Physiology – Respiratory System 2 Practice Test

These questions are part of the practice quiz. Start practicing

• When a person is standing, where is the highest arterial-to-venous pressure difference in the lung?
• In conditions such as anemia, methemoglobinemia, or carbon monoxide poisoning, why is the respiratory rate not increased?
• Which expression correctly represents Total Lung Capacity (TLC)?
• Without surfactant, alveoli have increased surface tension, making them prone to collapse; this primarily leads to:
• If the vital capacity is 5.0 L, tidal volume is 0.5 L, and inspiratory capacity is 3.5 L, what is expiratory reserve volume (ERV)?
• On a respiratory PV relationship, surfactant reduces surface tension most effectively at smaller radii.
• Which term denotes the total amount of air the lungs can hold when fully inflated?
• Functional residual capacity is the lung volume at which the inward recoil of the lung equals the outward recoil of the chest wall.
• Central chemoreceptors primarily respond to changes in which CSF parameter?
• In a healthy person, alveolar CO2 concentration is highest in alveoli at the end of expiration. Which of the following best expresses this?
• J receptors are stimulated by interstitial edema and can cause which respiratory response?
• During strenuous exercise, which change occurs?
• The greatest volume that can be exhaled during a forced maneuver is called.
• In the upright lung, which region has the lowest V/Q ratio?
• A deficiency of pulmonary surfactant would:
• Hypoventilation causes hypoxemia with a normal A-a gradient. Which statement best describes this condition?
• Oxygen therapy is most beneficial in which situation when lung function is normal?
• In a patient with kyphoscoliosis and respiratory muscle weakness, which physiological variable is most likely decreased?
• Which lung volume is not directly measured by a standard spirometer?
• A healthy 65-year-old man with a tidal volume of 0.45 L and a breathing frequency of 16 breaths per minute has an arterial PCO2 of 41 mm Hg and the PCO2 of his expired air is 35 mm Hg. What is his alveolar ventilation?
• In obstructive airway disease, alveolar ventilation tends to be reduced due to
• If alveolar PCO2 was originally 40 mm Hg but body temperature increased and CO2 production doubled while no change occurred in alveolar ventilation, what decrease should occur in alveolar PO2? (Assume R = 1.0)
• Which factor will decrease the O2 carrying capacity of blood?
• Which condition causes hypoxemia that is not fully corrected by 100% oxygen due to shunting?
• When airway pressure is zero, the volume of the lung–chest wall system equals functional residual capacity (FRC).
• Which statement best describes how gravity affects the base during quiet breathing in an upright person?
• If a lung has greater compliance than normal, for a given change in transpulmonary pressure, the resulting change in lung volume is:
• Transpulmonary pressure equals the difference between which two pressures?
• The overall compliance of the respiratory system is less than the chest wall compliance.
• An infant born prematurely at gestational week 25 would be expected to show:
• Which statement best describes Residual Volume (RV)?
• Alveolar CO2 tension is inversely related to alveolar ventilation. If alveolar ventilation doubles while CO2 production remains constant, alveolar PCO2 will:
• Hypercapnia affects respiration mainly by stimulating which receptors?
• Which statement about residual volume in emphysema is correct?
• Which statement about surfactant is true?
• Physiologic dead space includes both anatomic dead space and any alveoli that are ventilated but not perfused.
• Which person would be expected to have the largest A-a gradient?
• A decrease in blood pH shifts the hemoglobin-oxygen dissociation curve in which direction, and what happens to O2 carrying capacity?
• At high altitude, the primary reason for reduced arterial oxygen content is?
• In an emphysema patient, pursed-lip exhalation helps by:
• Which of the following statements about diffusion capacity in fibrotic disease is correct?
• Which scenario would most likely involve a leftward shift of the dissociation curve due to hypothermia?
• If Inspiratory Capacity (IC) is 3.5 L and Tidal Volume (TV) is 0.5 L, what is Inspiratory Reserve Volume (IRV)?
• Which of the following will increase as a result of stimulating cholinergic receptors on the bronchial smooth muscle?
• Functional residual capacity is the sum of which two pulmonary volumes?
• Which statement explains why the base of the upright lung tends to have a lower V/Q ratio than the apex?
• Hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction at high altitude leads to which effect?
• During forced expiration, equal pressure point moves closer to mouth and FEV increases if there is an increase in which?
• Which of the following is higher at the apex of the lung than at the base when a person is upright?
• Which term represents the largest exhaled volume during pulmonary function testing?
• What is the major sign of hypoventilation?
• Which expression defines Vital Capacity (VC)?
• Chronic high-altitude exposure stimulates increased production of which hormone?
• During inspiration, as the diaphragm contracts, intrapleural pressure becomes...
• Which statement about lung compliance is true?
• Which volume represents the air remaining in the lungs after a maximal exhalation?
• During the effort-independent portion of a forced vital capacity maneuver, the expiratory flow rate is:
• During a maximal inspiratory effort, maximal gas flow occurs when which pressure is most negative?
• If dead space increases from 150 mL to 300 mL while tidal volume remains 0.5 L and rate remains constant, alveolar ventilation will:
• In a pulmonary embolism that completely blocks blood flow to the left lung, which statement is true?
• During inspiration (as compared to expiration):
• The apneustic center is located in which part of the brain?
• Vital capacity equals the sum of which volumes?
• The volume of nitrogen dissolved in body fluids is greatest while breathing which gas mixture?
• Which expression correctly represents Total Lung Capacity (TLC)?
• In obstructive lung disease, the expiratory portion of the flow-volume loop is best described as:
• In ARDS treated with surfactant, shunting decreases and oxygenation improves. Which outcome directly reflects decreased shunt?
• Alveolar pressure during inspiration relative to atmospheric is:
• At an altitude of 11,500 feet, a healthy person experiences an increase in resting minute ventilation primarily due to stimulation of which receptors by low arterial PO2?
• In which vascular bed does hypoxia cause vasoconstriction?
• In carbon monoxide poisoning, which statement best describes arterial blood gas findings?
• Which statement best characterizes lung compliance?
• Which statement best describes alveolar CO2 tension in a vertical lung during quiet breathing?
• Hypoxemia produces hyperventilation by a direct effect on which receptors?
• Which statement best describes the drive to breathe under normal conditions?
• In ARDS treated with exogenous surfactant, the improvement in respiratory function occurred because surfactant increased which of the following?
• Exogenous surfactant reduces which property to prevent alveolar collapse?
• In obesity with decreased chest wall recoil, functional residual capacity is expected to:
• Which statement about physiological dead space is true?
• A marble blocks ventilation of the lower lobe of the right lung; which would most likely increase as a result?
• After two months living at 3,500 meters, a person will have which adaptation?
• Which statement best describes functional residual capacity?
• A 58-year-old woman experiences an acute exacerbation of asthma, which causes her breathing to become labored and faster. As a result, which of the following changes in airflow is expected?
• Which condition would increase the P50 value, indicating decreased affinity?
• Which expression represents Functional Residual Capacity (FRC)?
• A 78-year-old man with emphysema has increased TLC and RV, decreased elastic recoil, and increased compliance. Which set of changes best describes these pulmonary parameters?
• Which volume remains in the lungs after a maximal expiration?
• A patient presents with tachypnea and labored respirations due to edema-related fluid accumulation in the lungs and reduced lung compliance. Which diagnosis best fits this presentation?
• A medical student waiting to do her first patient interview at the clinical skills center becomes very anxious and increases her rate of alveolar ventilation. If her rate of CO2 production remains constant, which of the following will decrease?
• Which statement correctly describes the intrapleural pressure on the side of a right pneumothorax?
• Which factor best explains why the lungs inflate during inspiration?
• Central chemoreceptors are stimulated by which of the following?
• Which laboratory value is consistent with pulmonary fibrosis?
• What is the primary function of surfactant in the alveoli?
• A person has Vital Capacity 4.0 L, Tidal Volume 0.4 L, and Inspiratory Capacity 2.8 L. What is Expiratory Reserve Volume (ERV)?
• Which factor would cause a left shift in the Hb-O2 curve, increasing affinity?
• Which of the following is the site of highest airway resistance?
• Residual volume cannot be measured by standard spirometry.
• Which of the following statements about antenatal steroids and fetal lung maturity is true?
