EMT Class - Quiz 2 - Chapter 8
A normal-sized adult has a tidal volume of approximately how many mL? A. 750 B. 1,000 C. 500 D. 250
C. 500 The tidal volume (VT) is the volume of air that is breathed in with each individual breath. An average-sized adult has a tidal volume of approximately 500 mL. The volumes of 250, 750, and 1,000 are either too large or too small for a normal tidal volume.
oxyhemoglobin
Hemoglobin combined with oxygen
In order to allow for proper metabolism of peripheral tissues, there must be a constant supply of blood flow, otherwise known as: A. hyperperfusion. B. supraperfusion. C. hypoperfusion. D. perfusion.
D. perfusion.
When considering the normal tidal volume, how much of that is accounted for by the "dead space?" A. 1,000 mL B. 500 mL C. 250 mL D. 150 mL
D. 150 mL
If the patient has a drop in the preload to the heart, what will be the effect in the patient's peripheral perfusion status? A. Peripheral perfusion will increase whenever stroke volume decreases. B. Blood vessels will dilate in order to elevate the systolic pressure. C. Peripheral perfusion will likely drop. D. Peripheral perfusion will not be altered.
?? C. Peripheral perfusion will likely drop.
If a patient was breathing ambient air, how would you document the amount of oxygen present for alveolar ventilation in percentage form? A. 21% B. 2.1% C. 0.21% D. 21
A. 21%
During exhalation, what is the approximate pressure in the thorax? A. 761 mmHg B. 763 mmHg C. 760 mmHg D. 758 mmHg
A. 761 mmHg unfilled lungs = higher pressure normal pressure is 760 After inhalation, the diaphragm and external intercostal muscles relax, allowing the chest wall to move inward and downward and, assisted by the inward pull of the elastic lung tissue, decrease the size of the thoracic cavity. As the size of the thorax decreases, the pressure inside increases to about 761 mmHg. Since this is higher than the atmospheric pressure of 760 mmHg, air is forced out of the lungs. 763 is too high of a pressure value generated during exhalation, and a thoracic pressure of 758 mmHg would cause air to flow into the lungs.
If there is an increase stretch to the baroreceptors above normal, what will be the response? A. A message will be sent to the brainstem to increase parasympathetic tone. B. The baroreceptors will slow the heart rate by direct nervous control and the release of hormones. C. A message will be sent to the kidneys to reabsorb more fluid. D. A message will be sent to the brainstem to increase the heart rate.
A. A message will be sent to the brainstem to increase parasympathetic tone. An increase in blood pressure prompts the baroreceptors to signal the brainstem to alter heart function and vessel size to decrease the blood pressure. The cardioinhibitory center responds by sending parasympathetic impulses that cause the heart to decrease heart rate and myocardial contractility. A decrease in stroke volume and heart rate decreases cardiac output. Additionally, the vasomotor center responds by sending parasympathetic impulses to dilate the blood vessels. Vasodilation increases the vessel diameter and decreases the systemic vascular resistance, which decreases the blood pressure.
What is the process that produces carbon dioxide in the body? A. An end product of normal cell metabolism. B. A drop in cellular ATP creation. C. It is formed to serve as the primary energy source for cellular mitochondria. D. The result of abnormal metabolism.
A. An end product of normal cell metabolism
What should happen to cardiac output and systolic blood pressure if there is an increase in heart rate from 86 per minute to 94 per minute? A. Both should increase. B. Both should decrease. C. The cardiac output will increase, but the blood pressure will decrease. D. The cardiac output will decrease, but the blood pressure will increase.
A. Both should increase.
The ability of the body to ventilate is an example of what law of physics? A. Boyle's law B. Charles's law C. Dalton's law D. Henry's law
A. Boyle's law
What generates the force that results in hydrostatic pressure? A. Contraction of the left ventricle B. The effects of large proteins in the blood C. Gravity flow of venous blood from the brain and upper extremities D. Blood flow through the lungs during breathing
A. Contraction of the left ventricle Hydrostatic pressure is the force inside the vessel or capillary bed generated by the contraction of the heart and the blood pressure. Hydrostatic pressure exerts a push inside the vessel or capillary; that is, it acts to push fluid out of the vessel or capillary through the vessel wall and into the interstitial space. Blood flow through the lungs is subject to the same hydrostatic pressure as blood flow in the rest of the body. Oncotic pressure is what is generated by large plasma proteins. Gravity return of blood to the heart does not play a role in hydrostatic pressure.
What is the effect of a decreased tidal volume in a patient who has a rib fracture? A. He will breathe faster to keep the minute volume normal. B. The heart rate slows to compensate. C. The blood flow through the heart slows down. D. The perfusion will increase.
A. He will breathe faster to keep the minute volume normal. If the tidal volume is decreased secondary to a lung or thoracic wall injury, the patient will increase his ventilation rate in an attempt to keep the minute volume the same. This may or may not work, depending on how diminished the tidal volume is. This should not have an effect on blood flow through the heart or on perfusion status of any consequence. The heart rate tends to speed up with hypoxia, not slow down.
Which of the following factors is not considered to be a determinant of stroke volume? A. Heart rate B. Contractility C. Preload D. Afterload
A. Heart rate Stroke Volume is amount of blood being pushed out the left ventricle Fanklin Starling
The EMT should recall that if the patient has a mismatch between the ventilation and perfusion of the lungs, what negative outcome could happen? A. Hypoxia can occur at the cellular level. B. There is too much glucose circulating in the bloodstream. C. The patient exhales too much carbon dioxide. D. There is too much blood in the cells.
