intro

Question 1

dependent lung position

Answer 1

refers to the lung that is positioned lowermost due to gravity, meaning it receives the most blood flow because of its position, and is typically the lung on the side a person is lying on when in a lateral decubitus (side-lying) position; essentially, the “bottom” lung in a given body position.

Question 2

accumulation of fluid in the alveoli

causes dyspnea because of diminished gases

Answer 2

pulmonary edema

Question 3

accumulation of fluid in the pleural space outside of the lungs

causes dyspnea because lungs can’t fully expand

Answer 3

pleural effusion

Question 4

purpose of pleura

Answer 4

keeps lung tissue sliding across inner part of thorax

Question 5

why are you hear wheezing on an exam

Answer 5

the sound of air moving through a smaller airway (airway finding rather than lung finding)

Question 6

spirometry

Answer 6

measures inspiration and expiration

Question 7

pulmonary function test

Answer 7

same measurements as spirometry and measures lung volume

Question 8

purposes of pulmonary function tests

Answer 8

• diagnosis of symptomatic disease
• screening for early, asymptomatic disease
• prognostication of known disease
• monitor response to treatment

Question 9

PFTs help classify diffuse lung disease into one of 3 broad categories

Answer 9

• obstructive lung disease (COPD, asthma, cystic fibrosis)
• restrictive lung disease (obesity, interstitial lung)
• pulmonary vascular disease