CEN RESPIRATORY QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS UPDATED 2026
Which respiratory emergency presents with fever, cough, pleuritic chest pain, and crackles that do
not clear with coughing?
Asthma, pulmonary edema, chronic bronchitis OR Pneumonia - AnswerPneumonia
Pneumonia presents with fever, cough, pleuritic chest pain, and lung sounds (such as crackles) that
do not usually clear with coughing..
Which respiratory emergency causes permanent abnormal enlargement of the air spaces?
Asthma, pulmonary edema, emphysema, pulmonary embolus - AnswerEmphysema
Patients with emphysema have a permanent, abnormal enlargement of air spaces.
Asthma, pulmonary edema, and pulmonary embolus do not result in permanent alveolar changes.
A woman, age 53, presents to the emergency department with shortness of breath. Which other
finding should make you suspect that pulmonary embolism is the cause?
Tachypnea, productive cough, calf pain, pleuritic chest pain - AnswerCalf pain for the past week
Most pulmonary emboli originate in the deep veins of the legs, which could cause prolonged calf
pain.
Tachypnea, productive cough, and pleuritic chest pain are common, nonspecific signs and symptoms
of many respiratory conditions.
A man, age 72, presents to the emergency department with respiratory distress. He arrived with
portable oxygen from home and is now sitting in a tripod position. Your assessment reveals a barrel
chest. Which respiratory condition should you suspect?
Pulmonary embolism, asthma, emphysema, acute bronchitis - AnswerEmphysema
Barrel chest, home oxygen therapy, and the use of the tripod position are classic presentations in a
patient with emphysema. Pulmonary embolism, asthma, and acute bronchitis are not associated
with these findings.
Which statement best defines ventilation?
Ventilation is the
1. mechanical flow of air into and out of the lungs.
2. mechanical perfusion of air into and out of the lungs
3. mechanical respiration of air into and out of the lungs
, 4. mechanical diffusion of air into and out of the lungs - AnswerVentilation is the mechanical flow of
air into and out of the lungs.
Negative intrathoracic pressure causes a vacuum effect, pulling air into the lungs during inspiration.
During expiration, the negative pressure decreases and air is passively expelled. Cilia (hairlike
structures in the passageways) help move air toward the alveoli and move mucus and debris out of
the pulmonary system. Mucus-secreting goblet cells help maintain the sterility of the lower airway.
Surfactant allows the alveoli to remain open. Oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged at the
cellular level in the alveoli and pulmonary capillaries.
define perfusion - Answerthe transport of blood to the tissues
define respirations - Answerthe exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide at the cellular level.
define diffusion - AnswerDiffusion occurs when particles in fluid move from an area of higher
concentration to an area of lower concentration.
Which respiratory emergency causes increased fluid in the lungs?
emphysema, pulmonary embolus, penumonia, pulmonary edema - AnswerPulmonary edema
Pulmonary edema causes increased fluid in the lungs.
Emphysema, pulmonary embolus, and pneumonia typically are not related to fluid overload.
For a patient who presents with a severe exacerbation of asthma, administration of which agent is
the priority?
Prednisone (Deltasone) albuterol Magnesium sulfate Theophylline (Theolair) - AnswerAlbuterol
(Ventolin)
The bronchodilator albuterol (Ventolin) is used to relieve airflow obstruction, as in a severe
exacerbation of asthma.
Prednisone (Deltasone) or intravenous steroids are commonly administered to decrease airway
inflammation.
Magnesium sulfate may be administered to a patient with moderate to severe exacerbations who
has not adequately responded to nebulized bronchodilators.
Theophylline (Theolair) is a smooth muscle dilator. Its adverse effects and narrow therapeutic range
have limited its use recently because newer, safer drugs have become available.
ANSWERS UPDATED 2026
Which respiratory emergency presents with fever, cough, pleuritic chest pain, and crackles that do
not clear with coughing?
Asthma, pulmonary edema, chronic bronchitis OR Pneumonia - AnswerPneumonia
Pneumonia presents with fever, cough, pleuritic chest pain, and lung sounds (such as crackles) that
do not usually clear with coughing..
Which respiratory emergency causes permanent abnormal enlargement of the air spaces?
Asthma, pulmonary edema, emphysema, pulmonary embolus - AnswerEmphysema
Patients with emphysema have a permanent, abnormal enlargement of air spaces.
Asthma, pulmonary edema, and pulmonary embolus do not result in permanent alveolar changes.
A woman, age 53, presents to the emergency department with shortness of breath. Which other
finding should make you suspect that pulmonary embolism is the cause?
Tachypnea, productive cough, calf pain, pleuritic chest pain - AnswerCalf pain for the past week
Most pulmonary emboli originate in the deep veins of the legs, which could cause prolonged calf
pain.
Tachypnea, productive cough, and pleuritic chest pain are common, nonspecific signs and symptoms
of many respiratory conditions.
A man, age 72, presents to the emergency department with respiratory distress. He arrived with
portable oxygen from home and is now sitting in a tripod position. Your assessment reveals a barrel
chest. Which respiratory condition should you suspect?
Pulmonary embolism, asthma, emphysema, acute bronchitis - AnswerEmphysema
Barrel chest, home oxygen therapy, and the use of the tripod position are classic presentations in a
patient with emphysema. Pulmonary embolism, asthma, and acute bronchitis are not associated
with these findings.
Which statement best defines ventilation?
Ventilation is the
1. mechanical flow of air into and out of the lungs.
2. mechanical perfusion of air into and out of the lungs
3. mechanical respiration of air into and out of the lungs
, 4. mechanical diffusion of air into and out of the lungs - AnswerVentilation is the mechanical flow of
air into and out of the lungs.
Negative intrathoracic pressure causes a vacuum effect, pulling air into the lungs during inspiration.
During expiration, the negative pressure decreases and air is passively expelled. Cilia (hairlike
structures in the passageways) help move air toward the alveoli and move mucus and debris out of
the pulmonary system. Mucus-secreting goblet cells help maintain the sterility of the lower airway.
Surfactant allows the alveoli to remain open. Oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged at the
cellular level in the alveoli and pulmonary capillaries.
define perfusion - Answerthe transport of blood to the tissues
define respirations - Answerthe exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide at the cellular level.
define diffusion - AnswerDiffusion occurs when particles in fluid move from an area of higher
concentration to an area of lower concentration.
Which respiratory emergency causes increased fluid in the lungs?
emphysema, pulmonary embolus, penumonia, pulmonary edema - AnswerPulmonary edema
Pulmonary edema causes increased fluid in the lungs.
Emphysema, pulmonary embolus, and pneumonia typically are not related to fluid overload.
For a patient who presents with a severe exacerbation of asthma, administration of which agent is
the priority?
Prednisone (Deltasone) albuterol Magnesium sulfate Theophylline (Theolair) - AnswerAlbuterol
(Ventolin)
The bronchodilator albuterol (Ventolin) is used to relieve airflow obstruction, as in a severe
exacerbation of asthma.
Prednisone (Deltasone) or intravenous steroids are commonly administered to decrease airway
inflammation.
Magnesium sulfate may be administered to a patient with moderate to severe exacerbations who
has not adequately responded to nebulized bronchodilators.
Theophylline (Theolair) is a smooth muscle dilator. Its adverse effects and narrow therapeutic range
have limited its use recently because newer, safer drugs have become available.