A. Hypoxia can occur at the cellular level.
What is the basic function of hydrostatic pressure? A. It is a force that pushes fluid out of the vessel or capillary bed. B. It helps to shift fluid from the interstitial spaces into the cellular spaces. C. It helps to shift fluid from the interstitial spaces into the vascular spaces. D. It is a pulling force that keeps fluid in the cells.
A. It is a force that pushes fluid out of the vessel or capillary bed. hydrostatic pressure promotes edema
What two divisions of the nervous system help to control blood flow through the arterioles? A. Parasympathetic and sympathetic B. Voluntary and cerebellar C. Autonomic and voluntary D. Sympathetic and antisympathetic
A. Parasympathetic and sympathetic Neural factors are associated with the influence of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems on the arterioles and precapillary sphincters. Sympathetic nervous stimulation would cause the arterioles to constrict and precapillary sphincters to close. Parasympathetic stimulation would cause the arterioles to dilate and the precapillary sphincters to open. The other choices are fictitious.
A lack of energy at the cellular level will cause the failure of what process within the cellular wall that result in the cell swelling and bursting? A. Sodium/potassium pump B. Electron transfer chain C. Oxidative phosphorylation D. Cellular respiration
A. Sodium/potassium pump For the sodium-potassium pump to work, as with any other pump, energy is required. If there is a lack of ATP/energy production by cells, as found in poor perfusion states and anaerobic metabolism, the sodium/potassium pump may fail. This would allow sodium to collect on the inside of the cell. Water follows sodium. So as sodium collects inside the cell, it attracts water. As the water continues to accumulate, the cell swells and eventually ruptures and dies.
If the patient experiences a drop in the respiratory rate due to a drug overdose, what will be the effect on the patient's minute ventilation? A. The minute volume will decrease. B. The minute volume will initially increase, then it will drop. C. The minute volume will increase. D. There will be no change in the minute volume.
A. The minute volume will decrease. Minute ventilation, also known as minute volume, is the amount of air that is moved into and out of the lungs in one minute. It is determined by multiplying the tidal volume by the frequency of ventilation in one minute. If there is a drop in the frequency of ventilation, the minute ventilation will decrease, and the patient may start to hyperventilate.
The normal signal for the respiratory center of the brain to stimulate the respiratory muscles to increase ventilations would be: A. the amount of CO2 in the arterial blood. B. the amount of acids developing in the muscles. C. the amount of oxygen in the venous blood. D. the amount of CO2 in the capillaries.
A. the amount of CO2 in the arterial blood. Think of increased breathing to expel CO2 while working out. Chemoreceptors are specialized receptors that monitor the pH, carbon dioxide, and oxygen levels in arterial blood. Of these receptors, the central chemoreceptors monitor carbon dioxide levels of the arterial blood, and if the level of CO2 increases, the central chemoreceptors send an impulse to the brain to increase the respiratory rate and depth in order to blow off more CO2 by enhancing alveolar ventilation.
Why should the patient who is in shock be administered oxygen? A. The patient may be hypoxic at the cellular level. B. The vessels in the brain are dilated. C. The oxygen will help to lower the body temperature. D. The oxygen helps to increase the blood flow through the lungs.
A. The patient may be hypoxic at the cellular level. Oxygen is the catalyst that is used during normal cellular metabolism as the cells break down molecules of glucose to produce energy for the body. There are two types of cellular metabolism: aerobic and anaerobic. Which of these two types of cellular metabolism occurs depends on whether there is an effective and continuous delivery of oxygen and fuel. A patient who is in shock is not getting adequate delivery of oxygen at the cellular level, and one way to mediate this is by increasing the concentration of oxygen in the inspired air. This helps to increase the amount of oxygen that is dissolved into the bloodstream, transported by red blood cells, and delivered to peripheral tissues. Oxygen is not administered on the basis of cerebral blood vessel size, and there is no way the EMT would even know the vessel size. Perfusion from the heart is what drives blood through the lungs, not oxygen.
An example of a patient having respiratory compromise due to a respiratory problem with the central nervous system would include: A. a spinal cord injury. B. hypoperfusion. C. an upper airway obstruction. D. asthma.
A. a spinal cord injury. When the messages from the brain's respiratory center do not reach the muscles of breathing, the cause may be an injury to the spine, or there could be failure of the breathing centers in the brain from a stroke or brain trauma. The end result though is still the same: there is an inability to activate the respiratory muscles to breathe. Asthma is a lower airway bronchoconstrictive disease, upper airway obstructions do not have a neural component, and hypoperfusion is caused by inadequate perfusion of blood flow and oxygen to the cells of the body.
The inadequate delivery of oxygen and essential nutrients to, and removal of wastes from, all the tissues of the body is called: A. hypoperfusion. B. suffocation. C. decreased cardiac output. D. abnormal circulatory patterns.
A. hypoperfusion. One of the most fundamental purposes of emergency care is maintaining adequate perfusion of the body cells to ensure continuous delivery of oxygen and glucose and removal of waste by-products. These basic molecules, oxygen and glucose, are necessary for normal cell metabolism. Many illnesses and injuries can disturb the delivery of oxygen and glucose and the removal of waste by-products (which is a disturbance known as hypoperfusion). The outcome of hypoperfusion is always the inadequate delivery of oxygen and essential nutrients to, and removal of wastes from, all the tissues of the body. Decreased cardiac output is a process that typically occurs during hypoperfusion, but the term hypoperfusion defines the entire process that occurs to the body.