• Which of the following would cause the Hb-O2 dissociation curve to shift to the RIGHT?
• Compared with a normal person, what is the expected change in Total Lung Capacity and Maximal Expiratory Flow in restrictive disease?
• Taking a deep inspiration to total lung capacity causes which variable to increase?
• Which formula correctly defines alveolar ventilation?
• Which volume defines the maximum amount of air that can be inspired after a normal expiration?
• In a severe asthma attack with hypoxemia and hypocapnia, which statement is most likely true?
• Alveolar minute ventilation given tidal volume 0.6 L, dead space 0.15 L, respiratory rate 12/min is:
• An increase in afferent activity of nerves mediating the Hering-Breuer reflex would indicate which phase of breathing?
• Methemoglobinemia presents with normal PaO2 but decreased oxygen saturation due to hemoglobin oxidation. Which option lists this condition?
• Compared with the systemic circulation, the pulmonary circulation has which property?
• Airway resistance is greater than which of the following statements?
• Which expression correctly represents Functional Residual Capacity (FRC)?
• In a healthy human, most CO2 transported from tissues to lungs is in which form?
• Which of the following causes of hypoxia is characterized by a decreased arterial PO2 and an increased A-a gradient?
• An individual’s inspired PO2 was 150 mm Hg and his alveolar PCO2 was 40 mm Hg. If this person's alveolar ventilation then doubled, his alveolar PO2 would be expected to change by:
• Which measurement describes the volume exhaled in the first second of forced expiration?
• What is the volume in the lungs at the end of a normal expiration called?
• P50 is the PO2 at which Hb is 50% saturated. A higher P50 indicates decreased affinity.
• A patient is on a ventilator adjusted for an inspiratory tidal volume of 1 L at a frequency of 10 b/min. If the patient’s anatomic dead space is 200 mL and the machine’s dead space 50 mL, the patient’s alveolar ventilation is:
• If surfactant is absent from the alveoli, the lungs':
• Which of the following conditions will cause a decrease in pulmonary vascular resistance?
• Compression injury of the glossopharyngeal nerve during parotid surgery disrupts which respiratory reflex?
• In restrictive lung disease, which change is true regarding Total Lung Capacity?
• The inherent rhythm for respiration is generated in which brain region?
• A 66-year-old male with long smoking history shows increased TLC and RV, normal FVC, reduced FEV1 and an FEV1/FVC of 0.58. This pattern is most consistent with which of the following?
• A lecithin-to-sphingomyelin ratio greater than 2:1 in amniotic fluid indicates what about fetal lung maturity?
• A lack of normal surfactant, as occurs in RDS, results in:
• Which finding best reveals the presence of a hypoxic ventilatory response in a patient with arterial hypoxemia?
• A man breathing at a frequency of 20 breaths per minute has a minute ventilation of 8 L/min and a dead space of 150 mL. His alveolar ventilation is:
• Increasing the tidal volume while keeping everything else constant increases the...
• The inspiratory neurons that contribute to the respiratory rhythm are located in which group?
• Peripheral chemoreceptors (carotid bodies) respond to decreased arterial PO2 primarily.
• A 125-lb, 40-year-old woman with nasal polyps and aspirin sensitivity since childhood presents with status asthmaticus and hypercapnic respiratory failure. She requires immediate intubation and is placed on a mechanical ventilator on an FIO2 of 40%, a control rate of 15 breaths/min, and a tidal volume of 500 mL. Which of the following is her approximate alveolar ventilation?
• What is the direct effect of carbon monoxide poisoning on oxygen transport?
• In a patient with anemia and otherwise normal lungs, which intervention most directly increases arterial oxygen content?
• Which volume remains after a maximal expiration?
• Which of the following could produce a decrease in alveolar ventilation with no change in total ventilation?
• Which occurs during quiet inspiration?
• Which of the following is NOT an equilibrium position for the respiratory system?
• In neonatal respiratory distress syndrome due to surfactant deficiency, arterial oxygen tension is typically:
• During Valsalva maneuver which statement is correct?
• Which of the following will decrease the oxygen consumption of the respiratory muscles?
• Which statement best describes spirometry in obstructive lung disease?
