Question 1

In what portion of the lungs does alveolar dead space normally occur?

Accepted Answer

A)  Apexes 
B)  Bases 
C)  Middle portions of the lungs 
D)  Terminal respiratory units 
A)  Apexes 
B)  Bases 
C)  Middle portions of the lungs 
D)  Terminal respiratory units A

Question 2

According to Poiseuille's law, which of the following statements is true if we wish to maintain a constant flow of gases?

Accepted Answer

A)  Alveolar recruitment has its greatest effect on flow. 
B)  Halving the tube radius will require a 16-time increase in driving pressure. 
C)  Large jumps in driving pressure are needed to overcome airway narrowing. 
D)  The driving pressure varies directly with the airway circumference. 
A)  Alveolar recruitment has its greatest effect on flow. 
B)  Halving the tube radius will require a 16-time increase in driving pressure. 
C)  Large jumps in driving pressure are needed to overcome airway narrowing. 
D)  The driving pressure varies directly with the airway circumference. B

Question 3

Most of the drop in pressure due to frictional resistance to gas flow occurs in what region?

Accepted Answer

A)  Nose, mouth, and large airways 
B)  Respiratory bronchioles 
C)  Terminal bronchioles 
D)  Terminal respiratory unit 
A)  Nose, mouth, and large airways 
B)  Respiratory bronchioles 
C)  Terminal bronchioles 
D)  Terminal respiratory unit A

Question 4

How is compliance calculated?

Accepted Answer

A)  Change in pressure/change in flow 
B)  Change in pressure/change in volume 
C)  Change in volume/change in flow 
D)  Change in volume/change in pressure 
A)  Change in pressure/change in flow 
B)  Change in pressure/change in volume 
C)  Change in volume/change in flow 
D)  Change in volume/change in pressure

Question 5

Which of the following formulas are used to compute the time constant of a lung unit?

Accepted Answer

A)  Change in pressure $\times$ flow 
B)  Compliance/resistance 
C)  Resistance/elastance 
D)  Resistance $\times$ compliance 
A)  Change in pressure $\times$ flow 
B)  Compliance/resistance 
C)  Resistance/elastance 
D)  Resistance $\times$ compliance

Question 6

Which of the following pressure gradients is responsible for the actual flow of gas into and out of the lungs during breathing?

Accepted Answer

A)  Transcanadian pressure gradient (Ppc - Pks) 
B)  Transpulmonary pressure gradient (Palv - Ppl) 
C)  Transrespiratory pressure gradient (Palv - Pao) 
D)  Transthoracic pressure gradient (Ppl - Pbs) 
A)  Transcanadian pressure gradient (Ppc - Pks) 
B)  Transpulmonary pressure gradient (Palv - Ppl) 
C)  Transrespiratory pressure gradient (Palv - Pao) 
D)  Transthoracic pressure gradient (Ppl - Pbs)

Question 7

In clinical practice measuring the physiologic dead space ventilation is achieved by using which formula?

Accepted Answer

A)  Bernoulli's equation 
B)  Modified Bohr equation 
C)  Modified Shunt equation 
D)  Reynold's equation 
A)  Bernoulli's equation 
B)  Modified Bohr equation 
C)  Modified Shunt equation 
D)  Reynold's equation

Question 8

Why is the total mechanical work of breathing difficult to assess during spontaneous breathing?

Accepted Answer

A)  Most volunteer subjects cannot understand the procedure used. 
B)  Respiratory muscle activity contributes to inflation resistance. 
C)  The respiratory muscles (diaphragm, etc.) must be paralyzed. 
D)  The subjects used to make the measurements must be unconscious. 
A)  Most volunteer subjects cannot understand the procedure used. 
B)  Respiratory muscle activity contributes to inflation resistance. 
C)  The respiratory muscles (diaphragm, etc.) must be paralyzed. 
D)  The subjects used to make the measurements must be unconscious.

Question 9

For carbon dioxide levels to remain constant during exercise, which of the following factors must be elevated?

Accepted Answer

A)  Alveolar ventilation 
B)  Dead space ventilation 
C)  Hemoglobin 
D)  Bicarbonate 
A)  Alveolar ventilation 
B)  Dead space ventilation 
C)  Hemoglobin 
D)  Bicarbonate

Question 10

Where is Raw highest in the airway of the human body?