Stroke volume is traditionally defined as the amount of blood ejected from the: A. left ventricle with each contraction. B. left atrium in one minute C. right atrium with each contraction. D. right ventricle in one minute
A. left ventricle with each contraction.
The peripheral chemoreceptors are MOST sensitive to: A. oxygen concentration. B. acid-base balance. C. CO2 level. D. sugar levels.
A. oxygen concentration. The peripheral chemoreceptors are located in the aortic arch and the carotid bodies in the neck. These chemoreceptors are also somewhat sensitive to CO2 and pH but are most sensitive to the level of oxygen in the arterial blood. As the level of oxygen in the blood decreases, the peripheral chemoreceptors signal the respiratory center in the brainstem to increase the rate and depth of respiration. It takes a significant decrease in the arterial oxygen content to trigger the peripheral chemoreceptors to stimulate the respiratory center. CO2 levels are monitored primarily by the central chemoreceptors, as are acid-base (pH) levels. Glucose levels are not detected by the chemoreceptors.
To calculate the cardiac output, the EMT knows to multiply the heart rate by: A. stroke volume. B. frequency of contractions. C. left ventricular preload. D. systolic blood pressure.
A. stroke volume. The pumping function of the heart is typically expressed as the cardiac output. Cardiac output is defined as the amount of blood ejected by the left ventricle in one minute. Cardiac output is determined by multiplying the heart rate (or frequency of contractions) by the stroke volume (stroke volume is how much blood the heart propels forward with each individual contraction). The systolic blood pressure is determined by multiplying the cardiac output by the systemic vascular resistance. The left ventricular preload is how much blood is delivered to the ventricle before contraction.
An example of a patient having respiratory compromise due to a disruption of pleural linings would include: A. asthma. B. a pneumothorax. C. an overdose on a narcotic drug. D. a mechanical airway obstruction.
B. a pneumothorax.
Tidal Volume
Amount of air that moves in and out of the lungs during a normal breath
The exchange of gases at the peripheral tissue capillary level is responsible for the removal of what waste substance from the cells? A. Glucose B. CO2 C. Nitrogen D. Oxygen
B. CO2
Because of dilation of the vascular system in neurogenic shock, you would expect the blood pressure to: A. increase as a result of an increase in the heart rate that occurs. B. Decrease. C. remain the same. D. Increase.
B. Decrease. Dilation = More Area = reduction in pressure
If a patient is in shock, why may he have poor red blood cell oxygenation? A. Too much blood leaks out of the capillaries. B. Decreased lung perfusion can contribute to cellular hypoxia. C. The sugar level is too low in the cells. D. He is breathing too slowly.
B. Decreased lung perfusion can contribute to cellular hypoxia. Cell hypoxia, due to decreased perfusion, can exhibit as shortness of breath in the shock patient. According to the V/Q ratio, this is because there is ventilation without an appropriate amount of perfusion. Oxygen saturation to the red blood cells will drop, which promotes peripheral tissue hypoxia. A perfusion deficit of the V/Q ratio will not cause blood to leak out of the capillaries, and glucose levels are regulated by the pancreas, not the V/Q ratio. Finally, breathing too slowly is a ventilatory concern, not a perfusion concern.
Which of the following situations could cause poor tissue oxygenation of the extremities despite the arterial blood being oxygenated? A. A narcotic overdose B. Dropping systolic blood pressure C. Spinal injury D. A brain tumor
B. Dropping systolic blood pressure This is a fundamental question that asks you to connect body physiology to pathophysiology as it relates to blood oxygenation. Since the lungs sit on either side of the heart, it does not take as high a perfusion pressure to perfuse the lungs adequately as it does to perfuse the distal extremities. Therefore, if the blood pressure is dropping, there may still be adequate levels of oxygen in the bloodstream from the lungs, but the pressure may not be high enough to get sufficient oxygen to the peripheral tissues. A spinal injury, a narcotic overdose, and a brain tumor can all affect the neural control of the respiratory muscles, causing a drop in the ability of the body to oxygenate the blood because of ineffective respirations.
What does FDO2 stand for? A. Fraction of desired oxygen B. Fraction of delivered oxygen C. Function of delivered oxygen D. Failure of dormant oxygen
B. Fraction of delivered oxygen An FDO2 is a fraction of delivered oxygen. The difference between an FiO2 and an FDO2 is that the FiO2 is administered to a patient who is breathing spontaneously and inhaling the air on his own effort, whereas the FDO2 is delivered by a ventilation device to a patient who is not able to breathe adequately on his own.
If the heart rate increases slightly, how will this affect the cardiac output? A. It will not affect the cardiac output. B. It will enhance cardiac output. C. It will decrease pulmonary perfusion. D. It will diminish cardiac output
B. It will enhance cardiac output. Because cardiac output is determined by the stroke volume and heart rate, if the heart rate increases, then so should the cardiac output. Although a faster heart rate increases cardiac output, if the rate is extremely fast, the cardiac output may actually decrease. With excessively fast heart rates, usually >160 bpm in the adult patient, the time between beats is so short that there is not an adequate amount of time for the ventricles to fill. This reduces the preload, which in turn reduces the cardiac output.
The moment-to-moment control of microcirculation is provided by what mechanism? A. Neural influences B. Local influences C. Adrenal gland release of epinephrine D. Hormonal influences
B. Local influences
Which of the following cellular effects will NOT likely happen to a patient who is breathing in toxic gases? A. The cells may be unable to adequately pick up and carry oxygen to the tissues. B. Oxygen will take on a toxic effect in the body and cause cellular death. C. The cells may be unable to use the oxygen present. D. Oxygen molecules may be displaced and the cells can suffocate.
