Question 1

A patient asks how oxygen is transported in the body.The nurse's best response is that most oxygen (O₂)is transported: A) dissolved in the plasma. B) bound to hemoglobin. C) in the form of carbon dioxide (CO₂). D) as a free-floating molecule.

Accepted Answer

Most O₂ is transported bound to hemoglobin, not as a free-floating molecule; only a small amount is dissolved in plasma.O₂ is not transported in the form of CO₂.O₂ is transported bound to hemoglobin.

Question 2

Pulmonary function tests reveal that an 80-year-old dyspneic patient has an increase in residual volume.A nurse suspects the most likely cause of the increased residual volume is _____ in lung compliance.
A) an increase
B) a decrease
C) no change
D) an absence

Accepted Answer

The patient is experiencing an increase in lung compliance.Increased compliance indicates that the lungs or chest wall is abnormally easy to inflate and has lost some elastic recoil.Decreased compliance is seen in acute breathing disorders.

Question 3

Diffusion of respiratory gases takes place at the:
A) alveolocapillary membrane.
B) visceral pleurae.
C) parietal pleurae.
D) respiratory center.

Accepted Answer

Diffusion of respiratory gases takes place across the alveolocapillary membrane.The visceral and parietal pleurae are the linings of the lung; gas exchange does not occur here.The respiratory center is where impulses to the respiratory muscles are generated.

Question 4

In a patient with acidosis, the nurse would expect the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve to shift: A) to the right, causing more O₂ to be released to the cells. B) to the left, allowing less O₂ to be released to the cells. C) downward, allowing less O₂ to dissolve in the plasma. D) upward, allowing more O₂ to dissolve in the plasma.

Accepted Answer

The oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve is shifted to the right, not the left, by acidosis (low pH)and hypercapnia (increased PaCO₂); more, not less, O₂ is released to cells.The oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve is not downward or upward, by acidosis.

Question 5

Carbon dioxide (CO₂)is mainly transported in the blood: A) attached to oxygen (O₂). B) dissolved in red blood cells. C) combined with albumin. D) in the form of bicarbonate.

Accepted Answer

CO₂ is carried in the blood as bicarbonate and not attached to O₂, dissolved in red blood cells, or combined with albumin.

Question 6

Which structures may be found in the walls of the respiratory bronchi? (select all that apply)
A) Smooth muscle
B) Surfactant-producing glands
C) Goblet cells
D) Ciliated cells
E) Epithelial lining

Accepted Answer

The bronchial walls have three layers: an epithelial lining, a smooth muscle layer, and a connective tissue layer.The epithelial lining of the bronchi contains single-celled exocrine glands-the mucus-secreting goblet cells-and ciliated cells.Surfactant-producing glands are found in the alveoli.

Question 7

What is the partial pressure of oxygen in the lung given the following conditions?
Percentage of oxygen in air: 20
Barometric pressure: 700 mm Hg
A) 111 mm Hg
B) 124 mm Hg
C) 131 mm Hg
D) 140 mm Hg

Accepted Answer

The partial pressure of oxygen is equal to the percentage of oxygen in the air, 20, times the total pressure (700 mm Hg), or 140 mm Hg (700 ´ 0.20 = 140).

Question 8

_____ seconds is required for oxygen (O₂)concentration to equilibrate (equalize)across the alveolocapillary membrane.

Accepted Answer

The answer of _____ seconds is required for oxygen (O₂)concentration...

Question 9

____% of oxygen (O₂)enters the bloodstream bound to hemoglobin.

Accepted Answer

The answer of ____% of oxygen (O₂)enters the bloodstream bound...

Question 10

While auscultating a patient's lungs, a nurse recalls the alveoli in the apices of the lungs are _____ than alveoli in the bases.
A) larger
B) more numerous
C) more compliant
D) less perfused

Accepted Answer

The alveoli in the upper portions, or apices, of the lungs contain a greater residual volume of gas and are larger and less numerous, not more numerous, than those in the lower portions.The apices are less compliant but better perfused.

Question 11

At sea level, the partial pressure of oxygen is approximately ___% (round to the nearest whole number).

Accepted Answer

The answer of At sea level, the partial pressure of...

Question 12

What physiology is present at the base of the lungs?
A) Arterial perfusion pressure is less than that of alveolar gas pressure.
B) Arterial perfusion pressure and alveolar gas pressure are less than they are at the apex.
C) Arterial perfusion pressure exceeds alveolar gas pressure.
D) Arterial perfusion and alveolar gas pressure are equal.

Accepted Answer

In the base of the lungs, both arterial and venous pressures are greater than alveolar pressure, and blood flow is not affected by alveolar pressure.It is in the apex that alveolar pressure exceeds pulmonary arterial and venous pressures.In zone II, also part of the apex, alveolar pressure is greater than venous pressure, but not arterial pressure.

Quiz 26: Structure and Function of the Pulmonary System

A patient asks how oxygen is transported in the body.The nurse's best response is that most oxygen (O₂) is transported:

Pulmonary function tests reveal that an 80-year-old dyspneic patient has an increase in residual volume.A nurse suspects the most likely cause of the increased residual volume is _____ in lung compliance.

Diffusion of respiratory gases takes place at the:

In a patient with acidosis, the nurse would expect the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve to shift:

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is mainly transported in the blood:

Which structures may be found in the walls of the respiratory bronchi? (select all that apply)

What is the partial pressure of oxygen in the lung given the following conditions? Percentage of oxygen in air: 20 Barometric pressure: 700 mm Hg

_____ seconds is required for oxygen (O₂)concentration to equilibrate (equalize)across the alveolocapillary membrane.

____% of oxygen (O₂)enters the bloodstream bound to hemoglobin.

While auscultating a patient's lungs, a nurse recalls the alveoli in the apices of the lungs are _____ than alveoli in the bases.

At sea level, the partial pressure of oxygen is approximately ___% (round to the nearest whole number).

What physiology is present at the base of the lungs?

Quiz 26: Structure and Function of the Pulmonary System

A patient asks how oxygen is transported in the body.The nurse's best response is that most oxygen (O2) is transported:

Pulmonary function tests reveal that an 80-year-old dyspneic patient has an increase in residual volume.A nurse suspects the most likely cause of the increased residual volume is _____ in lung compliance.

Diffusion of respiratory gases takes place at the:

In a patient with acidosis, the nurse would expect the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve to shift:

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is mainly transported in the blood:

Which structures may be found in the walls of the respiratory bronchi? (select all that apply)

What is the partial pressure of oxygen in the lung given the following conditions? Percentage of oxygen in air: 20 Barometric pressure: 700 mm Hg

_____ seconds is required for oxygen (O2)concentration to equilibrate (equalize)across the alveolocapillary membrane.

____% of oxygen (O2)enters the bloodstream bound to hemoglobin.

While auscultating a patient's lungs, a nurse recalls the alveoli in the apices of the lungs are _____ than alveoli in the bases.

At sea level, the partial pressure of oxygen is approximately ___% (round to the nearest whole number).

What physiology is present at the base of the lungs?

A patient asks how oxygen is transported in the body.The nurse's best response is that most oxygen (O₂) is transported:

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is mainly transported in the blood:

_____ seconds is required for oxygen (O₂)concentration to equilibrate (equalize)across the alveolocapillary membrane.

____% of oxygen (O₂)enters the bloodstream bound to hemoglobin.