CH 15 Respiratory Practice Exam

Student: ___________________________________________________________________________

1. Respiration refers to 

 
A. gas exchange between blood and tissues.
B. ventilation, the movement of air into and out of the lungs.
C. gas exchange between the air in the lungs and blood.
D. gas exchange between the blood and the tissues.
E. All of these are parts of respiration.

2. The nasal cavity is divided into right and left sides by 
 
A. the conchae.
B. the paranasal sinuses.
C. external nares.
D. the nasal septum.
E. the hard palate.

3. Which of these functions are accomplished by the nasal cavities? 

 
A. Mucus produced by the nasal lining traps debris from the air.
B. Cilia on the mucous membrane sweep debris into the pharynx.
C. he sense of smell
D. Air is humidified and warmed.
E. All of these are functions of the nasal cavities.

4. The actual gas exchange between inspired air and the blood occurs across the capillaries of the 
 
A. bronchi.
B. bronchioles.
C. respiratory bronchioles.
D. terminal bronchioles.
E. alveolar ducts and alveoli.

 
5. Surfactant 
 
A. decreases the surface tension of fluid in the alveoli.
B. is lacking in babies with hyaline membrane disease.
C. decreases the energy required to keep the lungs inflated.
D. helps keep the lungs from collapsing.
E. has all of these characteristics.

6. In a healthy person, which of these lung volumes should be the largest? 
 
A. tidal volume
B. inspiratory reserve volume
C. expiratory reserve volume
D. residual volume

7. Which of these comparisons concerning respiratory vital capacities is correct? 

 
A. Females have larger vital capacities than males.
B. Young adults have larger vital capacities than the elderly.
C. Short people have larger vital capacities than tall people.
D. Obese people have larger vital capacities than thin people.
E. People with silicosis or fibrosis have larger vital capacities than others without the condition.

8. Most carbon dioxide is transported 

 
A. as bicarbonate ions in the blood.
B. dissolved in the plasma.
C. in combination with blood proteins.
D. by oxygen atoms in the blood.
E. in combination with sodium ions in the blood.

9. When carbon dioxide levels in the blood increase, 

 
A. pH of the blood increases.
B. the blood becomes more acidic.
C. the number of hydrogen ions in the blood decreases.
D. both pH of the blood increases and the number of hydrogen ions in the blood decreases.
E. All of these events occur.

 
10. Chemoreceptors in the medulla oblongata are sensitive to 
 
A. increases in blood oxygen content.
B. increases in lung volume (stretch).
C. decreases in blood pH.
D. increases in hemoglobin.
E. both increases in lung volume (stretch) and decreases in blood pH.

11. A patient has severe emphysema that has extensively damaged the alveoli and reduced the surface of the
respiratory membrane. Despite receiving oxygen therapy, she still has a tremendous urge to take a breath, that
is, she doesn't feel as if she is getting enough air. This is because 
 
A. the oxygen stimulates the respiratory rate to increase even more.
B. oxygen increases the stimulation of the carotid and aortic bodies.
C. oxygen stimulates the vasomotor center, which results in vasoconstriction of blood vessels.
D. even though she is receiving enough oxygen, carbon dioxide and hydrogen ions are accumulating in her
blood and stimulating the respiratory center.
E. pH increased in her blood, and over stimulated her respiratory center.

12. An asthma attack 

 
A. almost always has an immune or allergic component.
B. is less severe during or after strenuous exercise.
C. is characterized by abnormal increases in bronchoconstriction.
D. is characterized by abnormal increases in bronchodilation.
E. only occurs where cells are dividing and the proper gene is expressed.

13. An individual with _____________ has fluid in alveoli, which causes an increased thickness of the
respiratory membrane. 
 
A. emphysema
B. asthma
C. pulmonary edema
D. pneumothorax

14. Constriction of smooth muscle in bronchioles is seen in 

 
A. emphysema.
B. asthma.
C. pulmonary edema.
D. pneumothorax.

 
15. The air that can be inspired forcefully above normal tidal volume is the 
 
A. tidal volume.
B. forced expiratory vital capacity.
C. inspiratory reserve volume.
D. residual volume.
E. expiratory reserve volume.

16. The primary functions of the respiratory system include all of the following EXCEPT: 
 
A. maintain homeostasis by regulating the acid/base balance
B. to provide an area for gas exchange between air and circulating blood
C. to increase the diffusion distances of gases
D. to protect respiratory surfaces from dehydration and environmental variations
E. to provide innate immunity

17. Gas exchange at the respiratory membrane is efficient because 

 
A. the difference in partial pressures is substantial.
B. the distances involved in exchange are small.
C. the total surface area of the membrane is large.
D. blood flow and air flow are coordinated (blood flow is highest around alveoli with highest Po2).
E. All of these are correct.

 
CH 15 Respiratory Practice Exam Key
 

1. Respiration refers to 

 
a. gas exchange between blood and tissues.
b. ventilation, the movement of air into and out of the lungs.
c. gas exchange between the air in the lungs and blood.
d. gas exchange between the blood and the tissues.
E. All of these are parts of respiration.

Difficulty: Easy
Seeley - 015 Respiratory... #1
Type: Knowledge
 

2. The nasal cavity is divided into right and left sides by 
 
a. the conchae.
b. the paranasal sinuses.
c. external nares.
D. the nasal septum.
e. the hard palate.

Difficulty: Easy
Seeley - 015 Respiratory... #2
Type: Knowledge
 

3. Which of these functions are accomplished by the nasal cavities? 

 
a. Mucus produced by the nasal lining traps debris from the air.
b. Cilia on the mucous membrane sweep debris into the pharynx.
c. he sense of smell
d. Air is humidified and warmed.
E. All of these are functions of the nasal cavities.