• Which quantity is directly measured by spirometry?
• Which expression correctly represents Inspiratory Capacity (IC)?
• During quiet breathing in an upright person, gravity causes the base to be more poorly expanded but it receives more ventilation than the apex. Which option best characterizes this pattern of ventilation?
• Which is the major site of airway resistance during normal breathing?
• Which volume is the total amount of air in the lungs after a maximal inhalation?
• Which condition is characterized by increased lung compliance due to loss of elastic recoil?
• Which scenario is most typical of a V/Q mismatch causing hypoxemia with relatively preserved PaCO2?
• Which equation correctly expresses that vital capacity equals TLC minus residual volume?
• In restrictive lung disease, which combination best describes FEV1 and lung compliance?
• Arterial oxygen content is primarily determined by which factor?
• The pacemaker neurons responsible for respiratory rhythmogenesis are located where?
• Which statement best represents the systemic arterial blood of an individual with anemia?
• Breathing rate increases when a person breathes into a paper bag because alveolar PCO2 increases.
• Which equation defines inspiratory capacity (IC)?
• Which condition shifts the oxygen-hemoglobin dissociation curve to the left, increasing hemoglobin's affinity for oxygen?
• Arterial oxygen content is determined primarily by which combination of factors?
• Which pulmonary function change is commonly associated with emphysema?
• Increasing dead space while keeping tidal volume and rate constant will impact alveolar ventilation by:
• Transpulmonary pressure is defined as alveolar pressure minus intrapleural pressure.
• In a patient with low hemoglobin, which intervention most directly increases arterial oxygen content?
• In helium dilution, the functional residual capacity is approximately which value?
• Compared with a normal full-term infant, a preterm infant with respiratory distress syndrome typically has:
• The shift from Curve A to Curve B is associated with
• Which condition triggers increased ventilation via both peripheral and central chemoreceptors?
• Which statement best defines inspiratory capacity?
• Which statement defines transpulmonary (transmural) pressure?
• Which term describes the air volume that can be forcefully exhaled after a maximum inhalation?
• Which enzyme catalyzes the formation of carbonic acid from CO2 and water inside red blood cells?
• A 35-year-old woman with preeclampsia has antenatal betamethasone; the purpose of this treatment is to:
• Compared with the apex, the base of the lung has which of the following?
• An embolus blocks blood flow to a portion of the lung; which would most likely increase?
• The concentration of CO2 is lowest in the:
• A prenatal test shows lecithin-to-sphingomyelin ratio greater than 2. This finding indicates
• During inspiration, pleural pressure becomes more negative.
• The peripheral chemoreceptors for oxygen increase their discharge primarily in response to which change?
• Pulmonary edema in congestive heart failure is promoted by which of the following?
• Airway resistance can be reduced by...
• What best explains why intrapleural pressure remains negative throughout a tidal breath?
• According to Laplace's law for a sphere, the pressure needed to keep an alveolus open is which of the following relations to radius (assuming constant surface tension)?
• In the hemoglobin-O2 dissociation curves, the shift from Curve A to Curve B could be caused by
• Most of the carbon dioxide carried by the blood is in which form?
• An elderly woman 3 hours after gallbladder surgery has hypercapnia and hypoxemia. What is the most likely cause of the high arterial PCO2?
• If tidal volume increases from 0.5 L to 1.0 L with respiratory rate and dead space remain constant, alveolar ventilation will:
• A 46 year old male with intrapleural pressure around -5 cm H2O at start of inspiration; as inspiration proceeds the transpulmonary pressure reaches approximately which value?
• Alveolar ventilation is equal to the...
• Which condition is least responsive to 100% oxygen in correcting hypoxemia?
• Residence at high altitude (Leadville, 10,200 feet) will cause which oxygen-hemoglobin adaptation?
• Central chemoreceptors sense changes in CSF pH, which reflects arterial CO2.
• Resistance in the airways decreases:
• During inspiration which statement is true?
• A 36-year-old woman is comatose with normal PaO2 but reduced arterial oxygen saturation. Which condition best explains this pattern?
• Which statement best defines Forced Vital Capacity (FVC)?
• In a normal individual, respiration is primarily regulated by which receptors?