NUR 209 MODULE 6 RESPIRATORY – NURSING STUDY GUIDE,
PRACTICE QUESTIONS & EXAM REVIEW 2026/2027
thorax or thoracic cavity - ✔✔closed cavity of the body, containing structures needed for respirations.
Surrounded by the ribs and muscles and extends from the base of the neck to the diaphragm.
Three section of the thorax - ✔✔Mediastinum and the right and left pleural cavities
mediastinum - ✔✔contains the heart, trachea, esophagus, and major blood vessels of the body.
pleural cavity - ✔✔contains lungs.
lower respiratory - ✔✔includes trachea, bronchi and lungs
trachea - ✔✔located in the mediastinum, descends from the larynx in the neck to the main bronchi at
the distal point.
bronchi anteriorly - ✔✔the trachea bifurcates at about the level of the sternal angle, forming the right
and left main bronchi.
Main bronchus - ✔✔enters each lung at the hilus (medial depression) and maintain an oblique position
in the mediastinum.
Right main bronchus - ✔✔shorter, wider, and more vertical than the left bronchus; aspirated objects
are more likely to enter the right lung.
lungs - ✔✔cone-shaped , elastic, spongy, air-filled, structures that are situated in the pleural cavities of
the thorax on the side of the mediastinum
left lung - ✔✔two lobes (upper and lower) and tends to be longer and narrower that the right lung.
- accommodates the heart at the medial surface.
right lung - ✔✔three lobes (upper, middle, and lower) and is slightly larger, wider, and shorter than the
left lung.
Pleural membrane - ✔✔a thin, double-layered, serous membrane the lines each pleural cavity. parietal
pleura which lines superior aspect of the diaphragm and walls of thoracic cavity and deep visceral pleura
covers the lungs
pleural membrane fluid - ✔✔produced these membranes acts as a lubricant, allowing the lung to glide
during the respiratory cycle of inspiration and expiration.
surface tension - ✔✔created by the fluid and negative pressure between the membranes helps keep
the lungs expanded. As the negative pressure changes, one is able to move air into and out of the lungs.
, landmarks - ✔✔Reference points for internal structures of the respiratory system. Helps a professional
nurse develop a mental picture of the structures being assessed. Posteriorly, the vertical lines start at the
vertical column and additional lines are drawn parallel to the reference point.
Sternum - ✔✔the manubrium, body, and xiphoid process.
manubrium - ✔✔Superior portion of the sternum. The depression at the superior border is called the
suprasternal notch and jugular notch. Joins the body at the sternum.
angle of louis (sternal angle) - ✔✔A horizontal ridge at the bottom , where the jugular notch and
manubrium meet the body of the sternum
Ribs - ✔✔12 pairs - first 7 'true ribs' that articulate directly with sternum; ribs 8, 9, 10 attach to cartilage
of the superior ribs; ribs 11 & 12 are 'free floating' anteriorly.
The 1st rib and 1st intercostal space, being obscured by the clavicle, are not palpable. Anteriorly, ribs 2-7
and the corresponding intercostal spaces are easily palpated along the sternal border.
Vertebral column - ✔✔spine, located at the midline of the posterior portion of the thoracic cage. 12
vertebrae
Seventh cervical vertebrae - ✔✔Most visible at the base of the neck. The much larger spinous process
contributes to the uniqueness of the vertebrae. Most prominent vertebrae (C7) used to count and locate
other spinous processes. Two spinous processes are equally prominent, they are C7 and T1.
five imaginary vertical lines anteriorly aspect of the thoracic cage - ✔✔1. sternal line (SL) starts at the
sternal notch and descends through the xiphoid process - divides sternum in half and ultimately
identifies left and right thoracic cage.
2. Right and left mid-calvicular lines are parallel to the sternal line. - line begins at the midpoint of the
clavicle and descends to the level of the 12th rib. - nipples are slightly lateral to this line. - subdivides
right and left thoracic cage into two equal parts.
3. Right and left anterior axillary lines (AAL) are drawn parallel. - begins at the anterior fold of the axillae
and descends along the anterior lateral aspect of the thoracic cage to the 12th rib.
Five vertical lines of the posterior thorax - ✔✔1. