Question 1

Which of the following best describes the primary function of the respiratory system?

Accepted Answer

To intake oxygen and expel carbon dioxide, helping maintain acid-base balance

Question 2

Which structure is the first to filter, warm, and humidify incoming air in the respiratory tract?

Accepted Answer

Nasal cavity

Question 3

A patient accidentally inhales a small object. Which bronchus is the object most likely to lodge in, and why?

Accepted Answer

Right primary bronchus, because it is more vertical and wider

Question 4

Which of the following best explains Boyle’s Law as it applies to pulmonary ventilation?

Accepted Answer

As the volume of the thoracic cavity increases, the pressure inside the lungs decreases

Question 5

During quiet inspiration, which muscles are primarily responsible for increasing thoracic volume?

Accepted Answer

Diaphragm and external intercostals

Question 6

Which type of alveolar cell is responsible for producing surfactant, and what is the function of surfactant?

Accepted Answer

Type 2 alveolar cell; decreases surface tension to prevent collapse

Question 7

Which of the following best describes the mucociliary escalator?

Accepted Answer

Cilia and mucus in the respiratory epithelium move debris toward the pharynx to be swallowed

Question 8

A patient with chronic bronchitis is likely to have which of the following spirometry findings?

Accepted Answer

Increased TLC and increased RV

Question 9

Which of the following equations correctly represents Boyle’s Law?

Accepted Answer

$$P_1V_1 = P_2V_2$$

Question 10

Which of the following is NOT a function of the pleural membranes?

Accepted Answer

Producing surfactant for alveoli

Question 11

According to Dalton’s Law, the total pressure of a gas mixture is:

Accepted Answer

The sum of the partial pressures of each gas

Question 12

Which of the following best describes the shift to the right in the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve?

Accepted Answer

Hemoglobin releases oxygen more easily, more O2 is released

Question 13

Which of the following is the most powerful stimulant for breathing under normal conditions?

Accepted Answer

High carbon dioxide concentration

Question 14

A patient is experiencing a pneumothorax. What is happening in their thoracic cavity?

Accepted Answer

Air has entered the pleural space, causing lung collapse

Question 15

Which of the following best describes the path of an oxygen molecule from the nasal cavity to the blood?

Accepted Answer

Nasal cavity → pharynx → larynx → trachea → bronchi → bronchioles → alveoli → capillaries

Question 16

Which of the following is true regarding the transport of carbon dioxide in the blood?

Accepted Answer

Most CO2 is transported as bicarbonate ions in plasma

Question 17

Which of the following best explains why breathing into a paper bag can help someone experiencing hyperventilation?

Accepted Answer

It increases carbon dioxide levels in the blood, correcting hypocapnia

Question 18

Which of the following is a correct statement about the anatomical dead space?

Accepted Answer

It is the volume of air in the conducting zones that does not participate in gas exchange

Question 19

A patient with restrictive lung disease will most likely have which of the following spirometry findings?

Accepted Answer

Decreased TLC and decreased RV

Question 20

Which of the following best describes the role of the diaphragm during inspiration?

Accepted Answer

It contracts and flattens, increasing thoracic volume

Chapter 22: The Respiratory System – Structure, Function, and Physiology

Study Guide - Practice Questions