen-hemoglobin saturation curve?

Accepted Answer

The curve shifts to the right, releasing more oxygen

Question 7

According to Henry’s Law, the amount of a gas that dissolves in a liquid is directly proportional to which factor?

Accepted Answer

The partial pressure of the gas

Question 8

Which structure prevents food from entering the trachea during swallowing?

Accepted Answer

Epiglottis

Question 9

What is the primary function of the alveoli in the lungs?

Accepted Answer

Gas exchange between air and blood

Question 10

Which of the following is a consequence of hypoxia?

Accepted Answer

Low tissue oxygen levels

Question 11

If the volume of the thoracic cavity increases, what happens to the pressure inside the lungs according to Boyle’s Law?

Accepted Answer

Pressure decreases

Question 12

Which of the following is NOT a component of the blood-air barrier in the alveoli?

Accepted Answer

Smooth muscle cell

Question 13

Which equation represents the relationship between partial pressure and gas solubility in blood?

Accepted Answer

$C = k 	imes P_{gas}$

Question 14

Which of the following muscles is considered an accessory muscle of inspiration during forced breathing?

Accepted Answer

Sternocleidomastoid

Question 15

A patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has difficulty exhaling. Which anatomical change is most likely responsible?

Accepted Answer

Loss of elastic fibers in alveolar walls

Question 16

Which of the following best describes the function of surfactant in the alveoli?

Accepted Answer

Decreases surface tension to prevent collapse

Question 17

Which of the following statements about fetal hemoglobin is correct?

Accepted Answer

It has a higher affinity for oxygen than adult hemoglobin

Question 18

Which of the following is the correct sequence of airflow from the trachea to the alveoli?

Accepted Answer

Trachea → Bronchi → Bronchioles → Alveoli

Question 19

Which of the following is a direct result of an open pneumothorax?

Accepted Answer

Atelectasis (collapsed lung)

Question 20

Which of the following mechanisms is responsible for most carbon dioxide transport in the blood?

Accepted Answer

Converted to bicarbonate ion ($HCO_3^-$)

Chapter 23: The Respiratory System – Fundamentals of Anatomy & Physiology

Study Guide - Practice Questions