B. Oxygen will take on a toxic effect in the body and cause cellular death. Some toxic gases displace the amount of oxygen in the air and basically suffocate the patient. Other gases, such as carbon monoxide, disrupt the ability of the blood to carry adequate amounts of oxygen to the cells. In either condition, the cells end up hypoxic. Some toxic gases may not severely reduce the concentration of oxygen in the air or disrupt the ability of the blood to carry oxygen but may interfere with its use by the cell. One example is cyanide poisoning.
Why would a hypoxic patient who has severe bleeding NOT be benefited that greatly by the administration of supplemental oxygen? A. People with heavy bleeding also have dysfunctional alveoli. B. People who have lost blood have also lost the hemoglobin that carries oxygen. C. He does not have white blood cells to carry the oxygen. D. Bleeding blocks the ability of tissues to use oxygen.
B. People who have lost blood have also lost the hemoglobin that carries oxygen. After inhalation, the diaphragm and external intercostal muscles relax, allowing the chest wall to move inward and downward and, assisted by the inward pull of the elastic lung tissue, decrease the size of the thoracic cavity. As the size of the thorax decreases, the pressure inside increases to about 761 mmHg at sea level, this causes air to be forced out of the lungs.
The average size adult has a minute ventilation of how many liters per minute? A. Two B. Six C. Four D. Eight
B. Six
During the relaxation of the diaphragm and intercostal muscles, what happens to the intrathoracic size and pressure? A. The size decreases and pressure decreases. B. The size decreases and the pressure increases. C. The size stays the same, but the pressure decreases. D. The size stays the same, but the pressure increases.
B. The size decreases and the pressure increases.
How does the majority of carbon dioxide in the body get eliminated? A. Through the pancreatic system B. Through the pulmonary system C. Through the vascular system D. Through the renal system
B. Through the pulmonary system Happens in the lungs The largest amount of CO2 produced by the body diffuses into the red blood cell and combines with water to form carbonic acid, which then dissociates into hydrogen and bicarbonate. The bicarbonate exits the cell and is transported to the pulmonary circulation, the bicarbonate diffuses back into the red blood cell where it combines with hydrogen and splits back into water and carbon dioxide. Regardless of the transport mechanism, the carbon dioxide diffuses into the alveoli and is released through exhalation.
In order to BEST understand pathophysiology, the EMT should FIRST understand: A. signs and symptoms. B. anatomy and physiology. C. what the patient's underlying diagnosis is. D. patient assessment.
B. anatomy and physiology. If pathophysiology is the study or understanding of the body in a disease state, it makes sense that the EMT should first understand normal anatomy and physiology. It is difficult to understand what is wrong with the body if you do not know what is supposed to be right or normal in the first place. Knowing what patients have been diagnosed with previously will help the EMT to identify patients' disease states, but that is not the best way to understand pathology. During the patient assessment, the EMT will need to relate the presenting signs and symptoms into the body systems affected and, from there, integrate how the pathophysiology has affected those body systems.
When an increase of blood in the left ventricle causes stretching of the ventricle, the heart: A. contracts less forcefully. B. contracts more forcefully. C. remains unchanged. D. can no longer contract.
B. contracts more forcefully.
While working with an ALS partner, you observe her starting an IV on a trauma patient with an arterial bleed. You know that this is beneficial because: A. it will cause the heart rate to slow down. B. extra fluid will increase the preload to the heart. C. it will increase the amount of clotting factors in the patient's blood. D. it will help carry and prevent free radical formations from hyperoxia.
B. extra fluid will increase the preload to the heart. When a patient is in shock, fluid is administered to fill the container (the vascular space). By filling the vascular space, there will be an increase in the preload to the heart, which will increase diastolic filling and subsequent stroke volume and cardiac output. This will help to maintain peripheral perfusion. The fluid is not given to carry free radicals from hyperoxia, as these should be avoided by titrating oxygen on the basis of need, and fluids do not increase the clotting speed of the body.
The basic primary fuel for the cell is: A. carbon dioxide. B. glucose. C. oxygen. D. glucagon.
B. glucose.
The distribution of blood flow through the microcirculation is primarily responsive to: A. sympathetic stimulation. B. local tissue needs. C. the postcapillary sphincter. D. parasympathetic stimulation.
B. local tissue needs.
Ambient air contains MOSTLY: A. argon. B. nitrogen. C. oxygen. D. carbon dioxide.
B. nitrogen. 79% Nitrogen / 21% oxygen
Red blood cells comprise about what percentage of blood volume in men? A. 42 percent B. 25 percent C. 48 percent D. 90 percent
C. 48 percent 48% volume in Men, 42% Volume in Women The formed elements in the blood are red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Red blood cells (erythrocytes) make up approximately 48 percent of the blood cell volume in men and 42 percent in women.
What is the name of the ventilatory volume that is calculated by multiplying the tidal volume by the frequency of ventilation? Tidal volume x frequency of ventilation = ? A. Ventilation Volume B. Tidal Volume C. Minute Ventilation D. Respiration Frequency
Minute Ventilation
The normal minute volume is about: A. 4,000 mL. B. 500 mL. C. 6,000 mL. D. 12,000 mL
C. 6,000 mL. Minute ventilation, also known as minute volume, is the amount of air that is moved into and out of the lungs in one minute. It is determined by multiplying the tidal volume by the frequency of ventilation in one minute. An average-sized adult has a tidal volume of approximately 500 mL and breathes approximately 12 times per minute at rest. An average-sized adult moves approximately 6,000 mL, or 6 L, of air into and out of the lungs in one minute.
