Nurs 5315 Pulmonary, Respiratory Advanced
Patho Exam 2026/2027 With Questions And
Correct Answers
What is the primary driver of ventilation?
A) Diffusion of gases across the alveoli
B) Contraction and relaxation of the diaphragm and intercostal muscles
C) Hemoglobin saturation levels
D) Carbonic anhydrase activity in red blood cells - CORRECT ANSWER✔✨-B) Contraction and
relaxation of the diaphragm and intercostal muscles
Rationale: Ventilation refers to the mechanical process of air movement, which is primarily controlled by
muscle contraction and relaxation.
Which of the following is an example of external respiration?
A) The diffusion of oxygen from the alveoli into the bloodstream
B) The uptake of oxygen by mitochondria for ATP production
C) The conversion of carbon dioxide into bicarbonate in red blood cells
D) The transportation of oxygen via hemoglobin - CORRECT ANSWER✔✨-A) The diffusion of oxygen
from the alveoli into the bloodstream
Rationale: External respiration is the exchange of gases between the lungs and the environment,
primarily occurring at the alveolar-capillary membrane.
Where does gas exchange primarily occur in the lungs?
A) Trachea
B) Bronchioles
C) Alveoli
D) Pharynx - CORRECT ANSWER✔✨-C) Alveoli
,Rationale: The alveoli are the primary site for gas exchange due to their thin walls and extensive
capillary network.
Which law explains the diffusion of gases across the alveolar-capillary membrane?
A) Boyle's Law
B) Henry's Law
C) Fick's Law
D) Dalton's Law - CORRECT ANSWER✔✨-C) Fick's Law
Rationale: Fick's Law states that gas diffusion depends on surface area, membrane thickness, and partial
pressure gradients.
What determines the direction of oxygen diffusion in the lungs?
A) The volume of air in the lungs
B) The concentration gradient between alveolar air and blood
C) The presence of surfactant in the alveoli
D) The amount of hemoglobin in red blood cells - CORRECT ANSWER✔✨-B) The concentration
gradient between alveolar air and blood
Rationale: Oxygen moves from high partial pressure in the alveoli to the lower partial pressure in the
pulmonary capillaries.
How is most oxygen transported in the blood?
A) Dissolved in plasma
B) Bound to hemoglobin
C) Converted to bicarbonate
D) As carbonic acid - CORRECT ANSWER✔✨-B) Bound to hemoglobin
Rationale: About 98.5% of oxygen is bound to hemoglobin in red blood cells.
,What percentage of carbon dioxide is transported as bicarbonate?
A) 10%
B) 23%
C) 70%
D) 98.5% - CORRECT ANSWER✔✨-C) 70%
Rationale: The majority of CO₂ (about 70%) is converted into bicarbonate in red blood cells for transport.
Which factor shifts the oxygen-hemoglobin dissociation curve to the right, facilitating oxygen release?
A) Decreased temperature
B) Increased pH
C) Increased CO₂ levels
D) Decreased 2,3-BPG levels - CORRECT ANSWER✔✨-C) Increased CO₂ levels
Rationale: Increased CO₂ levels lower pH (Bohr effect), shifting the curve right and promoting oxygen
unloading.
Which structure is considered extra-thoracic?
A) Trachea
B) Pharynx
C) Bronchioles
D) Alveoli - CORRECT ANSWER✔✨-B) Pharynx
Rationale: The pharynx is outside the thoracic cavity and is classified as an extra-thoracic airway.
What is the primary function of the conducting airways?
A) Gas exchange
B) Filtering, warming, and humidifying air
, C) Oxygen transport via hemoglobin
D) Carbon dioxide diffusion into plasma - CORRECT ANSWER✔✨-B) Filtering, warming, and
humidifying air
Rationale: Conducting airways prepare air for entry into the respiratory zone by filtering and humidifying
it.
What type of epithelial cells primarily line the alveoli?
A) Stratified squamous
B) Simple columnar
C) Cuboidal
D) Simple squamous - CORRECT ANSWER✔✨-D) Simple squamous
Rationale: Simple squamous epithelium facilitates efficient gas exchange due to its thinness.
Which nervous system promotes bronchodilation?
A) Parasympathetic
B) Sympathetic
C) Enteric
D) Somatic - CORRECT ANSWER✔✨-B) Sympathetic
Rationale: The sympathetic nervous system releases epinephrine, activating beta-2 receptors to cause
bronchodilation.
Which mediator causes bronchoconstriction in asthma?
