Question 1

Which of the following best describes the function of the nasal conchae in the respiratory system?

Accepted Answer

They increase the surface area of the nasal cavity, enhancing air turbulence and aiding in the warming, moistening, and filtering of inspired air.

Question 2

A patient presents with a collapsed lung due to air entering the pleural cavity. What is the most likely diagnosis, and what is the immediate treatment?

Accepted Answer

Atelectasis; immediate treatment is removal of air with chest tubes.

Question 3

According to Boyle’s Law, what happens to the pressure inside the lungs when the thoracic cavity volume increases during inspiration?

Accepted Answer

The pressure decreases, causing air to flow into the lungs.

Question 4

Which equation correctly represents the relationship between pressure and volume in the lungs during breathing?

Accepted Answer

$$P_1V_1 = P_2V_2$$

Question 5

A premature infant is experiencing difficulty breathing due to insufficient surfactant production. What is the physiological role of surfactant in the lungs?

Accepted Answer

It reduces alveolar surface tension, preventing alveolar collapse during exhalation.

Question 6

During an asthma attack, which of the following changes occurs in the bronchioles?

Accepted Answer

Bronchoconstriction increases airway resistance, making breathing more difficult.

Question 7

Which of the following best explains why the right main bronchus is more likely to have a foreign object lodged in it compared to the left?

Accepted Answer

The right main bronchus is wider, shorter, and more vertical than the left.

Question 8

A patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is likely to have which of the following changes in lung function?

Accepted Answer

Decreased lung elastance, making expiration more difficult.

Question 9

Which of the following is the correct sequence of structures that air passes through from the trachea to the alveoli?

Accepted Answer

Trachea → Primary bronchi → Secondary bronchi → Tertiary bronchi → Bronchioles → Terminal bronchioles → Respiratory bronchioles → Alveolar ducts → Alveoli

Question 10

Which of the following best describes the Bohr effect in oxygen transport?

Accepted Answer

Increased $$P_{CO_2$}$$ and decreased pH weaken the hemoglobin-oxygen bond, promoting oxygen unloading in tissues.

Question 11

A patient is hyperventilating due to anxiety. What is the expected effect on blood pH and why?

Accepted Answer

Blood pH will increase (alkalosis) because excessive exhalation of $$CO_2$$ reduces $$H^+$$ concentration.

Question 12

Which of the following equations represents the carbonic acid–bicarbonate buffer system in the blood?

Accepted Answer

$$CO_2 + H_2O$$ \rightleftharpoons H_2CO_3 \rightleftharpoons H^+ + $$HCO_3$$^-$$

Question 13

Which of the following is a function of the pleural fluid in the pleural cavity?

Accepted Answer

It provides lubrication and surface tension that assists in lung expansion and recoil.

Question 14

A patient with a restrictive lung disorder is most likely to have which of the following findings on spirometry?

Accepted Answer

Decreased total lung capacity (TLC) due to reduced lung compliance.

Question 15

Which of the following best explains why $$CO_2 is $$transported primarily as bicarbonate ions ($$HCO_3$$^-$$) in the blood?

Accepted Answer

$$CO_2$$ reacts with water to form carbonic acid, which dissociates into $$HCO_3$$^-$$ and H$$^+$$, a reaction catalyzed by carbonic anhydrase in red blood cells.

Question 16

Which of the following best describes the role of central chemoreceptors in the control of respiration?

Accepted Answer

They detect changes in $$CO_2$$ and pH in the cerebrospinal fluid and stimulate increased ventilation when $$CO_2$$ rises.

Question 17

A person at high altitude experiences increased ventilation and a gradual increase in red blood cell production. What is the physiological reason for these changes?

Accepted Answer

Lower atmospheric $$P_{O_2$}$$ stimulates increased ventilation and erythropoietin release to compensate for reduced oxygen availability.

Question 18

Which of the following is a distinguishing feature of emphysema compared to chronic bronchitis?

Accepted Answer

Emphysema involves permanent destruction of alveolar walls, leading to decreased lung elastance.

The Respiratory System: Structure, Function, and Regulation

Study Guide - Practice Questions

Study Guide - Flashcards