This NURS 5315 Pulmonary Exam 1 2026/2027 study document contains 73 exam questions with correct answers covering the core respiratory physiology and pulmonary pathophysiology concepts students need to review for Pulmonary Exam 1. The material combines concise definition-based questions with clinically relevant respiratory concepts, including pulmonary embolism, hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction, pulmonary hypertension, asthma, COPD, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, cystic fibrosis, restrictive lung disease, respiratory failure, ARDS, pulmonary edema, pneumothorax, lung volumes, ventilation-perfusion matching, and gas exchange. NURS 5315 Pulmonary Exam 1 2026
The opening section emphasizes pulmonary embolism (PE), including pulmonary arterial obstruction by an embolus, common embolic sources, clinical presentation, D-dimer assessment, right-heart strain, V/Q abnormalities, and hypoxic vasoconstriction. The material then examines major obstructive pulmonary processes, particularly asthma and COPD. Students review bronchial inflammation and bronchoconstriction in asthma, persistent airflow limitation in COPD, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, alveolar-wall destruction, loss of elastic recoil, air trapping, and traditional clinical descriptions associated with emphysema and chronic bronchitis. NURS 5315 Pulmonary Exam 1 2026
A second major section addresses restrictive pulmonary disorders and respiratory failure. Topics include pulmonary fibrosis, reduced lung compliance, alveolar-arterial oxygen gradients, hypoxemic versus hypercapnic respiratory failure, acute lung injury, and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The document reviews the exudative, proliferative, and fibrotic phases of acute lung injury and identifies pneumonia, sepsis, aspiration, trauma, overdose, and systemic organ failure among the associated causes discussed in the material. NURS 5315 Pulmonary Exam 1 2026
Students also receive extensive review of respiratory physiology and lung mechanics, including the conducting and respiratory zones, alveoli, diaphragm, surfactant, pleural and alveolar pressures, transpulmonary pressure, lung compliance, work of breathing, airway resistance, bronchodilation, chemoreceptors, and pulmonary capillary blood flow. Lung-volume concepts include tidal volume, inspiratory reserve volume, residual volume, functional residual capacity, vital capacity, minute ventilation, alveolar ventilation, dead space, and FEV1. The document reinforces how decreased compliance or increased airway resistance increases the work required for ventilation. NURS 5315 Pulmonary Exam 1 2026
Another high-yield component is ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) matching. Questions distinguish ventilation, perfusion, gas exchange and transport while reviewing physiological shunting, physiological dead space, hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction, and mechanisms that redirect pulmonary blood flow toward better-ventilated alveoli. The document also addresses factors producing a rightward shift of the oxygen-hemoglobin dissociation curve, including increased temperature, increased 2,3-DPG, and acidosis. NURS 5315 Pulmonary Exam 1 2026
Pediatric and upper-airway material includes croup, epiglottic function, pediatric airway resistance, and differences between pediatric and adult thoracic mechanics. Cystic fibrosis is presented as an autosomal-recessive condition involving thick respiratory and gastrointestinal secretions. Together, these questions make the document useful for rapid recall of definitions as well as preparation for pulmonary pathophysiology questions requiring connections among anatomy, physiology and disease processes. NURS 5315 Pulmonary Exam 1 2026
Relevant students: This document is especially relevant for NURS 5315 students, nursing students, nurse practitioner students, advanced practice nursing students, pathophysiology students, respiratory therapy students, and health-sciences students preparing for a pulmonary or respiratory-system examination. It is particularly useful for students reviewing pulmonary physiology, obstructive and restrictive disorders, respiratory failure, lung volumes, V/Q relationships, and common pulmonary emergencies. The uploaded document does not identify a university or institution, so no university should be attributed to it without additional evidence. NURS 5315 Pulmonary Exam 1 2026
Academic References: West, J. B., & Luks, A. M. West’s Respiratory Physiology: The Essentials. Wolters Kluwer. This established respiratory physiology text provides relevant academic background for ventilation, perfusion, V/Q relationships, diffusion, pulmonary circulation, lung mechanics, gas transport, and respiratory control. Hall, J. E., & Hall, M. E. Guyton and Hall Textbook of Medical Physiology. Elsevier. Relevant chapters provide foundational coverage of pulmonary ventilation, pulmonary circulation, gas exchange, oxygen and carbon dioxide transport, and respiratory regulation. For disease-focused clinical concepts, Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine provides established reference material on pulmonary embolism, asthma, COPD, cystic fibrosis, interstitial lung disease, pulmonary hypertension, and respiratory failure. These references provide supporting academic context; the specific content attributed to this study document above comes directly from the uploaded file. NURS 5315 Pulmonary Exam 1 2026
Keywords: NURS 5315 Pulmonary Exam 1, NURS 5315 exam questions, pulmonary exam questions, pulmonary exam questions and answers, pulmonary exam , Pulmonary Exam 1 study guide, respiratory pathophysiology, pulmonary physiology, nursing pulmonary exam, pulmonary embolism, D dimer, hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction, pulmonary hypertension, obstructive lung disease, restrictive lung disease, asthma, COPD, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, cystic fibrosis, pulmonary fibrosis, ARDS, acute respiratory distress syndrome, hypoxemic respiratory failure, hypercapnic respiratory failure, pulmonary edema, pneumothorax, lung compliance, work of breathing, lung volumes, tidal volume, residual volume, functional residual capacity, vital capacity, minute ventilation, alveolar ventilation, FEV1, dead space, V Q matching, ventilation perfusion mismatch, physiologic shunting, oxygen hemoglobin dissociation curve, respiratory exam preparation, nursing pathophysiology questions
Content preview
NURS 5315 Pulmonary Exam 1
2026/2027 Exam Questions and
Correct Answers | New Update
What is pulmonary embolism - ANSWER ✔✔Pulmonary embolism is
the occulsion or partial occlusion of a pulmonary artery caused by an
embolus, typically a dislodged thrombus
What is a physiological response where blood vessels constricts in
areas of the lung with low oxygen levels, leading to decreased blood
flow and V/Q mismatch. - ANSWER ✔✔Hypoxic Vasoconstriction
, What is the common causes of pulmonary embolism? - ANSWER
✔✔Common causes include deep vein thrombosis (DVT), fat emboli, air
bubbles from IV medications, and amniotic fluid
What is a condition characterized by an increase in pulmonary artery
pressure greater than 25mmHg, often resulting from vasoconstriction? -
ANSWER ✔✔Pulmonary artery Hypertension
What is the typical presentation of a patient with pulmonary embolism? -
ANSWER ✔✔Tachypnea, dyspnea, chest pain, and may also involve
decreased cardiac output
What causes changes on an ECG that indicates increased workload on
the right side of the heart, often associated with significant pulmonary
embolism? - ANSWER ✔✔Right heart strain
What is the role of D-dimer in diagnosing pulmonary embolism? -
ANSWER ✔✔Used as an early assessment tool to evaluate for the
presence of a thrombus in cases of suspected pulmonary embolism
Obstructive Processes - ANSWER ✔✔Characterized by airflow
limitation due to obstruction, often resulting in prolonged expiration and
respiratory distress