A) Epinephrine
B) Acetylcholine
C) Leukotrienes
D) Dopamine - CORRECT ANSWER✔✨-C) Leukotrienes
Patho Exam 2026/2027 With Questions And
Correct Answers
What is the primary driver of ventilation?
A) Diffusion of gases across the alveoli
B) Contraction and relaxation of the diaphragm and intercostal muscles
C) Hemoglobin saturation levels
D) Carbonic anhydrase activity in red blood cells - CORRECT ANSWER✔✨-B) Contraction and
relaxation of the diaphragm and intercostal muscles
Rationale: Ventilation refers to the mechanical process of air movement, which is primarily controlled by
muscle contraction and relaxation.
Which of the following is an example of external respiration?
A) The diffusion of oxygen from the alveoli into the bloodstream
B) The uptake of oxygen by mitochondria for ATP production
C) The conversion of carbon dioxide into bicarbonate in red blood cells
D) The transportation of oxygen via hemoglobin - CORRECT ANSWER✔✨-A) The diffusion of oxygen
from the alveoli into the bloodstream
Rationale: External respiration is the exchange of gases between the lungs and the environment,
primarily occurring at the alveolar-capillary membrane.
Where does gas exchange primarily occur in the lungs?
A) Trachea
B) Bronchioles
C) Alveoli
D) Pharynx - CORRECT ANSWER✔✨-C) Alveoli
,Rationale: The alveoli are the primary site for gas exchange due to their thin walls and extensive
capillary network.
Which law explains the diffusion of gases across the alveolar-capillary membrane?
A) Boyle's Law
B) Henry's Law
C) Fick's Law
D) Dalton's Law - CORRECT ANSWER✔✨-C) Fick's Law
Rationale: Fick's Law states that gas diffusion depends on surface area, membrane thickness, and partial
pressure gradients.
What determines the direction of oxygen diffusion in the lungs?
A) The volume of air in the lungs
B) The concentration gradient between alveolar air and blood
C) The presence of surfactant in the alveoli
D) The amount of hemoglobin in red blood cells - CORRECT ANSWER✔✨-B) The concentration
gradient between alveolar air and blood
Rationale: Oxygen moves from high partial pressure in the alveoli to the lower partial pressure in the
pulmonary capillaries.
How is most oxygen transported in the blood?
A) Dissolved in plasma
B) Bound to hemoglobin
C) Converted to bicarbonate
D) As carbonic acid - CORRECT ANSWER✔✨-B) Bound to hemoglobin
Rationale: About 98.5% of oxygen is bound to hemoglobin in red blood cells.
,What percentage of carbon dioxide is transported as bicarbonate?
A) 10%
B) 23%
C) 70%
D) 98.5% - CORRECT ANSWER✔✨-C) 70%
Rationale: The majority of CO₂ (about 70%) is converted into bicarbonate in red blood cells for transport.
Which factor shifts the oxygen-hemoglobin dissociation curve to the right, facilitating oxygen release?
A) Decreased temperature
B) Increased pH
C) Increased CO₂ levels
D) Decreased 2,3-BPG levels - CORRECT ANSWER✔✨-C) Increased CO₂ levels
Rationale: Increased CO₂ levels lower pH (Bohr effect), shifting the curve right and promoting oxygen
unloading.
Which structure is considered extra-thoracic?
A) Trachea
B) Pharynx
C) Bronchioles
D) Alveoli - CORRECT ANSWER✔✨-B) Pharynx
Rationale: The pharynx is outside the thoracic cavity and is classified as an extra-thoracic airway.
What is the primary function of the conducting airways?
A) Gas exchange
B) Filtering, warming, and humidifying air
, C) Oxygen transport via hemoglobin
D) Carbon dioxide diffusion into plasma - CORRECT ANSWER✔✨-B) Filtering, warming, and
humidifying air
Rationale: Conducting airways prepare air for entry into the respiratory zone by filtering and humidifying
it.
What type of epithelial cells primarily line the alveoli?
A) Stratified squamous
B) Simple columnar
C) Cuboidal
D) Simple squamous - CORRECT ANSWER✔✨-D) Simple squamous
Rationale: Simple squamous epithelium facilitates efficient gas exchange due to its thinness.
Which nervous system promotes bronchodilation?
A) Parasympathetic
B) Sympathetic
C) Enteric
D) Somatic - CORRECT ANSWER✔✨-B) Sympathetic
Rationale: The sympathetic nervous system releases epinephrine, activating beta-2 receptors to cause
bronchodilation.
Which mediator causes bronchoconstriction in asthma?
A) Epinephrine
B) Acetylcholine
C) Leukotrienes
D) Dopamine - CORRECT ANSWER✔✨-C) Leukotrienes