What value does the intrathoracic pressure drop to during inhalation? A. 763 mmHg B. 752 mmHg C. 758 mmHg D. 760 mmHg
C. 758 mmHg Normal atmospheric pressure is 760 mmHg at sea level. With the expansion of the thorax immediately before inhalation, the pressure inside the chest drops to 758 mmHg. In accordance with Boyle's law, this negative pressure causes the volume of air inside the chest to increase. The value does not drop all the way to 752 mmHg, and a pressure of 763 mmHg in the thorax would cause air to rush out, as the normal atmospheric pressure is 760 mmHg.
What sensory structures are the FIRST to detect arterial blood pressure changes? A. Barometers B. pH monitors C. Baroreceptors D. Chemoreceptors
C. Baroreceptors
If a patient is in shock, why does his pulse increase? A. Because the body produces caffeine B. Because the afterload has been reduced C. Because of sympathetic nervous system stimulation D. Because the heart is stunned
C. Because of sympathetic nervous system stimulation
If a patient has multiple ribs fractured that alter his ability to increase his intrathoracic volume, what kind of ventilatory disturbance would this be? A. Change in passivity B. Change in opposition C. Change in compliance D. Change in resistance
C. Change in compliance compliance deals with the chest walls ability to move and stretch resistance deals with ease of airflow through the airways
If you are ventilating a patient with a puncture hole to the lung following a stabbing, what negative outcome may you actually produce or contribute to? A. Bradycardia B. Hypertension C. Hypoxia D. Hypoglycemia
C. Hypoxia This question involves applying the principles learned about the pleural linings and their effect on the body. If there is a hole in the lung tissue, every time you squeeze the BVM, the positive pressure that you are creating can escape through the hole and into the pleural cavity, where it will act as a pressure that will cause the lung to collapse even further. This would interfere with alveolar ventilation and cause hypoxia. As a response to hypoxia, the heart rate increases, and hypertension is not likely as the body becomes hypoxic. Finally, glucose levels are determined by other variables outside of the ventilatory determinants.
During anaerobic metabolism in cells, what is responsible for creating the acidic state of the blood? A. Alcohol fermentation B. Pyruvate diminishment C. Lactic acid accumulation D. Acetaldehyde development
C. Lactic acid accumulation
When a patient is severely burned over MOST of his body, the cellular and vascular damage created by the burn results in large protein molecules leaving the vascular space. As a result of this, which of the choices will the patient experience? A. Low hydrostatic pressure B. High hydrostatic pressure C. Low oncotic pressure D. High oncotic pressure
C. Low oncotic pressure Oncotic Pulls in attracted by large proteins promoting blood volume overload This question involves applying the principles of hydrostatic pressure and oncotic pressure of the body as it relates to a traumatic burn injury. As a result of the loss of plasma proteins, the patient's oncotic pressure will drop and not exert an adequate pull effect to counteract the push of hydrostatic pressure. This will result in the loss of greater than normal amounts of vascular volume to the interstitial spaces (promoting global tissue edema). High hydrostatic pressure occurs when the systolic pressure in the capillary beds increases, high oncotic pressure occurs when there is a greater pull of fluids back into the vascular space, and a low hydrostatic pressure just means the fluid will not cause as much fluid to exit the capillary bed.
What are the two basic molecules that are necessary for normal cell metabolism, energy creation, and function? A. Glucose and carbon dioxide B. Glucose and hydrogen C. Oxygen and glucose D. Oxygen and carbon dioxide
C. Oxygen and glucose
Which of the following elements, if diminished or absent in a patient's bloodstream, could cause uncontrolled bleeding? A. White blood cells B. Albumin proteins C. Platelets D. Red blood cells
C. Platelets The platelets (thrombocytes) are not actual cells but fragments that play a major role in blood clotting and the control of bleeding. Red blood cells carry oxygen, white blood cells fight infections, and albumin proteins are used for fluid balance and other purposes in the bloodstream.
Which ion will start to accumulate within the cell should the sodium-potassium pump fail following a period of hypoxia? A. Magnesium B. Potassium C. Sodium D. Carbon dioxide
C. Sodium Then water will follow the sodium, expanding the cell which will lead to the cell bursting and dying
Why is it advisable to assist a patient with using his bronchodilator when he has obvious signs and symptoms of lower airway obstruction due to asthma? A. The medication will slow the heart rate and improve circulation. B. The medication will help to decrease the dead space in the airway. C. The drug in a bronchodilator will make it easier to breathe by reducing airway resistance. D. The medication will increase heart rate and blood flow.
C. The drug in a bronchodilator will make it easier to breathe by reducing airway resistance.
What effect would systemic vasoconstriction have on the blood pressure? A. The B/P decreases. B. The B/P increases only if the heart rate increases. C. The B/P increases. D. The B/P remains the same.
C. The B/P increases.
The restriction of airflow that is related to the diameter of the airways is called the: A. alveolar ventilation. B. pulmonary circulation. C. airway resistance. D. dead air space.
C. airway resistance. Airway resistance is related to the ease of airflow down the conduit of airway structures leading to the alveoli. A higher airway resistance from bronchoconstriction, for example, will make it more difficult to move air through the conducting airways. Higher airway resistance requires the patient to work harder to breathe, expending more energy and possibly using accessory muscles, which may accelerate respiratory muscle fatigue and failure. Compliance disorders are those that diminish the lungs ability to stretch, expand, or distend, such as a hemothorax or multiple broken ribs. Alveolar ventilation is how much air the alveoli receive per minute, and pulmonary circulation refers to the blood flow to and from the lungs. Dead air space is a fictitious term.
