Practice Test Questions

Cartilaginous rings a. prevent the collapse of the trachea. b. surround each alveolus. c. are innervated by the phrenic nerve. d. attach the diaphragm to the thoracic wall.

a. prevent the collapse of the trachea

The Hering-Breuer reflex a. prevents overinflation of the lungs. b. is a chemical reflex; no nerves are involved. c. is important only in disease states. d. is only concerned with sneezing and coughing.

a. prevents overinflation of the lungs

Severing the phrenic nerve a. stops ventilation. b. impairs exhalation but has no effect on inhalation. c. causes hyperventilation and respiratory alkalosis. d. does all of the above.

a. stops ventilation

Boyle's law forms the basis of a. ventilation b. chemical regulation of breathing c. oxygen transport in the blood d. carbon dioxide transport in the blood

a. ventilation

Which of the following is most likely to cause pulmonary edema? a. Bronchitis b. Coryza c. Exercise-induced asthma d. Left ventricular heart failure

d. Left ventricular heart failure

Which substance greatly reduces the attractive forces among the water molecules lining the alveoli? a. Lysozyme b. Converting enzyme c. Mucus d. Surfactant

d. Surfactant

Which of the following is necessary for the lungs to remain expanded? a. The alveolar cells must secrete surfactant. b. The intrapulmonic pressure must be negative. c. The glottis must be closed. d. The intrapleural pressure must be negative.

d. The intrapleural pressure must be negative

Which structure is called the windpipe and is supported by rings of cartilage? a. Bronchus b.Alveolus c.Pharynx d.Trachea

d. Trachea

The trachea is a. "the problem" in asthma. b. the site of gas exchange. c. composed primarily of smooth muscle. d. a large airway that splits into two bronchi.

d. a large airway that splits into two bronchi.

Dyspnea means a. "puffed up" alveoli. b. pneumonia. c. cyanosis. d. difficulty breathing.

d. difficulty breathing

The lungs are located within the a.mediastinum b.dorsal cavity c.spinal cavity d.thoracic cavity

d. thoracic cavity

Contraction of the diaphragm and the intercostal muscles a.stimulates the phrenic and intercostal nerves b.decreases thoracic volume c.causes air to move out of the lungs d.is responsible for inhalation

d.is responsible for inhalation

Respirations are primarily controlled by the a. medulla oblongata. b. cerebellum. c. spinal cord. d. frontal lobe.

a. medulla oblongata

Which structure has the thinnest wall? a. Trachea b. Bronchi c. Larynx d. Alveoli

d. Alveoli

Which of the following contributes to the wheezing of asthma? a. Constriction of the bronchiolar smooth muscle b. Edema of the esophagus c. Inflammation of the trachea and pharynx d. Pneumothorax

a. Constriction of the bronchiolar smooth muscle

19. Which of the following is the dome-shaped muscle that is the chief muscle of inhalation? a. Diaphragm b. Epiglottis c. Mediastinum d. Pericardium

a. Diaphragm

Which of the following statements is true of the right bronchus? a. Food and small objects are more likely to be aspirated into the right bronchus because it is more vertical and larger than the left bronchus. b. The right bronchus has an opening to the pleural cavity. c. Oxygen content is higher in the right bronchus than the left bronchus. d. The right bronchus is bigger than the left bronchus, so it has higher levels of carbon dioxide.

a. Food and small objects are more likely to be aspirated into the right bronchus because it is more vertical and larger than the left bronchus.

Which of the following structures controls respirations? a. Medulla oblongata b. Basal ganglia c. Postcentral gyrus d. Limbic system

a. Medulla oblongata

When the diaphragm and the intercostal muscles relax, a. air moves out of the lungs b. inhalation occurs c. ventilation ceases d. chest volume increases

a. air moves out of the lungs

Most oxygen is transported through the blood a. and is attached to hemoglobin b. as bicarbonate c. as a surfactant d. as a lysozyme

a. and is attached to hemoglobin

The Adam's apple is a. cartilage b. the epiglottis c. the primary site of gas exchange d. the pharynx

a. cartilage

Contraction and relaxation of the diaphragm and intercostal muscles a. change thoracic volume. b. close the glottis. c. occur in response to firing of the vagus nerve. d. All of the above are true.

a. change thoracic volume

Atelectasis a. decreases the surface area for gas exchange. b. causes pneumothorax. c. causes acute respiratory obstruction. d. is best treated with antibiotics.

a. decreases the surface area for gas exchange

What is the effect of an overdose of an opioid (narcotic)? a. Alters the shape of the hemoglobin so that it cannot bind to oxygen b. Depresses the medulla oblongata and depresses ventilation c. Causes spasm of the epiglottis resulting in an upper airway obstruction d. Causes hyperventilation and alkalosis

b. Depresses the medulla oblongata and depresses ventilation

Which of the following regulates respiratory activity? a. PO2 b. PCO2 c. Bicarbonate d. Albumin

b. PCO2

The phrenic nerve fires. Which event occurs next? a. The inspiratory neurons fire. b. The diaphragm contracts. c. Air moves into the lungs. d. Thoracic volume decreases.

b. The diaphragm contracts

The nares, nostrils, and nasal septum a. are concerned with gas exchange. b. are located in the upper respiratory tract. c. contain gustatory organs. d. are parts of the bronchial tree.

b. are located in the upper respiratory tract

The trachea branches into the right and left a.alveoli b.bronchi c.nares d.pulmonary arteries

b. bronchi

The diaphragm a.is smooth muscle that forms the bronchioles. b.is skeletal muscle. c.contracts in response to the firing of the vagus nerve. d.forms the outer lining of the lungs.

