GMS6402: Medical Pulmonary Physiology Exam Questions With 100% Correct Answers | Updated 2026

GMS6402: Medical Pulmonary Physiology Exam Questions With 100% Correct Answers | Updated 2026 The vast majority of the total surface area of the lung is found in the: - trachea - segmental bronchi - terminal bronchi - alveoli - answer-alveoli All of the following can be measured via spirometry EXCEPT: - tidal volume (TV) - vital capacity (VC) - functional residual capacity (FRC) - inspiratory capacity (IC) - expiratory reserve volume (ERV) - answer-functional residual capacity (FRC) Which of the following is a muscle that is used for expiration? - sternocleidomastoid - external obliques - diaphragm - external intercostals - scalenus - answer-external obliquesWhat is the Transpulmonary pressure (PTP) if pleural pressure is -7 cm H2O and alveolar pressure is -3 cm H2O? - +10 cm H2O - +4 cm H2O - -10 cm H2O - -4 cm H2O - 0 cm H2O - answer-+4 cm H2O A lung compliance test indicates that a 3 cm H2O change in transpulmonary pressure generates a 0.9 liter change in lung volume. What is this patient's lung compliance? - 0.2 liters of air/cm H2O - 0.2 cm H2O/liter of air - 3.33 cm H2O/liter of air - 0.3 liters of air/cm H2O - 2.7 liters of air/cm H2O - answer-0.3 liters of air/cm H2O Airway resistance across a set of airways is lowest under which of the following conditions? - airway radius is large and the length of the tube is large - airway radius is large and the length of the tube is small - airway radius is small and airways are in series. - airway radius is small and airways are in parallel. - airway radius is large and gas viscosity is increased - answer-airway radius is large and the length of the tube is small As the lungs fill with air and we move from a low lung volume to higher lung volumes, airway resistance will - increase linearly - decrease exponentially - increase exponentially - decrease linearly- all of the above - answer-decrease exponentially A patient performs an expiratory forced vital capacity maneuver. His FVC is 2 liters and his FEV1 is 1 liter. Based on your knowledge of these numbers you would predict that this person suffers from - a restrictive lung disease - pulmonary fibrosis - an obstructive lung disease - all of the above - this patient is normal - answer-an obstructive lung disease When at sea level and breathing room air, the partial pressure of O2 in inspired air is - 760 mm Hg - 40 mm Hg - 100 mm Hg - 160 mm Hg - 150 mm Hg - answer-150 mm Hg A patient begins to hyperventilate while sitting in a clinic on Miami Beach and breathing room air. Over the ensuing 1 minute, his PACO2 drops to 20 mm Hg. What is his PaO2 at that moment in time? - 150 mm Hg - 125 mm Hg - 100 mm Hg - 75 mm Hg - 50 mm Hg - answer-125 mm Hg With respect to the path of O2 diffusion, the proper order for the movement of oxygen across the pulmonary capillary membrane is - alveolar epithelium, interstitial space, blood, capillary basement membrane - interstitial space, alveolar epithelium, capillary basement membrane, blood - alveolar epithelium, blood, interstitial space, capillary basement membrane- alveolar epithelium, interstitial space, capillary basement membrane, blood - alveolar epithelium, capillary basement membrane, blood, interstitial space - answer-alveolar epithelium, interstitial space, capillary basement membrane, blood