Practice Problems

Question 1

As air is exhaled, which structures are encountered first: the vocal folds or the vestibular folds?

Answer 1

Vocal folds

Question 2

What is the function of vocal folds?

Answer 2

Produce vibrations used for sound production and close off the larynx during deglutition.

Question 3

Name the muscles for:
1) principle inspiration
2) principle expiration
3) forced inspiration
4) forced expiration

Answer 3

1) diaphragm and external intercostals
2) no muscles
3) sternocleidomastriod, scalene, and the pectoralis minor muscles
4) abdominal muscles and internal intercostal

Question 4

A person inhales forcefully.
1) Name the muscles that are contracted.
2) What is the size of the thoracic cavity?
3) What is the air pressure in the lungs as compared to the atmospheric pressure during this?

Answer 4

1) diaphragm, external intercostals, sternocleidomastiod, pectoralis minor, and scalene muscles.
2) thoracic cavity is large
3) the pressure inside the lungs is lower then the pressure of the atmosphere

Question 5

1) What are two factors that aid in the collapse of the lungs during expiration?
2) When one of these is missing or reduced, what is the name of the common disease? And the lack of which factor causes it?

Answer 5

1) The elasticity of the lungs and the surface tension of the alveolar fluid
2) Emphysema (lack of elasticity)

Question 6

1) What are the two factors that help prevent total lung collapse during expiration?
2) When each of these factors is missing or reduced, what are the names of the two separate maladies? And with which factors are they associated with?

Answer 6

1) Negative pressure in the plural cavity and surfactant in the alveolar fluid
a) A collapsed lung is associated with a loss of negative pressure in the plural cavity (a pheunomthorax)
b) respiratory distress syndrome is associated with a lack of surfactant in the alveolar fluid.

Question 7

When is a healthy person’s life is lung compliance at its lowest?

Answer 7

At birth

Question 8

What are the six factors that increase the efficiency of external respiration?

Answer 8

1) thin respiratory walls
2) large surface area of the alveoli
3) narrow capillaries
4) large surface area of the erythrocytes
5) controlled relationship between ventilation and the blood flow through the lungs
6) the large functional residual capacity of the lungs

Question 9

What are the six layers of the respiratory membrane?

Answer 9

1) alveolar fluid
2) simple squamous epithelial of the alveolus
3) basement membrane of the alveolar epithelium
4) interstitial space
5) basement membrane of the capillary endothelium
6) simple squamous endothelium of the capillary

Question 10

What is pneumonia? What does it do to respiration?

Answer 10

An infection of the lungs, that causes fluid buildup in the alveoli that reduces efficiency of external respiration

Question 11

Whats the carbon dioxide and oxygen measurements for…
PCO2 = 45 mmHg
PO2 = 104 mmHg
PO2 = 95 mmHg
1) right before the blood exits the lungs
2) pulmonary view between the lungs and heart
3) inferior vena cava

Answer 11

Inferior vena cava