To ensure adequate breathing in a patient, the patient must have both an adequate rate of ventilations and an adequate: A. number of alveoli. B. decrease in the depth of ventilations. C. depth of ventilations. D. thoracic chest wall.
C. depth of ventilations.
If too much sodium accumulates inside the cell, the cell begins to: A. lose its protective membrane. B. reproduce. C. expand. D. shrink.
C. expand. Water follows sodium as sodium accumulates, water will be drawn into the cell, expanding it until it bursts
Oxygen is transported through the blood by binding to: A. potassium sites. B. white blood cells. C. hemoglobin. D. alveoli.
C. hemoglobin.
Oxygen that is bound to hemoglobin is called: A. dioxyhemoglobin. B. carboxyhemoglobin. C. oxyhemoglobin. D. deoxyhemoglobin.
C. oxyhemoglobin
The component of whole blood that is primarily composed of water is the: A. electrolytes in solute. B. albumin. C. plasma. D. electrolytes.
C. plasma.
Cardiac output is composed of: A. systemic vascular resistance (SVR) and heart rate. B. blood pressure and heart rate. C. stroke volume and heart rate. D. blood pressure.
C. stroke volume and heart rate. To have adequate blood pressure and perfusion, the myocardium must work effectively as a pump. The pump function is typically expressed as the cardiac output. Cardiac output is defined as the amount of blood ejected by the left ventricle in one minute. The cardiac output is determined by the heart rate and the stroke volume. Cardiac output is expressed by the following equation: cardiac output equals heart rate times stroke volume.
How much of the normal tidal volume does the alveolar ventilation account for? A. 250 mL B. 750 mL C. 150 mL D. 350 mL
D. 350 mL
If a patient is in shock, why does his pulse increase? A. Because the afterload has been reduced B. Because the heart is stunned C. Because the body produces caffeine D. Because of sympathetic nervous system stimulation
D. Because of sympathetic nervous system stimulation Neural factors are associated with the influence of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems on the heart and the blood vessels. Sympathetic nervous stimulation would cause the arterioles to constrict and precapillary sphincters to close and would cause the heart rate and cardiac output to increase. This should help to return the blood pressure to normal. The increase in the heart rate is not due to caffeine production, as this does not occur. A drop in afterload would cause the blood pressure to drop even further.
If the baroreceptors in the aortic root sense a drop in aortic root systolic pressure, it will send an impulse to what region of the brain, and for what purpose? A. Hypothalamus; to stimulate the hormonal release of the adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). B. Cerebellum; to stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system. C. Cerebrum; to stimulate the vasomotor center. D. Brainstem; to stimulate the sympathetic nervous system.
D. Brainstem; to stimulate the sympathetic nervous system.
The majority of carbon dioxide is transported in the body by this mechanism? A. Chemically bound by hemoglobin B. Dissolved in plasma C. Attached to red blood cells D. By the bloodstream as a bicarbonate ion
D. By the bloodstream as a bicarbonate ion Carbon dioxide is transported in the blood in three ways: approximately 7 percent is dissolved in plasma, 23 percent is attached to hemoglobin, and 70 percent is in the form of bicarbonate.
In a healthy adult, the respiratory rate and depth is regulated primarily by detecting the level of what in the blood stream? A. Saturated hemoglobin B. Amounts of red blood cells C. Oxygen levels D. Carbon dioxide levels
D. Carbon dioxide levels
The inability to maintain a patient's airway or ventilatory status can lead to what detrimental cellular event? A. Drop in oxygen need by peripheral tissues B. Increased biochemical reactions C. Hormonal hypersensitivity D. Cellular death
D. Cellular death Cellular metabolism, also known as cellular respiration, is the process in which, normally, the cells break down molecules of glucose to produce energy for the body. There are two types of cellular metabolism: aerobic and anaerobic. Aerobic metabolism creates the most adenosine triphosphate (ATP) from glucose in the presence of oxygen. Anaerobic metabolism produces far less ATP and overwhelming acidosis when oxygen is inadequate or absent. Anaerobic metabolism, if not corrected, will cause so much acidosis that the cells will die.
The term "pathophysiology" means what? A. The study of the pathway of normal metabolism in the body B. The effects of cancer on the body C. The effect of normal metabolic activity on maintaining the body's systems D. Changes in normal physiology due to disease or injury
D. Changes in normal physiology due to disease or injury
If a bleb on a lung tissue ruptures and air accumulates in the pleural space, what is the MOST likely result of this? A. A rise in the oxygen content of the blood B. An immediate change in the patient's mental status C. A decrease in the respiratory rate D. Collapse of the lung with a change in alveolar ventilation
D. Collapse of the lung with a change in alveolar ventilation If the negative intrapleural pressure is lost from a perforation in the lung tissue itself, the generation of a positive intrapleural pressure will cause the lung to collapse and disrupt normal alveolar ventilation. As the patient becomes hypoxic, the respiratory rate will actually increase, and there cannot be a rise in oxygen content of the blood if a lung is collapsed. Finally, there may be a change in mental status, but this will not occur until the patient is sufficiently hypoxic, which may take several minutes.
Which of the following does not have a direct influence on normal perfusion? A. Systemic vascular resistance B. Blood volume C. Heart rate D. Glucose level
D. Glucose level
If a patient has an asthma attack with severe bronchoconstriction, what effect can it have on his ability to ventilate the alveoli? A. It will decrease airway resistance. B. It will increase airway compliance. C. It will decrease airway compliance. D. It will increase airway resistance.
