Oklahoma Respiratory Therapy Exam
Practice Questions And Correct
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1. Which mechanism is primarily responsible for the movement of
oxygen from the alveoli into pulmonary capillary blood during
normal gas exchange?
A. Active transport by type II pneumocytes
B. Osmotic movement through pulmonary lymphatics
C. Diffusion down a partial-pressure gradient
D. Filtration caused by pulmonary arterial pressure
The respiratory membrane permits oxygen to diffuse from the alveolar
space, where its partial pressure is higher, into pulmonary capillary
blood, where its partial pressure is lower.
2. A patient with severe hypoxemia has a normal or near-normal
PaCO₂ but a markedly reduced PaO₂. Which process most directly
explains this finding in a patient with a significant intrapulmonary
shunt?
,A. Increased physiologic dead space
B. Perfusion of poorly ventilated or nonventilated alveoli
C. Excessive alveolar ventilation
D. Reduced carbon dioxide production
An intrapulmonary shunt allows blood to pass through pulmonary
circulation without adequate exposure to ventilated alveoli, producing
hypoxemia that may respond incompletely to supplemental oxygen.
3. Which lung volume represents the amount of air remaining in the
lungs after a maximal forced expiratory maneuver?
A. Inspiratory reserve volume
B. Functional residual capacity
C. Vital capacity
D. Residual volume
Residual volume is the volume of gas that remains in the lungs after
maximal expiration and cannot be voluntarily exhaled.
4. Which pulmonary function measurement is most useful for
identifying airflow obstruction in a patient suspected of having
asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease?
A. Total lung capacity
B. Residual volume alone
C. FEV₁/FVC ratio
D. Inspiratory capacity
,Airflow obstruction is characterized by a disproportionately reduced
FEV₁ compared with FVC, resulting in a reduced FEV₁/FVC ratio.
5. A patient with acute respiratory distress has a PaO₂ of 55 mmHg
while breathing room air. Which interpretation is most
appropriate?
A. Normal arterial oxygenation
B. Mild hyperoxia
C. Significant hypoxemia
D. Compensated respiratory alkalosis
A PaO₂ of approximately 55 mmHg on room air indicates clinically
significant hypoxemia and warrants assessment of the underlying cause
and oxygenation requirements.
6. Which arterial blood gas pattern is most consistent with acute
respiratory acidosis?
A. pH 7.50, PaCO₂ 30 mmHg, HCO₃⁻ 23 mEq/L
B. pH 7.48, PaCO₂ 48 mmHg, HCO₃⁻ 34 mEq/L
C. pH 7.25, PaCO₂ 60 mmHg, HCO₃⁻ 25 mEq/L
D. pH 7.25, PaCO₂ 30 mmHg, HCO₃⁻ 14 mEq/L
Acute respiratory acidosis is characterized by acidemia caused by
elevated PaCO₂, with little or no initial metabolic compensation.
7. A patient has a pH of 7.30, PaCO₂ of 30 mmHg, and HCO₃⁻ of 15
mEq/L. Which primary acid-base disorder is present?
, A. Respiratory acidosis
B. Respiratory alkalosis
C. Metabolic alkalosis
D. Metabolic acidosis
The low pH and substantially reduced bicarbonate identify metabolic
acidosis as the primary disturbance, while the reduced PaCO₂ indicates
compensatory hyperventilation.
8. Which structure is the principal site of gas exchange within the
respiratory system?
A. Trachea
B. Main bronchi
C. Terminal bronchioles
D. Alveoli
The alveoli provide an extensive thin-walled surface closely associated
with pulmonary capillaries, allowing efficient oxygen and carbon
dioxide diffusion.
9. Which cells produce pulmonary surfactant?
A. Alveolar macrophages
B. Type I pneumocytes
C. Type II pneumocytes
D. Ciliated columnar cells
Practice Questions And Correct
Answers (Verified Answers) Plus
Rationale 2027 Q&A| Instant
Download Pdf.
1. Which mechanism is primarily responsible for the movement of
oxygen from the alveoli into pulmonary capillary blood during
normal gas exchange?
A. Active transport by type II pneumocytes
B. Osmotic movement through pulmonary lymphatics
C. Diffusion down a partial-pressure gradient
D. Filtration caused by pulmonary arterial pressure
The respiratory membrane permits oxygen to diffuse from the alveolar
space, where its partial pressure is higher, into pulmonary capillary
blood, where its partial pressure is lower.
2. A patient with severe hypoxemia has a normal or near-normal
PaCO₂ but a markedly reduced PaO₂. Which process most directly
explains this finding in a patient with a significant intrapulmonary
shunt?
,A. Increased physiologic dead space
B. Perfusion of poorly ventilated or nonventilated alveoli
C. Excessive alveolar ventilation
D. Reduced carbon dioxide production
An intrapulmonary shunt allows blood to pass through pulmonary
circulation without adequate exposure to ventilated alveoli, producing
hypoxemia that may respond incompletely to supplemental oxygen.
3. Which lung volume represents the amount of air remaining in the
lungs after a maximal forced expiratory maneuver?
A. Inspiratory reserve volume
B. Functional residual capacity
C. Vital capacity
D. Residual volume
Residual volume is the volume of gas that remains in the lungs after
maximal expiration and cannot be voluntarily exhaled.
4. Which pulmonary function measurement is most useful for
identifying airflow obstruction in a patient suspected of having
asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease?
A. Total lung capacity
B. Residual volume alone
C. FEV₁/FVC ratio
D. Inspiratory capacity
,Airflow obstruction is characterized by a disproportionately reduced
FEV₁ compared with FVC, resulting in a reduced FEV₁/FVC ratio.
5. A patient with acute respiratory distress has a PaO₂ of 55 mmHg
while breathing room air. Which interpretation is most
appropriate?
A. Normal arterial oxygenation
B. Mild hyperoxia
C. Significant hypoxemia
D. Compensated respiratory alkalosis
A PaO₂ of approximately 55 mmHg on room air indicates clinically
significant hypoxemia and warrants assessment of the underlying cause
and oxygenation requirements.
6. Which arterial blood gas pattern is most consistent with acute
respiratory acidosis?
A. pH 7.50, PaCO₂ 30 mmHg, HCO₃⁻ 23 mEq/L
B. pH 7.48, PaCO₂ 48 mmHg, HCO₃⁻ 34 mEq/L
C. pH 7.25, PaCO₂ 60 mmHg, HCO₃⁻ 25 mEq/L
D. pH 7.25, PaCO₂ 30 mmHg, HCO₃⁻ 14 mEq/L
Acute respiratory acidosis is characterized by acidemia caused by
elevated PaCO₂, with little or no initial metabolic compensation.
7. A patient has a pH of 7.30, PaCO₂ of 30 mmHg, and HCO₃⁻ of 15
mEq/L. Which primary acid-base disorder is present?
, A. Respiratory acidosis
B. Respiratory alkalosis
C. Metabolic alkalosis
D. Metabolic acidosis
The low pH and substantially reduced bicarbonate identify metabolic
acidosis as the primary disturbance, while the reduced PaCO₂ indicates
compensatory hyperventilation.
8. Which structure is the principal site of gas exchange within the
respiratory system?
A. Trachea
B. Main bronchi
C. Terminal bronchioles
D. Alveoli
The alveoli provide an extensive thin-walled surface closely associated
with pulmonary capillaries, allowing efficient oxygen and carbon
dioxide diffusion.
9. Which cells produce pulmonary surfactant?
A. Alveolar macrophages
B. Type I pneumocytes
C. Type II pneumocytes
D. Ciliated columnar cells
