Burns' Pediatric Primary Care
8th Edition
Author(s)Dawn Lee Garzon, Mary Dirks, Martha Driessnack, Karen G. Duderstadt, Nan M.
Gaylord
ISBN: 9780323882316"ISBN-13 9780323882316"
100-QUESTION PEDIATRIC RESPIRATORY DISORDERS TEST BANK
,
, 1. A 4-month-old infant is evaluated for noisy breathing during a viral
upper respiratory illness. The caregiver reports that the infant has
had increasing difficulty feeding and pauses frequently to breathe.
Which age-related anatomical feature most directly contributes to
this infant's greater vulnerability to clinically significant airway
obstruction?
A. Larger airway diameter relative to adults
B. Smaller and narrower airways relative to overall body size
C. More rigid thoracic structures
D. Greater functional residual capacity
Correct Answer: B. Smaller and narrower airways relative to overall
body size
Rationale: Infants have relatively small airways, so even a modest
amount of mucosal edema or secretions can produce substantial
increases in airway resistance. This is especially important during
respiratory infections because airway narrowing can rapidly increase
the work of breathing and interfere with feeding.
A. Infants do not have larger airways relative to adults; their smaller
airway caliber increases the clinical impact of swelling and secretions.
B. Correct. The relatively narrow pediatric airway makes airway edema
and obstruction more consequential.
C. The infant chest wall is relatively compliant rather than rigid, which
can increase respiratory vulnerability.
D. Infants generally have less respiratory reserve and different lung-
volume relationships rather than a greater protective functional
residual capacity.
, 2. A school-age child is being evaluated for persistent cough and
intermittent wheezing. The clinician explains that the respiratory
tract contains branching airways that progressively become
smaller before reaching the gas-exchanging portions of the lung.
Which statement best describes the significance of these airway
generations?
A. Airway branching progressively increases the total cross-sectional
area available for airflow
B. Gas exchange occurs primarily within the trachea and main bronchi
C. The conducting airways are the primary site of oxygen diffusion into
blood
D. Airway caliber remains essentially constant from the trachea to the
distal lung
Correct Answer: A. Airway branching progressively increases the total
cross-sectional area available for airflow
Rationale: As the conducting airway tree branches repeatedly, the
combined cross-sectional area increases toward the distal airways. The
proximal airways primarily conduct air, whereas gas exchange occurs
farther distally in the respiratory portions of the lung.
A. Correct. Repeated branching results in a progressively larger
aggregate cross-sectional area distally.
B. The trachea and major bronchi conduct air but are not the principal
sites of gas exchange.
C. Oxygen diffusion occurs across the respiratory surfaces of the distal
lung rather than the conducting airways.
D. Airway dimensions change substantially as the respiratory tree
branches from proximal to distal regions.
8th Edition
Author(s)Dawn Lee Garzon, Mary Dirks, Martha Driessnack, Karen G. Duderstadt, Nan M.
Gaylord
ISBN: 9780323882316"ISBN-13 9780323882316"
100-QUESTION PEDIATRIC RESPIRATORY DISORDERS TEST BANK
,
, 1. A 4-month-old infant is evaluated for noisy breathing during a viral
upper respiratory illness. The caregiver reports that the infant has
had increasing difficulty feeding and pauses frequently to breathe.
Which age-related anatomical feature most directly contributes to
this infant's greater vulnerability to clinically significant airway
obstruction?
A. Larger airway diameter relative to adults
B. Smaller and narrower airways relative to overall body size
C. More rigid thoracic structures
D. Greater functional residual capacity
Correct Answer: B. Smaller and narrower airways relative to overall
body size
Rationale: Infants have relatively small airways, so even a modest
amount of mucosal edema or secretions can produce substantial
increases in airway resistance. This is especially important during
respiratory infections because airway narrowing can rapidly increase
the work of breathing and interfere with feeding.
A. Infants do not have larger airways relative to adults; their smaller
airway caliber increases the clinical impact of swelling and secretions.
B. Correct. The relatively narrow pediatric airway makes airway edema
and obstruction more consequential.
C. The infant chest wall is relatively compliant rather than rigid, which
can increase respiratory vulnerability.
D. Infants generally have less respiratory reserve and different lung-
volume relationships rather than a greater protective functional
residual capacity.
, 2. A school-age child is being evaluated for persistent cough and
intermittent wheezing. The clinician explains that the respiratory
tract contains branching airways that progressively become
smaller before reaching the gas-exchanging portions of the lung.
Which statement best describes the significance of these airway
generations?
A. Airway branching progressively increases the total cross-sectional
area available for airflow
B. Gas exchange occurs primarily within the trachea and main bronchi
C. The conducting airways are the primary site of oxygen diffusion into
blood
D. Airway caliber remains essentially constant from the trachea to the
distal lung
Correct Answer: A. Airway branching progressively increases the total
cross-sectional area available for airflow
Rationale: As the conducting airway tree branches repeatedly, the
combined cross-sectional area increases toward the distal airways. The
proximal airways primarily conduct air, whereas gas exchange occurs
farther distally in the respiratory portions of the lung.
A. Correct. Repeated branching results in a progressively larger
aggregate cross-sectional area distally.
B. The trachea and major bronchi conduct air but are not the principal
sites of gas exchange.
C. Oxygen diffusion occurs across the respiratory surfaces of the distal
lung rather than the conducting airways.
D. Airway dimensions change substantially as the respiratory tree
branches from proximal to distal regions.