D. It will increase airway resistance. Airway resistance is related to the ease of airflow down the conduit of airway structures leading to the alveoli. A higher airway resistance from bronchoconstriction, for example, will make it more difficult to move air through the conducting airways. Higher airway resistance requires the patient to work harder to breathe, expending more energy and possibly using accessory muscles, which may accelerate respiratory muscle fatigue and failure. An asthma attack results in bronchoconstriction, which is a resistance disorder. Compliance disorders are those that diminish the lungs' ability to stretch, expand, or distend. Decreased airway resistance means that airflow can occur easier to the alveoli.
A patient has sustained significant blood loss due to an injury. Why does this lead to shock? A. Because the blood he loses has the cell's sugar supply. B. The cells leak out fluid to surrounding tissue. C. The loss of clotting factors causes all the body's cells to bleed. D. Loss of blood causes diminished cellular perfusion.
D. Loss of blood causes diminished cellular perfusion. Blood volume is a major determinant of the preload to the heart, which translates into cardiac output and blood pressure. If blood volume is lost, it can translate into a drop in systolic pressure and perfusion to the body's cells.
You are treating a patient who has lost a significant amount of blood volume after a traumatic injury, and his systolic pressure is low. What body function will NOT be part of the compensatory mechanism trying to maintain a normal perfusion pressure? A. Medulla oblongata B. Heart rate C. Baroreceptors D. Parasympathetic stimulation
D. Parasympathetic stimulation Parasympathetic lowers the heart rate During a hypoperfusive state, the baroreceptors will detect the drop in the heart rate and send an impulse to the medulla. The medulla will then stimulate the sympathetic nervous system, which in turn will increase (among other things) the heart rate in order to improve cardiac output and blood pressure.
Which one of the patients would have a perfusion deficit according to the V/Q ratio? A. Bronchial obstruction B. Pneumonia C. Asthma D. Pulmonary embolus
D. Pulmonary embolus A patient with a perfusion deficit of the V/Q ratio would not be receiving adequate blood to the lungs; hence, the patient cannot effectively oxygenate the blood. Any patient with poor perfusion to the lungs will have a perfusion deficit of the V/Q ratio. One such patient would be someone with a pulmonary embolism. In this situation, the emboli would plug a pulmonary vein, making it difficult for the heart to perfuse the lungs with the clot in the way. Pneumonia, asthma, and bronchial obstruction would all prevent airflow from getting to the alveoli and would be ventilation deficits.
What would be the expected result of the body when a patient has massive vasodilation secondary to a severe blood infection? A. Preload will increase due to venous congestion and thus stroke volume will rise. B. The respiratory rate will slow down. C. The heart rate will slow down and the stroke volume will increase. D. The heart rate and stroke volume will attempt to increase.
D. The heart rate and stroke volume will attempt to increase. Since blood pressure is determined by cardiac output and systemic vascular resistance, if the pressure drops owing to vasodilation from the severe blood infection, the cardiac output will attempt to compensate by increasing the rate and force of contraction. During this compensation, the respiratory rate also increases, and there is not an increase in preload, since the vasodilation will cause peripheral pooling of blood.
You are caring for a patient who was involved in a farming accident where he was exposed to insecticides used on vegetation. You contact the Poison Control Center, which advises you that the chemical will have significant parasympathetic effects on the body. What would you expect this to mean to the patient's body? A. The patient may experience excessive hyperglycemia. B. The patient may experience significant hypertension. C. The patient may experience heightened sensitivity. D. The patent may experience significant hypotension.
D. The patent may experience significant hypotension. parasympathetic slows down the heart rate Because the toxin is a parasympathetic stimulator, the patient will experience significant bradycardia and vasodilation. These will result in a drop in blood pressure. Remember also that the parasympathetic nervous system would cause the arterioles to dilate and the precapillary sphincters to open. Stimulation of the parasympathetic system does not result in heightened sensitivity, nor does it promote hyperglycemia. Hypertension would be from sympathetic tone, not parasympathetic.
A patient has an initial blood pressure of 120/78, with a heart rate of 86 per minute. Five minutes later his blood pressure is 128/92, with a heart rate of 82 per minute. Which of the following statements about the change in the vitals is MOST correct? A. The patient is probably bleeding into his GI system unnoticed. B. The patient has experienced an increase in his pulmonic vascular resistance. C. The patient has arterial constriction and venous dilation. D. The patient has experienced an increase in his systemic vascular resistance.
D. The patient has experienced an increase in his systemic vascular resistance. Vascular resistance increases BP The determinants of blood pressure are heart rate and systemic vascular resistance. In this situation, the systolic pressure climbed 8 mmHg and the diastolic pressure climbed 14 mmHg with a concurrent drop in the heart rate. The likely cause is an increase in vasoconstriction, which would elevate the systolic pressure, narrow the pulse pressure, and slow the heart rate owing to the baroreceptor reflex arc. An increase in pulmonic resistance cannot be determined by the vital signs, and if there was a bleed in the GI system, the heart rate would continue to climb to ensure an adequate cardiac output. Finally, arterial constriction and venous dilation would widen (not narrow) the pulse pressure.
If there were a pathological change to the alveoli, what finding may the EMT note in the patient? A. A drop in the heart rate B. An increase in the urinary output C. A severe headache or double vision D. Trouble breathing
D. Trouble breathing If there was a pathological change to the alveoli (meaning that there is a disease state to the lungs that is affecting the alveoli), then the patient would likely have trouble oxygenating the blood and eliminating carbon dioxide, which would eventually lead to respiratory distress as the chemoreceptors in the body detect the changes in blood gas concentration and employ a negative feedback system in an attempt to correct the abnormality.
