Cardiopulmonary Anatomy and
Physiology Exam Questions & Answers
What are the parts of the upper airway and what do they do? - ANS-· Nose: warms,
humidifies, and filters air (up to 5 microns); generates resonance
· Oral Cavity: composed of the hard palate (made of bone), the soft palate (made of
cartilage), and the tonsils (1st line of defense; made of lymphatic tissue)
· Pharynx: composed of the nasopharynx, oropharynx, and laryngopharynx
· Larynx: prevents foreign matter from entering tracheobronchial tree; aids in speech;
composed of 9 cartilages
What cartilages make up the larynx? - ANS-1. Cricoid: prevents the larynx from growing
anymore; prevents airway from collapsing
2. Thyroid: largest; encloses the main cavity of the larynx anteriorly
3. Epiglottis: leaf-shaped; opens and closes the airways
4. Arytenoids: paired; attachment points for the vocal ligaments
5. Cuneiform: paired; support the epiglottis
6. Corniculate: paired; assist arytenoids in supporting the vocal cords.
***WHERE THERE IS CARTILAGE, AIR IS MOVING**
what is the tracheobronchial tree? - ANS-Definition: a series of branching airways that
are composed of cartilaginous and non-cartilagenous airways; begins in lower airways
The larynx acts as a first line of defense for the rest of the tracheobronchial tree.
what makes up the cartilagenous airways? - ANS-o Trachea: 15-20 c-shaped rings,
2cm in diameter, 11-13 cm; allows air to move
o Carina: where the trachea branches off in two; if you intubate too far you will end up in
the right main bronchus
o Main Stem Bronchus: 1st generation; cartilage rings
o Lobar Bronchi: 2nd generation; cartilage rings
,o Segmental bronchi: 3rd generation; cartilage plates
o Subsegmental bronchi: 4th-9th generation; cartilage plates; 1-4 mm in diameter
What makes up the non-cartilagenous airways (conducting and gas exchange)? - ANS-
o Conducting zones: no cartilage; susceptible to pressure changes (ex: collapsed lungs)
because there is no cartilage
§ Bronchioles: 10th to 15th generation
§ Terminal Bronchioles: 16th to 19th generation; ½ mm
§ Canals of Lambert: connects places to do gas exchange
o Respiratory Zones: units of gas exchange; in order: respiratory bronchioles, alveolar
ducts, and alveolar sacs; increase the surface area
§ Pores of Kohn: holes b/w 2 alveoli to share air (only used as needed)
What is the hilum of the lungs? - ANS-· Where the mainstem bronchus connects to the
lungs
Which pleura moves? - ANS-· Visceral; touches lung surface
What do the phrenic nerves do? - ANS-· Stimulates the diaphragm to contract; lowers
pressure in the lungs
what are the muscles used for ventilation and what do they do? - ANS-· Scalene: flexes
neck muscles; raises first few ribs
· Sternocleidomastoid: turns head; sternum is pulled away; raises ribs
· Pectoralis Major: pulls ribs up and away; hugging motion
· Trapezius: shrugging; pulls ribs away
· External Intercostal: puffing our chest
How much mucus is pushed in to the oropharynx each day? - ANS-We produce 100 ml
of mucus pushed up to the oropharynx each day. Mucosa are found in airways with
cartilage for moving air.
Parts of the alveolar epithelium - ANS-· Epithelium: lines airway
o Mucus Blanket: layer of mucus on those internal surfaces; traps particles; helps w/
filtration
o Goblet Cells: secretes mucous for the mucous blanket
o Ciliated Cells: small hair fibers that move mucous; move at 1300x per minute; 1 cell=
250 cilia
, · Lamina Propria: connective tissue that holds everything together; contains smooth
muscles, elastic fibers, blood vessels, and nerves
· Submucosa: houses mucous glands
· Adventitia: connective tissue sheath
what are the 2 layers of mucosa? - ANS-· Gel Layer: traps particles, sticky, thick; 2 cm
per minute; top layer
· Sol Layer: thin, watery layer; bottom layer
***DAMAGE TO THE CILIA IS PERMANENT; CANNOT REGENERATE***
What can damage the mucociliary escalator? - ANS-· Air pollution, cigarettes,
dehydration, overhydration, suctioning, increased oxygen, hypoxia, anesthesia, positive
pressure ventilation, airway inflammation, and ciliary disorders
what are the cells of the alveolar epithelium? - ANS-1. Type 1 Cells: gases diffuse
through these cells; pores of kohn
2. Type 2 Cells: grows on the walls of the alveoli; Cystic Fibrosis affects this
a. Lamellar Bodies: produces surfactant; coats surface of the alveoli
3. Interstitium: space between alveoli; includes blood vessels; oxygen to alveoli
Two types of immunity - ANS-· Innate (non-specific): bodies 1st line of defense;
epithelial surfaces (respiratory) and includes mast cells and macrophages
· Adapted: acquired immunity
what does the pericardium do and what are its parts? - ANS-- prevents the
overextension of the heart
1. Parietal Pericardium: lines the inner surface of the fibrous pericardium; space
between
2. Visceral Pericardium: part of the serous pericardium that adheres to the heart's outer
surface (epicardium)
a. Epicardium: outer layer
b. Myocardium: muscular layer; where most MIs occur
c. Endocardium: innermost layer
Serous fluid prevents friction between the 2 layers.
