Practice Questions on the Respiratory System
Page 2

  1. Total lung capacity is equal to:
    1. Vital capacity x Tidal volume
    2. Functional residual capacity + Expiratory reserve volume
    3. Anatomical dead space + Alveolar dead space
    4. Residual volume + Vital capacity

  2. Which of the following has the greatest surface area for exchange?
    1. Pulmonary veins
    2. Alveoli
    3. Respiratory bronchioles
    4. Terminal bronchioles

  3. Select the correct statement about O2 transport in the blood.
    1. During normal activity, a molecule of Hb returning to the lungs contains one molecule of oxygen
    2. As pH decreases, oxygen's affinity for Hb increases
    3. A 50% oxygen saturation level of blood returning to the lungs might indicate a higher activity level than normal
    4. All of the above
    5. None of the above

  4. Respiratory control centers are located in the_____________ and _________.
  5. Oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged through all cell membranes by ____________.
  6. The total pressure exerted by a mixture of gasses is (equal to, greater than, lesser than) the sum of the individual partial pressures of gases in the mixture.
  7. The first portion of the respiratory zone is the ________________.
  8. True or False: Internal respiration is O2 loading and CO2 unloading between the blood of the pulmonary capillaries and the air of the alveoli.
  9. As alveolar dead space increases, alveolar ventilation will ___________.
  10. The presence of air in the interpleural space is known as ________________.
  11. Which of these values would normally be the highest?
    1. Tidal Volume
    2. Inspiratory Reserve Volume
    3. Expiratory Rserve Volume
    4. Residual Volume
    5. Vital Capacity

  12. Most CO2 is transported in the blood in the form of:
    1. Dissolved gas
    2. Carbaminohemoglobin
    3. Bicarbonate ion
    4. Carboxyhemoglobin

  13. Rank the following in terms of diameter.
    1. Alveolar Duct
    2. Tertiary Bronchus
    3. Trachea
    4. Secondary Bronchus

  14. As plasma Pco2 increases, plasma pH will ___________.
  15. As plasma Pco2 increases, both the rate and depth of respiration will ________________________.
  16. Which of the following is true?
    1. The thyroid cartilage is the smallest of the laryngeal cartilages
    2. The cricoid cartilage is inferior to the thyroid cartilage
    3. The laryngeal prominence is part of the cuneiform cartilage
    4. The laryngeal prominence is larger in females than in males
    5. There are 4 pairs of cartilage and 1 unpaired cartilage in the larynx

  17. Stimulating the cephalic end of a cut vagus nerve would cause respiration to:
    1. Cease because of the lung stretch receptor reflex
    2. Increase in rate because of the increased activity of the dorsal respiratory group
    3. Increase in depth because of the increased sympathetic activity
    4. None of the above

  18. Which of the following cells produce surfactant in lung alveoli?
    1. Endothelial cells
    2. Clara cells
    3. Type I cells
    4. Type II cells
    5. Dust cells

  19. Progressing from the nasopharynx to the lung, alveoli are first encountered in which of the following?
    1. Trachea
    2. Bronchiole
    3. Terminal bronchiole
    4. Respiratory bronchiole
    5. Alveolar duct

  20. Which of the following structures does not have cartilage associated with it?
    1. Bronchiole
    2. Bronchi (small)
    3. Bronchi (large)
    4. Trachea
    5. Larynx

  21. Which of the following would not be seen in a cross-section of a trachea?
    1. Perichondrium
    2. Elastic cartilage
    3. Lamina propria
    4. Dense connective tissue
    5. Lymphoid nodules

  22. Goblet cells are absent from which of the following regions of the respiratory system?
    1. Nasopharynx
    2. Larynx
    3. Trachea
    4. Bronchi
    5. Terminal Bronchioles

  23. The loudness of a person's voice depends on:
    1. The thickness of the vestibular folds
    2. The length of the vocal folds
    3. The strength of the intrinsic laryngeal muscles
    4. The force with which air rushes through the glottis
    5. The thickness of the true vocal folds

  24. Surfactant causes alveolar surface tension to __________
  25. Inspiratory capacity is:
    1. The total amount of air that can be inspired after a tidal expiration
    2. The total amount of exchangeable air
    3. Another name for functional residual capacity
    4. The amount of air inspired after a tidal inspiration
    5. A and c are correct

  26. The most powerful respiratory stimulant in a healthy person is:
    1. Decreased tissue [oxygen]
    2. Increased plasma Pco2
    3. Increased CSF pH
    4. Decreased CSF pH
  27. Which of the following changes occur as conducting tubes become smaller?
    1. Cartilage rings are replaced by irregular cartilage plates
    2. Mucosal epithelium changes
    3. Smooth muscle content increases
    4. All of the above
    5. 2 of the above
  28. A premature baby usually has trouble breathing. However the respiratory system is completely developed by:
    1. 17 wks
    2. 22 wks
    3. 24 wks
    4. 28 wks
    5. 20 wks
  29. The nose serves all the following functions except:
    1. Passageway for air movement
    2. Initiator of the cough reflex
    3. Warming and humidifying inspired air
    4. Cleansing inspired air
    5. Providing resonance for speech production
  30. Possible causes of hypoxemia include:
    1. Decreased atmospheric oxygen content
    2. Tracheal obstruction
    3. Pneumonia
    4. A and b are correct
    5. A, b, and c are correct
  31. Tidal volume is air:
    1. Remaining in the lungs after forced expiration
    2. Exchanged during normal breathing
    3. Inhaled after quiet inspiration
    4. Forcibly expelled after normal expiration
  32. The RBC count increases after an individual spends significant time at higher altitude because:
    1. Temperature is lower at higher altitudes
    2. Basal metabolic rate is lower at higher altitudes
    3. Basal metabolic rate is higher at higher altitudes
    4. Atmospheric Po2 is higher at higher altitudes
    5. Atmospheric Po2 is lower at higher altitudes
  33. Most inspired particles (e.g., dust) fail to reach the lungs because of the:
    1. Ciliated mucous lining in the nose
    2. Abundant blood supply to the nasal mucosa
    3. Porous structure of the turbinate bones
    4. Contraction of the epiglottis
    5. 2 of the above
  34. Most oxygen carried in the blood is:
    1. In solution with the plasma
    2. Combined with plasma proteins
    3. Chemically combined with a heme group
    4. Carried as HCO3-
    5. Bound to the amino acid valine on the beta chain of hemoglobin

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