Physio Board Vitals Exam 2026 Questions
and Answers
Describe the process of vomiting - Correct answer-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 - Correct answer-Tickling back of the throat
Gastric distention
Motion sickness
Chemoreceptor trigger zone in the 4th ventricle is activated by - Correct answer-
emetics, radiation, vestibular stimulation
Describe process of saliva formation - Correct answer-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-
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,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) - Correct answer-Maximum amount of air that can be
forcefully exhaled after a full inspiration
Equal to IRV+ERV+TV
What happens during inspiration? - Correct answer-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 ? - Correct answer-Expiratory muscles contract
Thoracic volume decreases
Pressure in the alveolar increases more than atm P
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, Difference between skeletal and cardiac muscle contraction - Correct answer-- 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?
- Correct answer-By increasing sympathetic outflow and decreasing
parasympathetic outflow
Results in vasoconstriction. Inc contractility and inc HR
What does loop diuretics do to the preload? - Correct answer-Decrease
HCO3- is primarily absorbed where? - Correct answer-In the proximal tubule
What are some factors that increase GFR?
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and Answers
Describe the process of vomiting - Correct answer-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 - Correct answer-Tickling back of the throat
Gastric distention
Motion sickness
Chemoreceptor trigger zone in the 4th ventricle is activated by - Correct answer-
emetics, radiation, vestibular stimulation
Describe process of saliva formation - Correct answer-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-
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,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) - Correct answer-Maximum amount of air that can be
forcefully exhaled after a full inspiration
Equal to IRV+ERV+TV
What happens during inspiration? - Correct answer-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 ? - Correct answer-Expiratory muscles contract
Thoracic volume decreases
Pressure in the alveolar increases more than atm P
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
, Difference between skeletal and cardiac muscle contraction - Correct answer-- 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?
- Correct answer-By increasing sympathetic outflow and decreasing
parasympathetic outflow
Results in vasoconstriction. Inc contractility and inc HR
What does loop diuretics do to the preload? - Correct answer-Decrease
HCO3- is primarily absorbed where? - Correct answer-In the proximal tubule
What are some factors that increase GFR?
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