b. is skeletal muscle

The respiratory passages are lined with a. pleura b. mucous membrane c. serous membrane d. muscle

b. mucous membrane

The lungs contain the a. inspiratory and expiratory neurons. b. structures of the bronchial tree. c. pharynx, larynx, and trachea. d. pleural membranes.

b. structures of the bronchial tree

As plasma PCO2 increases, a. hemoglobin synthesis increases b. ventilation increases c. vital capacity increases d. respirations cease

b. ventilation increases

Stimulation of the phrenic and intercostal nerves causes the release of which neurotransmitter into the neuromuscular junction? a.Adrenaline b.Norepinephrine c.Acetylcholine d.Myosin

c. Acetylcholine

Which of the following structures is located in the lungs? a. Pharynx b. Epiglottis c. Alveoli d. Larynx

c. Alveoli

Which of the following describes Boyle's law? a. An increase in thoracic volume causes an increase in intrapulmonic pressure. b. There is no relationship between intrapulmonic pressure and thoracic volume. c. An increase in thoracic volume decreases intrapulmonic pressure. d. An increase in thoracic volume forces air out of the lungs.

c. An increase in thoracic volume decreases intrapulmonic pressure

Which of the following respiratory tubes are primarily composed of smooth muscle and determine the flow of air to the alveoli? a.Trachea b.Bronchi c.Bronchioles d.Nares

c. Bronchioles

Which respiratory structure is distal to the trachea and proximal to the alveoli? a. Pharynx b. Larynx c. Bronchus d. Glottis

c. Bronchus

Which of the following is most related to the relaxation of the diaphragm and the intercostal muscles? a. Results from the firing of the inspiratory neurons b. Caused by the firing of the phrenic and intercostal nerves c. Decreased thoracic volume d. Causes air to move into the lungs

c. Decreased thoracic volume

What is the transport mechanism necessary for the movement of oxygen from the alveoli across the pulmonary capillary membranes into the blood? a. Osmosis b. Filtration c. Diffusion d. Active transport pump

c. Diffusion

What is the effect of phrenic nerve stimulation? a. Expiration b. Relaxation of the diaphragm and the intercostals c. Inhalation d. A decrease in chest diameter

c. Inhalation

Which respiratory muscles are located between the ribs? a.Diaphragm b.Bronchiolar smooth muscle c.Intercostals d.Sternocleidomastoids

c. Intercostals

Across which structure does most gas exchange occur? a. Trachea b. Bronchus c. Bronchioles d. Alveoli

d. Alveoli

What is the effect of curare? a. Depresses the inspiratory neurons in the medulla oblongata b. Changes the shape of the hemoglobin so that it cannot bind to oxygen c. Interferes with the activation of the diaphragm and the intercostal muscles by their motor nerves d. Inactivates acetylcholinesterase

c. Interferes with the activation of the diaphragm and the intercostal muscles by their motor nerves

Which of the following is most likely to cause hypoxemia? a. Kussmaul respirations b. Hyperventilation c. Medullary depression d. Brain stem stimulation

c. Medullary depression

Which of the following best describes Eupnea? a. Kussmaul respirations b. Vital capacity c. Normal, quiet breathing d. Hypoxemia

c. Normal, quiet breathing

Which nerve innervates the diaphragm? a.Intercostal nerve b.Sciatic c.Phrenic d.Cranial nerve XI

c. Phrenic

Anatomical dead air space is most associated with which structure? a. Frontal sinus b. Alveoli c. Trachea d. Esophagus

c. Trachea

Laryngospasm is most likely to cause a. emphysema. b. pneumothorax. c. acute respiratory obstruction. d. asthma.

c. acute respiratory obstruction

Surfactants are found within the a. pulmonary capillaries b. trachea c. alveoli d. intrapleural space

c. alveoli

The pleural membranes a.line the respiratory passages. b.form the bronchioles. c.are serous membranes. d.are confined to the mediastinum.

c. are serous membranes

Which of the following best describes the visceral and parietal pleura? a. Line the inner wall of the trachea and bronchi b. Line the mediastinum c. Are serous membranes that line the pleural cavity d. Are surfactant-secreting membranes

c. are serous membranes that line the pleural cavity

The collection of mucus in the lower airways is most likely to cause a. laryngospasm. b. pneumothorax. c. atelectasis. d. pharyngitis.

c. atelectasis

Hypoventilation decreases the respiratory excretion of a. oxygen b. water c. carbon dioxide d. albumin

c. carbon dioxide

Hypoventilation can cause a. bleeding and hypotension b. alkalosis and Kussmaul respirations c. hypoxemia and acidosis d. hyperglycemia and acidosis

c. hypoxemia and acidosis

Boyle's law states the relationship between volume and a. O2 b. CO2 c. pressure d. H2O

c. pressure

The epiglottis a. is innervated by the phrenic nerve. b. prevents air from entering the esophagus. c. prevents food from entering the trachea. d. is the Adam's apple.

c. prevents food from entering the trachea.

Oxygen diffuses from the alveoli into the a.bronchioles b.trachea c.pulmonary capillaries d.eustachian tube

c. pulmonary capillaries

Bronchiolar constriction is most likely to cause a. pneumothorax b. pulmonary edema c. wheezing d. laryngitis

c. wheezing

Which of the following occurs on exhalation? a. Respiratory expiratory neurons fire. b. The diaphragm relaxes. c. Thoracic volume decreases. d. All of the above occur.

d. All of the above occur

Which of the following occurs on inhalation? a. Air moves into the intrapulmonic space. b. Thoracic volume increases. c. The diaphragm contracts. d. All of the above occur.

d. All of the above occur