Cardiopulmonary Anatomy and
Physiology USMLE Exam.
Conducting Airways - Answer Passageways between the ambient environment and the
gas exchange units of the lungs (alveoli)
Two parts of the conducting airways - Answer upper and lower airways
What is the upper airway composed of? - Answer Nose, Oral cavity, Pharynx, Larynx
"Voice Box" - Answer Larynx
Primary functions of the nose - Answer filter, humidify, and warm inspired air
Nasal Flaring - Answer Sign of Respiratory Distress
Alar Collapse - Answer Sign of Respiratory Obstruction, can cause mouth breathing
Non-ciliated Stratified Squamous Epithelium - Answer Lines the anterior one-third of the
nasal cavity
Pseudo-stratified Ciliated Columnar Epithelium - Answer Lines the posterior two-thirds
of the nasal cavity
Simple Cuboidal Epithelium - Answer Located in the bronchioles
Simple Squamous Epithelium - Answer Permeable tissue to oxygen and carbon dioxide,
can be found in the alveoli and the pulmonary capillaries that surround the alveoli
What type of X-Ray would you recumbent for Acute epiglottis? - Answer Lateral Neck
What do you look for to indicate acute epiglottitis? - Answer Thumb Sign
What type of X-Ray do you recommend for Laryngotracheobronchitis (LTB) and what do
you look for? - Answer Anterior X-Ray and look for Steeple sign
Another name for the lower airways - Answer Tracheobronchial Tree
Two major forms of the lower airways - Answer cartilaginous and non- cartilaginous
airways
What separates the lower airways from Lamina proper? - Answer Basement membrane
,Basal Cells - Answer serve as reserve supply of cells and replenish the superficial
ciliated cells and mucous cells as needed
Pathology of CF - Answer Excessive mucous production, partial bronchial obstruction,
air trapping, airway hyperventilation and complete airway obstruction and alveolar
collapse
How far above the Carina should an endotracheal tube be? - Answer 2-5 cm above or
between 2nd and 4th tracheal ring
sites of gas exchange - Answer alveolar membrane
Functions of the Lymphatic System - Answer Protect and filter
Pathology of Asthma - Answer reversible bronchial smooth muscle constriction, airway
inflammation, excessive production of thick white secretions, mucus plugging, air
trapping and hyperventilation of alveoli
In an Asthma patient, what could be a sign of an infection? - Answer Yellow mucous
what neural transmitters are released in the sympathetic nervous system? - Answer
Epinephrine and non-epinephrine
what neural transmitters are released from the parasympathetic system? - Answer
Acetylcholine
what do the transmitters in the SNS stimulate? - Answer beta 2 receptors and alpha
receptors
What does the Mediastinum contain? - Answer All the major blood vessels
What is a pleural effusion? - Answer fluid build up in the pleural cavity
In severe cases of pleural effusion, what can happen? - Answer Tension Pneumothorax
pneumothorax - Answer collapsed lung
puncture site of a thoracentesis - Answer above the rib margin
phrenic nerves - Answer stimulate diaphragm
Primary function of scalenus muscle - Answer flex the neck
when used as an accessory muscle for inspiration what does the scalenus muscle do? -
Answer elevates the 1st and 2nd ribs which decreases interpleural pressure
, when used as an accessory muscle to inspiration, what does the sternocleidomastoid
muscle do? - Answer elevates the sternum which increases the anterior posterior
diameter of the chest
COPD patients will brace their arms on a chair and use this muscle to increase the
diameter of their chest - Answer Pectoralis Muscles
Action of the Trapezius muscle in inspiration - Answer elevates the thoracic cage
Rhinitis - Answer inflammation of mucous membranes of the nasal cavity
Sinusitis - Answer inflammation of mucous membrane of one or more of the paranasal
sinuses
Otitis Media - Answer also known as middle ear infection, caused by infection of
mucous membranes of the pharynx that spreads throughout the auditory tubes to
mucous lining of the middle ear
Clinical sign of Croup Syndrome - Answer inspiratory barking or brassy sound
Safe range for endotracheal cuff pressure - Answer 20-25 mm Hg
Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia - Answer nonfunctioning cilia
Empyema - Answer Puss in Plural Cavity
Pleurisy - Answer Inflammation of tissues that line the lungs and chest cavity
Thoracentesis - Answer procedure in which a needle is inserted into the pleural space
between the lungs and the chest wall
Atelectasis - Answer collapsed lung
Alveolar ducts - Answer Next generation, after respiratory bronchioles open into blind
terminal units called alveolar sacs and the alveoli.
ventilation - Answer the process of moving o2 into the lungs and co2 out of the lungs
respiration - Answer gas exchange moving o2 and co2 between the atmosphere and
the blood.
Internal respiration - Answer Between the blood and tissues
External respiration - Answer Atmosphere and blood
Nose - Answer functions to filter, warm, and humidify inspired air. Filtering is the first
defense against inspiring microorganisms
Physiology USMLE Exam.