Accepted Answer

A)  Terminal bronchioles 
B)  Carina 
C)  Left lower lobe 
D)  Nose, mouth, and large airways 
A)  Terminal bronchioles 
B)  Carina 
C)  Left lower lobe 
D)  Nose, mouth, and large airways

Question 11

Which of the following factors affects Raw?
1) Pattern of gas flow (e.g., laminar vs. turbulent)
2) Characteristics of the gas being breathed
3) Diameter and length of the airways
4) Variations in lung compliance

Accepted Answer

A) 1, 2, and 3 only 
B) 2 and 4 only 
C) 4 only 
D) 1, 2, 3, and 4 
A) 1, 2, and 3 only 
B) 2 and 4 only 
C) 4 only 
D) 1, 2, 3, and 4

Question 12

Given a constant carbon dioxide production, how will changing the level of VA affect the PaCO2?

Accepted Answer

A)  A decrease in A will decrease PaCO2 
B)  An increase in A will decrease PaCO2 
C)  An increase in A will increase PaCO2 
D)  PaCO2 is unaffected by changes in VA 
A)  A decrease in A will decrease PaCO2 
B)  An increase in A will decrease PaCO2 
C)  An increase in A will increase PaCO2 
D)  PaCO2 is unaffected by changes in VA

Question 13

On inspecting a volume-pressure curve for a patient with restrictive lung disease, which of the following abnormalities would you expect to find?
1) Decrease in the slope of the volume-pressure curve
2) Increase in the area of the volume-pressure curve
3) Positive Ppl during exhalation

Accepted Answer

A) 2 only 
B) 1, 2, and 3 
C) 1 and 2 only 
D) 1 and 3 only 
A) 2 only 
B) 1, 2, and 3 
C) 1 and 2 only 
D) 1 and 3 only

Question 14

Which of the following are effects of surface tension forces in the air-filled lung?
1) It increases the elastic recoil of the lung (promoting collapse).
2) It makes the lung harder to inflate than if it were filled with fluid.
3) It decreases the lung's elasticity as volume increases.

Accepted Answer

A) 1 and 2 only 
B) 2 and 3 only 
C) 1 and 3 only 
D) 1, 2, and 3 
A) 1 and 2 only 
B) 2 and 3 only 
C) 1 and 3 only 
D) 1, 2, and 3

Question 15

In order to inspire to a lung volume greater than approximately 70% of TLC, the inspiratory muscles must overcome:

Accepted Answer

A)  the recoil of the lungs. 
B)  the recoil of both the lungs and the chest wall. 
C)  the recoil of both the chest walls. 
D)  the recoil of the alveoli. 
A)  the recoil of the lungs. 
B)  the recoil of both the lungs and the chest wall. 
C)  the recoil of both the chest walls. 
D)  the recoil of the alveoli.

Question 16

Which of the following factors would tend to increase the frictional component of the work of breathing?
1) Decreased compliance of the lungs or thorax
2) High frequencies of breathing
3) Increased Raw

Accepted Answer

A) 1 and 2 only 
B) 1, 2, and 3 
C) 1 and 3 only 
D) 2 and 3 only 
A) 1 and 2 only 
B) 1, 2, and 3 
C) 1 and 3 only 
D) 2 and 3 only

Question 17

What is the term for the impedance to ventilation caused by the movement of gas through the conducting system of the lungs?

Accepted Answer

A)  Airway resistance 
B)  Lung compliance 
C)  Surface tension 
D)  Tissue elastance 
A)  Airway resistance 
B)  Lung compliance 
C)  Surface tension 
D)  Tissue elastance

Question 18

Which of the following diseases or disorders is most likely to result in an increased VD/VT ratio?

Accepted Answer

A)  Atelectasis 
B)  Pneumonia 
C)  Pulmonary embolus 
D)  Pulmonary fibrosis 
A)  Atelectasis 
B)  Pneumonia 
C)  Pulmonary embolus 
D)  Pulmonary fibrosis

Question 19

Which of the following pressures normally remains negative (relative to atmospheric pressure) during quiet breathing?

Accepted Answer

A)  Palv 
B)  Ppl 
C)  Pao 
D)  Pbs 
A)  Palv 
B)  Ppl 
C)  Pao 
D)  Pbs

Question 20

How is airway resistance (Raw) computed?

Accepted Answer

A)  Change in pressure/change in volume 
B)  Change in pressure/flow 
C)  Change in volume/change in pressure 
A)  Change in pressure/change in volume 
B)  Change in pressure/flow 
C)  Change in volume/change in pressure

Exam 11: Ventilation

In what portion of the lungs does alveolar dead space normally occur?

According to Poiseuille's law, which of the following statements is true if we wish to maintain a constant flow of gases?

Most of the drop in pressure due to frictional resistance to gas flow occurs in what region?

How is compliance calculated?

Which of the following formulas are used to compute the time constant of a lung unit?

