Respiratory Clinical Application Practice Questions

A patient with asthma experiences narrowing of the airways due to inflammation and bronchoconstriction. What would this most directly affect?

A. The movement of air through the respiratory passages

B. The production of red blood cells

C. The movement of food through the esophagus

D. The absorption of nutrients in the small intestine

A. The movement of air through the respiratory passages

A patient has damage to the alveoli, making gas exchange less effective. Which process is directly affected?

A. Ventilation

B. Respiration

C. Digestion

D. Filtration

B. Respiration

During inhalation, a patient’s diaphragm contracts and moves downward. What happens inside the thoracic cavity?

A. Volume decreases and pressure increases

B. Volume increases and pressure decreases

C. Volume and pressure both increase

D. Volume and pressure both decrease

B. Volume increases and pressure decreases

A premature infant has difficulty keeping their alveoli open because they do not produce enough surfactant. What is the likely problem?

A. The alveoli collapse more easily

B. The bronchi produce too much mucus

C. The diaphragm cannot contract

D. The lungs produce too much oxygen

A. The alveoli collapse more easily

A patient with emphysema has damaged alveolar walls. Why would this make breathing difficult?

A. It increases the surface area available for gas exchange

B. It decreases the surface area available for gas exchange

C. It prevents food from entering the stomach

D. It increases the production of surfactant

B. It decreases the surface area available for gas exchange

A patient has a respiratory rate that increases significantly. Why might their heart rate also increase?

A. The heart must help meet the body's increased oxygen demands

B. The digestive system stops absorbing nutrients

C. The lungs stop exchanging carbon dioxide

D. The diaphragm stops contracting

A. The heart must help meet the body's increased oxygen demands

A patient with restrictive pulmonary disease has difficulty expanding their lungs. Which change would you expect?

A. Increased lung compliance

B. Decreased ability to expand the lungs

C. Increased airway diameter

D. Increased vital capacity

B. Decreased ability to expand the lungs

A patient exhales normally after taking a deep breath. Which muscle movement helps bring about normal exhalation?

A. The diaphragm contracts and moves downward

B. The diaphragm relaxes and moves upward

C. The external intercostals contract forcefully

D. The abdominal muscles contract during quiet breathing

B. The diaphragm relaxes and moves upward

A patient has an increased amount of carbon dioxide in their blood. Which response would help the body remove more carbon dioxide?

A. Decrease respiratory rate

B. Increase respiratory rate

C. Stop ventilation

D. Decrease oxygen diffusion

B. Increase respiratory rate

A patient has difficulty moving air out of their lungs because their airways are narrowed. Which type of pulmonary disorder does this describe?

A. Restrictive

B. Obstructive

C. Cardiovascular

D. Digestive

B. Obstructive