Study Guide

Muscular tube commonly called the throat

pharynx

Where gas exchange takes place

alveoli

Large tubes (one for each lung) that serve as a passageway for air

bronchi

Cartilaginous ridge at the end of the trachea

carina

Small airways that lack supportive cartilage

bronchioles

Acts as a passageway between the pharynx and the trachea; also produces sound

larynx

Large tube supported by C-shaped rings of cartilage; often called the ‘windpipe’

trachea

Air is warmed and moistened in the

nasal cavity

Which region of the pharynx contains openings for the eustachian tubes?

nasopharynx

Which region of the pharynx contains the tonsils?

oropharynx

Which of the following is true about the larynx?

it prevents food and liquids from entering the trachea

What purpose does mucus in the nasal cavity serve?

collect inhaled dust

What function do the vestibular folds of the larynx serve?

prevent food from entering the airway

Based on your knowledge of the anatomy of the lower respiratory tract, where is the most likely location for an aspirated (inhaled) piece of food to lodge and why?

the right bronchus, because it is slightly wider and more vertical than the left bronchus

What is the purpose of surfactant?

to reduce surface tension to keep the alveolus from collapsing during respiration

Which substance normally exists in the pleural cavity?

fluid

What is the respiratory membrane and what is its role in ventilation?

it consists of the alveolar epithelium, the capillary endothelium and their joined basement membranes; it provides the surface through which gas exchange occurs

Stiff lung tissue has what effect on alveoli?

it interferes with alveolar expansion

The microbial population of the lung most closely resembles which body location?

mouth

What is the main muscle responsible for pulmonary ventilation?

diaphragm

Which of the following most accurately describes muscle activity during normal inspiration?

both the external intercostal muscles and the diaphragm contract

You notice that a patient’s sternocleidomastoid and scalene muscles are contracting with respiration. What should you conclude based on this observance?

the patient is using his accessory muscles to inhale

The inspiratory and expiratory centers are located in the

medulla

What role is served by the pneumotaxic center?

it inhibits the apneustic and inspiratory centers to prevent overinflation of the lungs

A patient is experiencing low blood levels of oxygen. Which of the following processes are most likely to occur?

Peripheral chemoreceptors will detect the falling oxygen levels and send impulses to increase the rate and depth of breathing

Which of the following statements is true?

intrapleural pressure is always less than atmospheric pressure

The alveoli contain small amounts of fluid to

permit gas exchange

If someone experiences a loss of intrapleural pressure, what will occur?

the lung will collapse

The amount of air inhaled using maximum effort after a normal inspiration is called the

inspiratory reserve volume

The amount of air inhaled and exhaled during quiet breathing is known as

tidal volume

Which factor is key in allowing the body to absorb oxygen and expel carbon dioxide?

variations in the pressures of the gases

How is most of the carbon dioxide in the body transported?

carried in the form of bicarbonate ions

Which statement about hemoglobin and oxygen uptake is most accurate?

the number of oxygen molecules hemoglobin takes up varies, depending upon the amount of oxygen dissolved in surrounding fluid

A patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is admitted to the emergency department and is obviously short of breath. Which statement is most accurate as supplies to administering supplemental oxygen to such a patient?

the patient should receive limited supplemental oxygen because patients with chronic obstructive lung disease rely on declining levels of oxygen to stimulate breathing