Conducting Airways - Answer Passageways between the ambient environment and the
gas exchange units of the lungs (alveoli)
Two parts of the conducting airways - Answer upper and lower airways
What is the upper airway composed of? - Answer Nose, Oral cavity, Pharynx, Larynx
"Voice Box" - Answer Larynx
Primary functions of the nose - Answer filter, humidify, and warm inspired air
Nasal Flaring - Answer Sign of Respiratory Distress
Alar Collapse - Answer Sign of Respiratory Obstruction, can cause mouth breathing
Non-ciliated Stratified Squamous Epithelium - Answer Lines the anterior one-third of the
nasal cavity
Pseudo-stratified Ciliated Columnar Epithelium - Answer Lines the posterior two-thirds
of the nasal cavity
Simple Cuboidal Epithelium - Answer Located in the bronchioles
Simple Squamous Epithelium - Answer Permeable tissue to oxygen and carbon dioxide,
can be found in the alveoli and the pulmonary capillaries that surround the alveoli
What type of X-Ray would you recumbent for Acute epiglottis? - Answer Lateral Neck
What do you look for to indicate acute epiglottitis? - Answer Thumb Sign
What type of X-Ray do you recommend for Laryngotracheobronchitis (LTB) and what do
you look for? - Answer Anterior X-Ray and look for Steeple sign
Another name for the lower airways - Answer Tracheobronchial Tree
Two major forms of the lower airways - Answer cartilaginous and non- cartilaginous
airways
What separates the lower airways from Lamina proper? - Answer Basement membrane
,Basal Cells - Answer serve as reserve supply of cells and replenish the superficial
ciliated cells and mucous cells as needed
Pathology of CF - Answer Excessive mucous production, partial bronchial obstruction,
air trapping, airway hyperventilation and complete airway obstruction and alveolar
collapse
How far above the Carina should an endotracheal tube be? - Answer 2-5 cm above or
between 2nd and 4th tracheal ring
sites of gas exchange - Answer alveolar membrane
Functions of the Lymphatic System - Answer Protect and filter
Pathology of Asthma - Answer reversible bronchial smooth muscle constriction, airway
inflammation, excessive production of thick white secretions, mucus plugging, air
trapping and hyperventilation of alveoli
In an Asthma patient, what could be a sign of an infection? - Answer Yellow mucous
what neural transmitters are released in the sympathetic nervous system? - Answer
Epinephrine and non-epinephrine
what neural transmitters are released from the parasympathetic system? - Answer
Acetylcholine
what do the transmitters in the SNS stimulate? - Answer beta 2 receptors and alpha
receptors
What does the Mediastinum contain? - Answer All the major blood vessels
What is a pleural effusion? - Answer fluid build up in the pleural cavity
In severe cases of pleural effusion, what can happen? - Answer Tension Pneumothorax
pneumothorax - Answer collapsed lung
puncture site of a thoracentesis - Answer above the rib margin
phrenic nerves - Answer stimulate diaphragm
Primary function of scalenus muscle - Answer flex the neck
when used as an accessory muscle for inspiration what does the scalenus muscle do? -
Answer elevates the 1st and 2nd ribs which decreases interpleural pressure
, when used as an accessory muscle to inspiration, what does the sternocleidomastoid
muscle do? - Answer elevates the sternum which increases the anterior posterior
diameter of the chest
COPD patients will brace their arms on a chair and use this muscle to increase the
diameter of their chest - Answer Pectoralis Muscles
Action of the Trapezius muscle in inspiration - Answer elevates the thoracic cage
Rhinitis - Answer inflammation of mucous membranes of the nasal cavity
Sinusitis - Answer inflammation of mucous membrane of one or more of the paranasal
sinuses
Otitis Media - Answer also known as middle ear infection, caused by infection of
mucous membranes of the pharynx that spreads throughout the auditory tubes to
mucous lining of the middle ear
Clinical sign of Croup Syndrome - Answer inspiratory barking or brassy sound
Safe range for endotracheal cuff pressure - Answer 20-25 mm Hg
Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia - Answer nonfunctioning cilia
Empyema - Answer Puss in Plural Cavity
Pleurisy - Answer Inflammation of tissues that line the lungs and chest cavity
Thoracentesis - Answer procedure in which a needle is inserted into the pleural space
between the lungs and the chest wall
Atelectasis - Answer collapsed lung
Alveolar ducts - Answer Next generation, after respiratory bronchioles open into blind
terminal units called alveolar sacs and the alveoli.
ventilation - Answer the process of moving o2 into the lungs and co2 out of the lungs
respiration - Answer gas exchange moving o2 and co2 between the atmosphere and
the blood.
Internal respiration - Answer Between the blood and tissues
External respiration - Answer Atmosphere and blood
Nose - Answer functions to filter, warm, and humidify inspired air. Filtering is the first
defense against inspiring microorganisms