When a patient has a lower airway obstruction, the MOST likely problem is: A. swelling of the tongue. B. a piece of meat sitting on the epiglottis. C. a spasm of the mainstem bronchus. D. bronchoconstriction.
D. bronchoconstriction.
he fundamental underlying causes of respiratory compromise include each of the following, EXCEPT: A. disruption of the lung tissue. B. disruption of normal pleural pressure. C. disruption of respiratory control. D. disruption of the dead space air in the respiratory system.
D. disruption of the dead space air in the respiratory system. The fundamental underlying causes of respiratory compromise include disruption of respiratory control, disruption of pleural pressure, and disruption of the lung tissue. The presence of dead space is not a cause for respiratory compromise; it's just part of the respiratory anatomy and physiology.
Ultimately, the sodium/potassium pump in the cell will fail because of a lack of: A. oxygen. B. carbon dioxide. C. glucose. D. energy.
D. energy.
One of the fundamental underlying causes of respiratory compromise is: A. dilated capillaries in the systemic system. B. increased tidal volume that washes out too much carbon dioxide. C. increased conductivity of the heart muscle causing abnormal blood flow through the lungs. D. failure of the alveolar/capillary exchange of gases.
D. failure of the alveolar/capillary exchange of gases. The alveolar/capillary exchange occurs when oxygen and carbon dioxide travel down their partial pressure gradients in the lungs so that the blood can be oxygenated while excessive waste carbon dioxide is eliminated during exhalation. This can fail as a result of problems of ventilation or problems of perfusion. Dilation of capillaries in the systemic system will cause vasodilation and a drop in blood pressure. Increased conductivity in the heart would actually enhance blood flow to the lungs via better contractions, and increased tidal volumes will remove more CO2 from the body, but that does not cause respiratory failure.
When the diaphragm contracts, the patient: A. exhales. B. coughs. C. is able to speak. D. inhales.
D. inhales.
Pressure and volume of blood in the left ventricle at the end of diastole is called: A. cardiac output. B. systolic blood pressure. C. afterload. D. preload.
D. preload. Diastole is the resting phase of the cardiac cycle Preload is the pressure generated in the left ventricle at the end of diastole (the resting phase of the cardiac cycle). Preload pressure is created by the blood volume in the left ventricle at the end of diastole. The available venous volume, which determines the volume of blood in the ventricle, consequently plays a major role in determining preload. Afterload pertains to the resistance the left ventricle has to overcome to open the aortic valve. Systolic blood pressure is determined by multiplying the cardiac output by the systemic vascular resistance.
The EMT should know that the role of oxygen in the body is: A. carried in the blood as a dissolved ion. B. an end product of abnormal cell metabolism. C. an end product of normal cell metabolism. D. required for normal cell metabolism.
D. required for normal cell metabolism. Cellular metabolism, also known as cellular respiration, is the process in which, normally, the cells break down molecules of glucose to produce energy for the body. There are two types of cellular metabolism: aerobic and anaerobic. Which of these two types of cellular metabolism occurs is based on whether there is an effective and continuous delivery of oxygen and energy sources, or fuel. Glucose is the primary fuel, and oxygen is the primary catalyst for metabolism within the cell. In fact, oxygen is required by every cell of the body in order for normal cellular metabolism to occur. Oxygen is not an end product of either normal or abnormal metabolism (acid is, actually), and oxygen is not an ion found dissolved in the blood, since oxygen is a gas, not an electrolyte.
What causes the pressure change known as plasma oncotic pressure? A. Contraction or relaxation of capillary beds B. Contraction of the left ventricle C. Effect of the large proteins in the bloodstream D. The difference between the arterial and venous concentration of electrolytes
Effect of the large proteins in the bloodstream
plasma
Fluid portion of blood Made up of water and proteins
From what negative affect regarding gas diffusion in the alveoli would a patient with pulmonary edema suffer? A. Too much blood flow causes too much carbon dioxide removal B. Respirations will start to slow and become shallow C. Inability to oxygenate the blood and remove carbon dioxide D. Excessive hyperoxia causing free radical damage to healthy tissue
Inability to oxygenate the blood and remove carbon dioxide
Why should EMS providers administer oxygen to a patient suspected of hypoxia? A. More oxygen in the inspired air will decrease the absorption of other gases present. B. More oxygen in the inspired air will slow the respiratory rate. C. More oxygen in the inspired air will raise the respiratory rate. D. More oxygen in the inspired air will increase the amount absorbed by the blood.
More oxygen in the inspired air will increase the amount absorbed by the blood.
Chapter 8 post test
Pathophysiology
plasma oncotic pressure
Pulls water into the capillaries
Why is it so important for the EMT to seal any open penetrations into the chest as quickly as possible? A. The heart cannot fill if there is not air in the chest. B. A rib may have been fractured which will decrease lung compliance. C. The lungs will collapse if air gets between the two pleural membranes. D. To keep the blood from leaking out of the wound and into the pleural cavity.
The lungs will collapse if air gets between the two pleural membranes.
pulmonary edema
accumulation of fluid in the lungs
What is the name of the amount of air breathed in and out with each individual breath? A. Residual volume B. Minute Volume C. Tidal Ventilation D. Tidal Volume
Tidal Volume
What are the main constitutes of plasma? A. Water and proteins B. Intracellular fluid C. Water D. Water and intracellular fluids
Water and proteins
pneumothorax
air in the pleural cavity caused by a puncture of the lung or chest wall
hypoxia
deficiency in the amount of oxygen reaching the tissues
deoxyhemoglobin
hemoglobin without oxygen
hydrostatic pressure
pushes water out of the capillaries