PHYSIO BOARD VITALS ASSESSMENT EXAM
WITH IN-DEPTH QUESTIONS & MODEL
ANSWERS (2025 NEWEST UPDATE)
Describe the process of vomiting - (ANSWERS)Starts when gastric contents are pushed into the
esophagus
Occurs when pressure in the esophagus becomes high enough to open the upper esophageal
sphincter
Medullary center is stimulated by - (ANSWERS)Tickling back of the throat
Gastric distention
Motion sickness
Chemoreceptor trigger zone in the 4th ventricle is activated by - (ANSWERS)emetics, radiation,
vestibular stimulation
Describe process of saliva formation - (ANSWERS)Formed by the parotid gland
Acini of the gland produce an initial saliva that is isotonic to plasma
After passing through the acini, the initial saliva is modified by ducts that reabsorb Na+ and Cl-
and secrete K+ and HCO3-
This creates saliva that is low in Na+ and Cl- and high in K+ and HCO3- in relation to plasma
The final saliva is hypotonic in relation to plasma
When saliva is needed, myoepithelial cells that surround the ducts contract and eject saliva
into the mouth from the parotid, submandibular or sublingual glands
Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) - (ANSWERS)Maximum amount of air that can be forcefully exhaled
after a full inspiration
Equal to IRV+ERV+TV
What happens during inspiration? - (ANSWERS)Inspiration muscles contract: Diaphragm and
External intercostal
Thoracic cavity expands in volume
Intrapleural pressure drops from -5 to -8cmh2o
Transmural pressure drops
Air flows from atm to alveolar
What happens during expiration ? - (ANSWERS)Expiratory muscles contract
Thoracic volume decreases
Pressure in the alveolar increases more than atm P
, PHYSIO BOARD VITALS ASSESSMENT EXAM
WITH IN-DEPTH QUESTIONS & MODEL
ANSWERS (2025 NEWEST UPDATE)
Difference between skeletal and cardiac muscle contraction - (ANSWERS)- The regulation of
force in cardiac muscle is achieved by reg of calcium entry but in skeletal it is by frequency and
multifiber stimulation
- The contraction of cardiac muscle is terminated by repolarization but in skeletal it is by
breakdown of acetylcholinesterase
- Twitch duration in cardiac muscle ranges from 200 to 400 msec, compared to 20-200 msec in
the skeletal muscle, primarily due to the plateau in AP
- Cardiac muscle has greater elasticity than skeletal muscle
How do baroreceptors in the carotid sinus and aortic arch respond to a drop in BP? -
(ANSWERS)By increasing sympathetic outflow and decreasing parasympathetic outflow
Results in vasoconstriction. Inc contractility and inc HR
What does loop diuretics do to the preload? - (ANSWERS)Decrease
HCO3- is primarily absorbed where? - (ANSWERS)In the proximal tubule
What are some factors that increase GFR?
How about decrease? - (ANSWERS)Vasodilators like bradykinin, prostaglandins, NO
SNS or endothelin—> causes constriction of renal afferent and efferent arterioles
Angiotensin II—> constricts efferent arterioles
Causes of increased anion gap acidosis - (ANSWERS)MUDPILES
Methanol, uremia, DKA, propylene glycol, isoniazid, lactic acidosis, ethylene glycol, salicylate
Normal anion gap= 8-12 meq/L
Action of vitamin D - (ANSWERS)Promote absorption of phosphate and calcium in the gut
Stim PTH which decreases bone resorption of calcium
PTH - (ANSWERS)Acts primarily on the kidney to promote absorption of calcium in the
ascending loop of Henle, DCT and collecting tubule
Increases excretion of phosphate by the kidneys
Increases intestinal absorption of calcium and phosphate and also their reabs from the bones
Which receptor type in the ANS mediates renin secretion by the juxtaglomerular cells of the
kidney when activated? - (ANSWERS)Beta-1
WITH IN-DEPTH QUESTIONS & MODEL
ANSWERS (2025 NEWEST UPDATE)
Describe the process of vomiting - (ANSWERS)Starts when gastric contents are pushed into the
esophagus
Occurs when pressure in the esophagus becomes high enough to open the upper esophageal
sphincter
Medullary center is stimulated by - (ANSWERS)Tickling back of the throat
Gastric distention
Motion sickness
Chemoreceptor trigger zone in the 4th ventricle is activated by - (ANSWERS)emetics, radiation,
vestibular stimulation
Describe process of saliva formation - (ANSWERS)Formed by the parotid gland
Acini of the gland produce an initial saliva that is isotonic to plasma
After passing through the acini, the initial saliva is modified by ducts that reabsorb Na+ and Cl-
and secrete K+ and HCO3-
This creates saliva that is low in Na+ and Cl- and high in K+ and HCO3- in relation to plasma
The final saliva is hypotonic in relation to plasma
When saliva is needed, myoepithelial cells that surround the ducts contract and eject saliva
into the mouth from the parotid, submandibular or sublingual glands
Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) - (ANSWERS)Maximum amount of air that can be forcefully exhaled
after a full inspiration
Equal to IRV+ERV+TV
What happens during inspiration? - (ANSWERS)Inspiration muscles contract: Diaphragm and
External intercostal
Thoracic cavity expands in volume
Intrapleural pressure drops from -5 to -8cmh2o
Transmural pressure drops
Air flows from atm to alveolar
What happens during expiration ? - (ANSWERS)Expiratory muscles contract
Thoracic volume decreases
Pressure in the alveolar increases more than atm P
, PHYSIO BOARD VITALS ASSESSMENT EXAM
WITH IN-DEPTH QUESTIONS & MODEL
ANSWERS (2025 NEWEST UPDATE)
Difference between skeletal and cardiac muscle contraction - (ANSWERS)- The regulation of
force in cardiac muscle is achieved by reg of calcium entry but in skeletal it is by frequency and
multifiber stimulation
- The contraction of cardiac muscle is terminated by repolarization but in skeletal it is by
breakdown of acetylcholinesterase
- Twitch duration in cardiac muscle ranges from 200 to 400 msec, compared to 20-200 msec in
the skeletal muscle, primarily due to the plateau in AP
- Cardiac muscle has greater elasticity than skeletal muscle
How do baroreceptors in the carotid sinus and aortic arch respond to a drop in BP? -
(ANSWERS)By increasing sympathetic outflow and decreasing parasympathetic outflow
Results in vasoconstriction. Inc contractility and inc HR
What does loop diuretics do to the preload? - (ANSWERS)Decrease
HCO3- is primarily absorbed where? - (ANSWERS)In the proximal tubule
What are some factors that increase GFR?
How about decrease? - (ANSWERS)Vasodilators like bradykinin, prostaglandins, NO
SNS or endothelin—> causes constriction of renal afferent and efferent arterioles
Angiotensin II—> constricts efferent arterioles
Causes of increased anion gap acidosis - (ANSWERS)MUDPILES
Methanol, uremia, DKA, propylene glycol, isoniazid, lactic acidosis, ethylene glycol, salicylate
Normal anion gap= 8-12 meq/L
Action of vitamin D - (ANSWERS)Promote absorption of phosphate and calcium in the gut
Stim PTH which decreases bone resorption of calcium
PTH - (ANSWERS)Acts primarily on the kidney to promote absorption of calcium in the
ascending loop of Henle, DCT and collecting tubule
Increases excretion of phosphate by the kidneys
Increases intestinal absorption of calcium and phosphate and also their reabs from the bones
Which receptor type in the ANS mediates renin secretion by the juxtaglomerular cells of the
kidney when activated? - (ANSWERS)Beta-1
