RCP 114 FINAL EXAM | RESPIRATORY CARE PRACTICE QUESTIONS & ANSWERS |
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE 2026/2027
Conducting Airways - correct answer ✔✔Passageways between the ambient environment and
gas exchange units of the lungs (Alveoli). No gas exchange. Divided into upper and lower airways
Alveoli - correct answer ✔✔Gas exchange units of the lungs. Tiny sacs of lung tissue specialized
for the rapid movement of gases between air and blood
Upper Airways - correct answer ✔✔Include the nose, oral cavity, pharynx and larynx
Primary Functions of the Upper Airway - correct answer ✔✔- Act as a conductor for air
- Humidify, warm and cool inspired air
- Prevent foreign materials from entering the bronchial tree
- Serve as an important area for speech and smell
Primary Functions of the Nose - correct answer ✔✔- Humidify air
- Filter air
- Condition (warm and cool) inspired air
Nose is composed of - correct answer ✔✔Nasal bone and cartilage, maxilla, hard and soft
palates
Nasal Septum - correct answer ✔✔Separates the nasal cavities
Nares - correct answer ✔✔The nostrils or the nasal passages
,Path for air in the upper airway - correct answer ✔✔Air enters the nasal cavity through the
nares and passes through the nasal vestibule lined with vibrissae
Vibrissae - correct answer ✔✔Nose hairs that filter coarse particles from inspired air
Nasal Epithelium: Anterior and Posterior - correct answer ✔✔Anterior- Stratified squamous
(non-ciliated)
Posterior- Pseudo-stratified columnar (ciliated)
Conchae/Turbinates + Functions - correct answer ✔✔Superior, middle and superior boney
protrusions on the lateral walls of the nasal cavity. Filters inspired gas into different air streams
to increase surface area contact between warm air and nasal mucosa
Nasal Mucosa - correct answer ✔✔The moist lining of the nose rich in blood vessels and nerve
endings
How is the sneeze reflex triggered? - correct answer ✔✔When nasal mucosa nerve endings are
irritated by inspired particles
Epistaxis - correct answer ✔✔Nosebleed/nasal hemorrhage due to trauma or dry nasal mucosa
Rhinitis - correct answer ✔✔Inflammation of the nasal mucosa
(Para)nasal Sinuses + Functions - correct answer ✔✔Air cavities within the cranial bones that
open into the nasal cavities. Include Maxillary, Frontal, Ethmoid and Sphenoid Sinuses. Function
in producing mucus and as chambers for sound
Sinusitis - correct answer ✔✔Infection/inflammation of the nasal sinuses
,Oral Cavity - correct answer ✔✔The oral vestibule containing the teeth and gums reaching back
towards the oropharynx
Tongue + Functions - correct answer ✔✔The floor of the oral cavity which fills most of it when
the mouth is closed. Composed to skeletal muscle fibers. Mixes food with saliva to form a bolus
for swallowing
Intrinsic and Extrinsic Tongue Muscles - correct answer ✔✔- Intrinsic: Controls the tongue and
allows it to change shape
- Extrinsic: Extend from bone to the tongue and allows it to change position
Lingual Frenulum - correct answer ✔✔Fold of mucous membrane that anchors the tongue to
the floor of the mouth, limiting posterior motion
Hard and Soft Palate - correct answer ✔✔Compose the roof of the mouth. Hard is anterior and
made of bone, soft is posterior and made of collagen fibers
Pharynx - correct answer ✔✔Throat. Membrane lined passageway for food to the esophagus
and air to the larynx. Composed of the nasopharynx, oropharynx and laryngopharynx
Nasopharynx - correct answer ✔✔Located between the nares, posterior nasal cavity and soft
palate. Passageway for air into lower airway
Nasopharynx Epithelium - correct answer ✔✔Pseudostratified Ciliated Columnar Epithelium
Adenoid/Pharyngeal Tonsils - correct answer ✔✔Masses of lymphatic tissue forming a
protective ring around the nose and upper throat
, Tonsil - correct answer ✔✔Large mass of lymphatic nodules/diffuse lymphatic tissue. Protects
the nasopharynx from bacteria
Pharyngeotympanic (Auditory) Tube - correct answer ✔✔Connects middle ear and the
nasopharynx. Equalizes pressure via yawning. Same type of mucus as the nasopharynx
Otitis Media - correct answer ✔✔Middle ear infection
Oropharynx - correct answer ✔✔Central portion of the pharynx between the superior soft
palate and and the upper edge of the epiglottis. Directly posterior to the mouth. Houses the
Palatine and Lingual Tonsils
Palatine Tonsils - correct answer ✔✔THE tonsils. Located on the left and right sides of the throat
in the area that is visible through the mouth
Oropharynx Epithelium - correct answer ✔✔Stratified Squamous Epithelium
Vallecula Epiglottica - correct answer ✔✔An important anatomic landmark during the insertion
of an endotreacheal tube into the trachea. Decompression from the base of the tongue to the
epiglottis
Laryngopharynx - correct answer ✔✔Lower part of the pharynx, between the base of the
tongue and the opening into the larynx and esophagus. Functions as the sphincter during
swallowing
Respiratory Hysteresis - correct answer ✔✔When lung volume at any given pressure during
inhalation is less than the lung volume at any given pressure during exhalation
How does the heart contract? - correct answer ✔✔By generating and propagating Action
