Deck 44: Aviation, High Altitude, and Space Physiology

Question 1

Which set of findings best describe a normal person breathing air at an altitude of 18,000 feet?

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Which of the following occurs the 6 hours after you fly from New Orleans, Louisiana, to Aspen, Colorado (7890 feet, barometric pressure = 564 mm Hg)?

Answer 3

F

Question 4

Question 5

Upon return to earth after 2 weeks in space, an astronaut would exhibit which of the following?

A)Increased blood pressure
B)Increased urinary output
C)Decreased muscle tone
D)Elevated cardiac output
E)Normal blood volume

Question 6

A pilot is flying a commercial, pressurized (730 mm Hg) airplane at 30,000 feet (barometric pressure of 226 mm Hg). If the pilot's body temperature is normal and the alveolar pO₂ is 90 mm Hg, which of the following is true?

A)Arterial PCO₂ is 40 mm Hg
B)Alveolar ventilation will be increased
C)Arterial pH will be 7.6
D)Alveolar PCO₂ will be 45 mm Hg
E)Pilot will be polycythemic

Question 7

In an acclimatized person at high altitudes, oxygen delivery to the tissues may be adequate at rest because of which of the following?

A)Increased hemoglobin concentration
B)Presence of an acidosis
C)Decreased the number of tissue capillaries
D)Presence of a normal arterial pO₂
E)Presence of a lower than normal arterial pCO₂

Question 8

A nonacclimatized person is breathing air at an altitude of 10,000 feet (barometric pressure = 523 mm Hg), and has a doubled alveolar ventilation and a doubled metabolism. What is the pO₂ (in mm Hg) in the alveoli?

A)32
B)50
C)80
D)100
E)125

Question 9

A tourist left New York and flew to Switzerland to climb Mount Blanc in the Swiss Alps, which is 15,771 feet above sea level, barometric pressure = 420 mm Hg. His physician had suggested that he take acetazolamide, a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor before and throughout his trip. If he had taken this, what would be the expected response?

A)Return of pH to normal
B)Normal ventilation
C)Hypoventilation
D)Normal arterial blood gases

Question 10

Question 11

Which of the following will return toward normal during acclimatization to high altitude (12,000 feet)?

A)Arterial carbon dioxide tension
B)Arterial hydrogen ion concentration
C)Arterial hemoglobin concentration
D)Alveolar ventilation