Chapter 14 The Respiratory System

Question 1

What are the primary functions of the respiratory system?

Answer 1

Air distribution and gas exchanger

Question 2

Can you distinguish the upper respiratory tract from the lower respiratory tract?

Answer 2

Upper: nasal cavity, pharynx, larynx; Lower: bronchi, bronchioles and trachea

Question 3

What is the role of the respiratory membrane?

Answer 3

It separates the air in the alveoli from the blood in surrounding capillaries.

Question 4

What are the paranasal sinuses? What is their role?

Answer 4

They are spaces of cavities located inside the frontal, maxillary, sphenoidal, and ethmoid bones, which are located close to the nose. The paranasal sinuses drain into the nasal cavities. They assist in producing mucus for the respiratory tract.

Question 5

What are the three divisions of the pharynx

Answer 5

Nasopharynx, oropharynx, and laryngopharynx

Question 6

What is the scientific term for the voice box?

Answer 6

Larynx

Question 7

What keeps the trachea from collapsing?

Answer 7

It is made of noncollapsible material—15 or 20 C-shaped rings of cartilage placed one above the other with only a little soft tissue between them.

Question 8

What are the bronchi? What are their role?

Answer 8

They are tubes that lead directly into the lung, allowing for the intake of air from the trachea to the lower lung.

Question 9

What is the function of the alveoli?

Answer 9

Exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the blood circulating and the alveolar air

Question 10

Can you describe the structure and function of the pleura?

Answer 10

The pleura covers the outer surface of the lungs. It is a thin, moist, slippery membrane that reduces friction.

Question 11

How does the diaphragm operate during inspiration? During expiration?

Answer 11

During inspiration, the diaphragm flattens out; during expiration, the diaphragm is elevated by the contraction of the abdominal muscles.

Question 12

In what form does oxygen travel in the blood? What form of carbon dioxide?

Answer 12

Oxyhemoglobin and carbaminohemoglobin, respectively

Question 13

What is the vital capacity? How is it measured?

Answer 13

Vital capacity is the largest amount of air that we can breathe out in one expiration. It is measured with a spirometer.

Question 14

Where are the respiratory control centers located?

Answer 14

Medulla and pons of the brain

Question 15

What is a chemoreceptor? How does it influence breathing?

Answer 15

Chemoreceptors are special receptors that are sensitive to increases in blood carbon dioxide level and decreases in blood oxygen level. They send nerve impulses to the respiratory regulatory centers that in turn modify respiratory rates.

Question 16

What is hyperventilation? Hypoventilation?

Answer 16

Hyperventilation is very rapid and deep respirations. Hypoventilation is very slow and shallow respirations.

Question 17

Which of the following are functions of the respiratory system?

a. air distributor
b. gas exchanger
c. filter air
d. warm and humidify air
e. all are correct

Answer 17

e. all are correct

Question 18

What is the name of the barrier that is found between the blood in the capillaries and the air in the alveolus?

a. capillary membrane
b. alveoli membrane
c. alveoli barrier Incorrect
d. respiratory membrane

Answer 18

d. respiratory membrane

Question 19

The trachea, bronchial tree, and the lungs make up the

a. upper respiratory tract.
b. lower respiratory tract.
c. cell respiration.
d. none of these is correct.

Answer 19

b. lower respiratory tract.

Question 20

The air-containing spaces that open or drain into the nasal cavity are called

a. nasal mucosa.
b. turbinates.
c. conchae.
d. paranasal sinuses.

Answer 20

d. paranasal sinuses.

Question 21

The portion of the pharynx that is behind the mouth is called the

a. nasopharynx.
b. oropharynx.
c. laryngopharynx.
d. Eustachian tube.

Answer 21

b. oropharynx.

Question 22

What are the masses of lymphatic tissue embedded in the mucous membranes of the pharynx?

a. tonsils
b. mucosa
c. paranasal sinuses
d. cartilage

Answer 22

a. tonsils

Question 23

This organ consists largely of cartilages that are attached to one another and to surrounding structures by muscles or fibrous tissue components.

a. nose
b. pharynx
c. larynx
d. lung

Answer 23

c. larynx

Question 24

The trachea divides at its lower end into two

a. bronchi.
b. bronchioles.
c. sinuses.
d. alveoli.

Answer 24

a. bronchi.

Question 25

The surface of the respiratory membrane inside each alveolus is coated with a substance called

a. air sac.
b. bronchiole.
c. respiratory membrane.
d. surfactant.

Answer 25

d. surfactant.

Question 26

The outer surface of the lungs that lines the inner surface of the rib cage is called the

a. alveolar duct.
b. pneumothorax.
c. pleura.
d. surfactant.

Answer 26

c. pleura.

Question 27

During respiration, the thorax becomes

a. smaller when the chest is raised.
b. larger when the chest is raised.
c. does not change.
d. none of these is correct.

Answer 27

b. larger when the chest is raised.

Question 28

Which of the following are inspiratory muscles?

a. diaphragm and internal costal muscles
b. diaphragm and external costal muscles
c. abdominal and internal costal muscles
d. abdominal muscle and diaphragm

Answer 28

b. diaphragm and external costal muscles

Question 29

When the thoracic cavity decreases in size, the air pressure within it

a. decreases.
b. increases.
c. remains the same.
d. fluctuates according to levels of carbonic acid.

Answer 29

b. increases.

Question 30

The volume of air exhaled normally after a typical inspiration is termed

a. inspiratory reserve volume.
b. expiratory reserve volume.
c. tidal volume.
d. residual volume.

Answer 30

c. tidal volume.

Question 31

Dyspnea means

a. labored or difficult breathing.
b. an increase in breathing.
c. a temporary cessation of breathing for a brief time.
d. normal respiratory rate.

Answer 31

a. labored or difficult breathing.

Question 32

Oxygen enters blood from the alveolar air because of

a. diffusion.
b. osmosis.
c. carbonic acid.
d. chemoreceptors.

Answer 32

a. diffusion.

Question 33

The exact amount of oxygen in blood depends mainly on the amount of

a. platelets.
b. white blood cells.
c. hemoglobin.
d. protein.

Answer 33

c. hemoglobin.

Question 34

The compound formed when carbon dioxide combines with hemoglobin is

a. carboamino compound.
b. oxyhemoglobin.
c. carbaminohemoglobin.
d. bicarbonate ion.

Answer 34

c. carbaminohemoglobin.

Question 35

When carbon dioxide dissolves in water, some of the carbon dioxide molecules associate with water to form

a. bicarbonate ions.
b. hydroxyl ions.
c. amino acid.
d. carbonic acid.

Answer 35

d. carbonic acid.

Question 36

An increase in carbon dioxide in the blood causes

a. a drop in pH of the blood.
b. an increase in pH of the blood.
c. no change in pH.
d. an increase in partial pressure.

Answer 36

a. a drop in pH of the blood.