Potentials
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE 2026/2027
Conducting Airways - correct answer ✔✔Passageways between the ambient environment and
gas exchange units of the lungs (Alveoli). No gas exchange. Divided into upper and lower airways
Alveoli - correct answer ✔✔Gas exchange units of the lungs. Tiny sacs of lung tissue specialized
for the rapid movement of gases between air and blood
Upper Airways - correct answer ✔✔Include the nose, oral cavity, pharynx and larynx
Primary Functions of the Upper Airway - correct answer ✔✔- Act as a conductor for air
- Humidify, warm and cool inspired air
- Prevent foreign materials from entering the bronchial tree
- Serve as an important area for speech and smell
Primary Functions of the Nose - correct answer ✔✔- Humidify air
- Filter air
- Condition (warm and cool) inspired air
Nose is composed of - correct answer ✔✔Nasal bone and cartilage, maxilla, hard and soft
palates
Nasal Septum - correct answer ✔✔Separates the nasal cavities
Nares - correct answer ✔✔The nostrils or the nasal passages
,Path for air in the upper airway - correct answer ✔✔Air enters the nasal cavity through the
nares and passes through the nasal vestibule lined with vibrissae
Vibrissae - correct answer ✔✔Nose hairs that filter coarse particles from inspired air
Nasal Epithelium: Anterior and Posterior - correct answer ✔✔Anterior- Stratified squamous
(non-ciliated)
Posterior- Pseudo-stratified columnar (ciliated)
Conchae/Turbinates + Functions - correct answer ✔✔Superior, middle and superior boney
protrusions on the lateral walls of the nasal cavity. Filters inspired gas into different air streams
to increase surface area contact between warm air and nasal mucosa
Nasal Mucosa - correct answer ✔✔The moist lining of the nose rich in blood vessels and nerve
endings
How is the sneeze reflex triggered? - correct answer ✔✔When nasal mucosa nerve endings are
irritated by inspired particles
Epistaxis - correct answer ✔✔Nosebleed/nasal hemorrhage due to trauma or dry nasal mucosa
Rhinitis - correct answer ✔✔Inflammation of the nasal mucosa
(Para)nasal Sinuses + Functions - correct answer ✔✔Air cavities within the cranial bones that
open into the nasal cavities. Include Maxillary, Frontal, Ethmoid and Sphenoid Sinuses. Function
in producing mucus and as chambers for sound
Sinusitis - correct answer ✔✔Infection/inflammation of the nasal sinuses
,Oral Cavity - correct answer ✔✔The oral vestibule containing the teeth and gums reaching back
towards the oropharynx
Tongue + Functions - correct answer ✔✔The floor of the oral cavity which fills most of it when
the mouth is closed. Composed to skeletal muscle fibers. Mixes food with saliva to form a bolus
for swallowing
Intrinsic and Extrinsic Tongue Muscles - correct answer ✔✔- Intrinsic: Controls the tongue and
allows it to change shape
- Extrinsic: Extend from bone to the tongue and allows it to change position
Lingual Frenulum - correct answer ✔✔Fold of mucous membrane that anchors the tongue to
the floor of the mouth, limiting posterior motion
Hard and Soft Palate - correct answer ✔✔Compose the roof of the mouth. Hard is anterior and
made of bone, soft is posterior and made of collagen fibers
Pharynx - correct answer ✔✔Throat. Membrane lined passageway for food to the esophagus
and air to the larynx. Composed of the nasopharynx, oropharynx and laryngopharynx
Nasopharynx - correct answer ✔✔Located between the nares, posterior nasal cavity and soft
palate. Passageway for air into lower airway
Nasopharynx Epithelium - correct answer ✔✔Pseudostratified Ciliated Columnar Epithelium
Adenoid/Pharyngeal Tonsils - correct answer ✔✔Masses of lymphatic tissue forming a
protective ring around the nose and upper throat
, Tonsil - correct answer ✔✔Large mass of lymphatic nodules/diffuse lymphatic tissue. Protects
the nasopharynx from bacteria
Pharyngeotympanic (Auditory) Tube - correct answer ✔✔Connects middle ear and the
nasopharynx. Equalizes pressure via yawning. Same type of mucus as the nasopharynx
Otitis Media - correct answer ✔✔Middle ear infection
Oropharynx - correct answer ✔✔Central portion of the pharynx between the superior soft
palate and and the upper edge of the epiglottis. Directly posterior to the mouth. Houses the
Palatine and Lingual Tonsils
Palatine Tonsils - correct answer ✔✔THE tonsils. Located on the left and right sides of the throat
in the area that is visible through the mouth
Oropharynx Epithelium - correct answer ✔✔Stratified Squamous Epithelium
Vallecula Epiglottica - correct answer ✔✔An important anatomic landmark during the insertion
of an endotreacheal tube into the trachea. Decompression from the base of the tongue to the
epiglottis
Laryngopharynx - correct answer ✔✔Lower part of the pharynx, between the base of the
tongue and the opening into the larynx and esophagus. Functions as the sphincter during
swallowing
Respiratory Hysteresis - correct answer ✔✔When lung volume at any given pressure during
inhalation is less than the lung volume at any given pressure during exhalation
How does the heart contract? - correct answer ✔✔By generating and propagating Action
Potentials