what are the parts of the heart? - ANS-· Atria: collecting areas; right and left
Physiology Exam Questions & Answers
What are the parts of the upper airway and what do they do? - ANS-· Nose: warms,
humidifies, and filters air (up to 5 microns); generates resonance
· Oral Cavity: composed of the hard palate (made of bone), the soft palate (made of
cartilage), and the tonsils (1st line of defense; made of lymphatic tissue)
· Pharynx: composed of the nasopharynx, oropharynx, and laryngopharynx
· Larynx: prevents foreign matter from entering tracheobronchial tree; aids in speech;
composed of 9 cartilages
What cartilages make up the larynx? - ANS-1. Cricoid: prevents the larynx from growing
anymore; prevents airway from collapsing
2. Thyroid: largest; encloses the main cavity of the larynx anteriorly
3. Epiglottis: leaf-shaped; opens and closes the airways
4. Arytenoids: paired; attachment points for the vocal ligaments
5. Cuneiform: paired; support the epiglottis
6. Corniculate: paired; assist arytenoids in supporting the vocal cords.
***WHERE THERE IS CARTILAGE, AIR IS MOVING**
what is the tracheobronchial tree? - ANS-Definition: a series of branching airways that
are composed of cartilaginous and non-cartilagenous airways; begins in lower airways
The larynx acts as a first line of defense for the rest of the tracheobronchial tree.
what makes up the cartilagenous airways? - ANS-o Trachea: 15-20 c-shaped rings,
2cm in diameter, 11-13 cm; allows air to move
o Carina: where the trachea branches off in two; if you intubate too far you will end up in
the right main bronchus
o Main Stem Bronchus: 1st generation; cartilage rings
o Lobar Bronchi: 2nd generation; cartilage rings
,o Segmental bronchi: 3rd generation; cartilage plates
o Subsegmental bronchi: 4th-9th generation; cartilage plates; 1-4 mm in diameter
What makes up the non-cartilagenous airways (conducting and gas exchange)? - ANS-
o Conducting zones: no cartilage; susceptible to pressure changes (ex: collapsed lungs)
because there is no cartilage
§ Bronchioles: 10th to 15th generation
§ Terminal Bronchioles: 16th to 19th generation; ½ mm
§ Canals of Lambert: connects places to do gas exchange
o Respiratory Zones: units of gas exchange; in order: respiratory bronchioles, alveolar
ducts, and alveolar sacs; increase the surface area
§ Pores of Kohn: holes b/w 2 alveoli to share air (only used as needed)
What is the hilum of the lungs? - ANS-· Where the mainstem bronchus connects to the
lungs
Which pleura moves? - ANS-· Visceral; touches lung surface
What do the phrenic nerves do? - ANS-· Stimulates the diaphragm to contract; lowers
pressure in the lungs
what are the muscles used for ventilation and what do they do? - ANS-· Scalene: flexes
neck muscles; raises first few ribs
· Sternocleidomastoid: turns head; sternum is pulled away; raises ribs
· Pectoralis Major: pulls ribs up and away; hugging motion
· Trapezius: shrugging; pulls ribs away
· External Intercostal: puffing our chest
How much mucus is pushed in to the oropharynx each day? - ANS-We produce 100 ml
of mucus pushed up to the oropharynx each day. Mucosa are found in airways with
cartilage for moving air.
Parts of the alveolar epithelium - ANS-· Epithelium: lines airway
o Mucus Blanket: layer of mucus on those internal surfaces; traps particles; helps w/
filtration
o Goblet Cells: secretes mucous for the mucous blanket
o Ciliated Cells: small hair fibers that move mucous; move at 1300x per minute; 1 cell=
250 cilia
, · Lamina Propria: connective tissue that holds everything together; contains smooth
muscles, elastic fibers, blood vessels, and nerves
· Submucosa: houses mucous glands
· Adventitia: connective tissue sheath
what are the 2 layers of mucosa? - ANS-· Gel Layer: traps particles, sticky, thick; 2 cm
per minute; top layer
· Sol Layer: thin, watery layer; bottom layer
***DAMAGE TO THE CILIA IS PERMANENT; CANNOT REGENERATE***
What can damage the mucociliary escalator? - ANS-· Air pollution, cigarettes,
dehydration, overhydration, suctioning, increased oxygen, hypoxia, anesthesia, positive
pressure ventilation, airway inflammation, and ciliary disorders
what are the cells of the alveolar epithelium? - ANS-1. Type 1 Cells: gases diffuse
through these cells; pores of kohn
2. Type 2 Cells: grows on the walls of the alveoli; Cystic Fibrosis affects this
a. Lamellar Bodies: produces surfactant; coats surface of the alveoli
3. Interstitium: space between alveoli; includes blood vessels; oxygen to alveoli
Two types of immunity - ANS-· Innate (non-specific): bodies 1st line of defense;
epithelial surfaces (respiratory) and includes mast cells and macrophages
· Adapted: acquired immunity
what does the pericardium do and what are its parts? - ANS-- prevents the
overextension of the heart
1. Parietal Pericardium: lines the inner surface of the fibrous pericardium; space
between
2. Visceral Pericardium: part of the serous pericardium that adheres to the heart's outer
surface (epicardium)
a. Epicardium: outer layer
b. Myocardium: muscular layer; where most MIs occur
c. Endocardium: innermost layer
Serous fluid prevents friction between the 2 layers.
what are the parts of the heart? - ANS-· Atria: collecting areas; right and left