Which of the following pressure gradients is responsible for the actual flow of gas into and out of the lungs during breathing?

In clinical practice measuring the physiologic dead space ventilation is achieved by using which formula?

Why is the total mechanical work of breathing difficult to assess during spontaneous breathing?

For carbon dioxide levels to remain constant during exercise, which of the following factors must be elevated?

Where is Raw highest in the airway of the human body?

Which of the following factors affects Raw? 1) Pattern of gas flow (e.g., laminar vs. turbulent) 2) Characteristics of the gas being breathed 3) Diameter and length of the airways 4) Variations in lung compliance

Given a constant carbon dioxide production, how will changing the level of VA affect the PaCO2?

On inspecting a volume-pressure curve for a patient with restrictive lung disease, which of the following abnormalities would you expect to find? 1) Decrease in the slope of the volume-pressure curve 2) Increase in the area of the volume-pressure curve 3) Positive Ppl during exhalation

Which of the following are effects of surface tension forces in the air-filled lung? 1) It increases the elastic recoil of the lung (promoting collapse). 2) It makes the lung harder to inflate than if it were filled with fluid. 3) It decreases the lung's elasticity as volume increases.

In order to inspire to a lung volume greater than approximately 70% of TLC, the inspiratory muscles must overcome:

Which of the following factors would tend to increase the frictional component of the work of breathing? 1) Decreased compliance of the lungs or thorax 2) High frequencies of breathing 3) Increased Raw

What is the term for the impedance to ventilation caused by the movement of gas through the conducting system of the lungs?

Which of the following diseases or disorders is most likely to result in an increased VD/VT ratio?

Which of the following pressures normally remains negative (relative to atmospheric pressure) during quiet breathing?

How is airway resistance (Raw) computed?

History of Respiratory Care

Delivering Evidence-Based Respiratory Care

Quality, Patient Safety, and Communication, and Recordkeeping

Principles of Infection Prevention and Control

Ethical and Legal Implications of Practice

Physical Principles of Respiratory Care

E-Medicine in Respiratory Care

Fundamentals of Respiratory Care Research

The Respiratory System

The Cardiovascular System

Gas Exchange and Transport

Solutions, Body Fluids, and Electrolytes

Acid-Base Balance

Regulation of Breathing

Bedside Assessment of the Patient

Interpreting Clinical and Laboratory Data

Interpreting the Electrocardiogram

Analysis and Monitoring of Gas Exchange

Pulmonary Function Testing

Review of Thoracic Imaging

Flexible Bronchoscopy and the Respiratory Therapist

Nutrition Assessment

Pulmonary Infections

Obstructive Lung Disease: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Copd, Asthma, and Related Diseases

Interstitial Lung Disease

Pleural Diseases

Pulmonary Vascular Disease

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Trauma, Burns and Near Drowning

Lung Cancer

Neuromuscular and Other Diseases of the Chest Wall

Disorders of Sleep

Neonatal and Pediatric Respiratory Disorders

Airway Pharmacology

Airway Management

Emergency Cardiovascular Life Support

Humidity and Bland Aerosol Therapy

Aerosol Drug Therapy

Storage and Delivery of Medical Gases

Medical Gas Therapy

Lung Expansion Therapy

Airway Clearance Therapy Act

Respiratory Failure and the Need for Ventilatory Support

Mechanical Ventilators

Physiology of Ventilatory Support

Patient Ventilator Interaction

Initiating and Adjusting Invasive Ventilatory Support

Noninvasive Ventilation

Extracorporeal Life Support Ecls

Monitoring the Patient in the Intensive Care Unit

Discontinuing Ventilatory Support

Neonatal and Pediatric Respiratory Care

Patient Education and Health Promotion

Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation

Respiratory Care in Alternative Settings

Filters

Where is R_awhighest in the airway of the human body?

Which of the following factors affects R_aw? 1) Pattern of gas flow (e.g., laminar vs. turbulent) 2) Characteristics of the gas being breathed 3) Diameter and length of the airways 4) Variations in lung compliance

Given a constant carbon dioxide production, how will changing the level of V_A affect the PaCO₂?

On inspecting a volume-pressure curve for a patient with restrictive lung disease, which of the following abnormalities would you expect to find? 1) Decrease in the slope of the volume-pressure curve 2) Increase in the area of the volume-pressure curve 3) Positive P_pl during exhalation

Which of the following factors would tend to increase the frictional component of the work of breathing? 1) Decreased compliance of the lungs or thorax 2) High frequencies of breathing 3) Increased R_aw

Which of the following diseases or disorders is most likely to result in an increased V_D/V_T ratio?

How is airway resistance (R_aw) computed?