Difficulty: Moderate
Seeley - 015 Respiratory... #6
Type: Knowledge
 
4. The actual gas exchange between inspired air and the blood occurs across the capillaries of the 
 
a. bronchi.
b. bronchioles.
c. respiratory bronchioles.
d. terminal bronchioles.
E. alveolar ducts and alveoli.

Difficulty: Easy
Seeley - 015 Respiratory... #14
Type: Knowledge
 

5. Surfactant 
 
a. decreases the surface tension of fluid in the alveoli.
b. is lacking in babies with hyaline membrane disease.
c. decreases the energy required to keep the lungs inflated.
d. helps keep the lungs from collapsing.
E. has all of these characteristics.

Difficulty: Moderate
Seeley - 015 Respiratory... #18
Type: Knowledge
 

6. In a healthy person, which of these lung volumes should be the largest? 
 
a. tidal volume
B. inspiratory reserve volume
c. expiratory reserve volume
d. residual volume

Difficulty: Moderate
Seeley - 015 Respiratory... #20
Type: Comprehension
 
7. Which of these comparisons concerning respiratory vital capacities is correct? 
 
a. Females have larger vital capacities than males.
B. Young adults have larger vital capacities than the elderly.
c. Short people have larger vital capacities than tall people.
d. Obese people have larger vital capacities than thin people.
e. People with silicosis or fibrosis have larger vital capacities than others without the condition.

Difficulty: Moderate
Seeley - 015 Respiratory... #22
Type: Comprehension
 

8. Most carbon dioxide is transported 

 
A. as bicarbonate ions in the blood.
b. dissolved in the plasma.
c. in combination with blood proteins.
d. by oxygen atoms in the blood.
e. in combination with sodium ions in the blood.

Difficulty: Easy
Seeley - 015 Respiratory... #27
Type: Knowledge
 

9. When carbon dioxide levels in the blood increase, 

 
a. pH of the blood increases.
B. the blood becomes more acidic.
c. the number of hydrogen ions in the blood decreases.
d. both pH of the blood increases and the number of hydrogen ions in the blood decreases.
e. All of these events occur.

Difficulty: Moderate
Seeley - 015 Respiratory... #28
Type: Knowledge
 
10. Chemoreceptors in the medulla oblongata are sensitive to 
 
a. increases in blood oxygen content.
b. increases in lung volume (stretch).
c. decreases in blood pH.
d. increases in hemoglobin.
E. both increases in lung volume (stretch) and decreases in blood pH.

Difficulty: Moderate
Seeley - 015 Respiratory... #33
Type: Knowledge
 

11. A patient has severe emphysema that has extensively damaged the alveoli and reduced the surface of the
respiratory membrane. Despite receiving oxygen therapy, she still has a tremendous urge to take a breath, that
is, she doesn't feel as if she is getting enough air. This is because 
 
a. the oxygen stimulates the respiratory rate to increase even more.
b. oxygen increases the stimulation of the carotid and aortic bodies.
c. oxygen stimulates the vasomotor center, which results in vasoconstriction of blood vessels.
D. even though she is receiving enough oxygen, carbon dioxide and hydrogen ions are accumulating in her
blood and stimulating the respiratory center.
e. pH increased in her blood, and over stimulated her respiratory center.

Difficulty: Hard
Seeley - 015 Respiratory... #40
Type: Application
 

12. An asthma attack 

 
a. almost always has an immune or allergic component.
b. is less severe during or after strenuous exercise.
C. is characterized by abnormal increases in bronchoconstriction.
d. is characterized by abnormal increases in bronchodilation.
e. only occurs where cells are dividing and the proper gene is expressed.

Difficulty: Easy
Seeley - 015 Respiratory... #42
Type: Knowledge
 
13. An individual with _____________ has fluid in alveoli, which causes an increased thickness of the
respiratory membrane. 
 
a. emphysema
b. asthma
C. pulmonary edema
d. pneumothorax

Difficulty: Easy
Seeley - 015 Respiratory... #43
Type: Knowledge
 

14. Constriction of smooth muscle in bronchioles is seen in 

 
a. emphysema.
B. asthma.
c. pulmonary edema.
d. pneumothorax.

Difficulty: Easy
Seeley - 015 Respiratory... #45
Type: Knowledge
 

15. The air that can be inspired forcefully above normal tidal volume is the 
 
a. tidal volume.
b. forced expiratory vital capacity.
C. inspiratory reserve volume.
d. residual volume.
e. expiratory reserve volume.

Difficulty: Easy
Seeley - 015 Respiratory... #48
Type: Knowledge
 
16. The primary functions of the respiratory system include all of the following EXCEPT: 
 
a. maintain homeostasis by regulating the acid/base balance
b. to provide an area for gas exchange between air and circulating blood
C. to increase the diffusion distances of gases
d. to protect respiratory surfaces from dehydration and environmental variations
e. to provide innate immunity

Difficulty: Moderate
Seeley - 015 Respiratory... #55
Type: Knowledge
 

17. Gas exchange at the respiratory membrane is efficient because 

 
a. the difference in partial pressures is substantial.
b. the distances involved in exchange are small.
c. the total surface area of the membrane is large.
d. blood flow and air flow are coordinated (blood flow is highest around alveoli with highest Po2).
E. All of these are correct.

Difficulty: Moderate
Seeley - 015 Respiratory... #58
Type: Knowledge
 
Category #  of  Questions
Difficulty: Easy 8
Difficulty: Hard 1
Difficulty: Moderate 8
Seeley - 015 Respiratory... 17
Type: Application 1
Type: Comprehension 2
Type: Knowledge 14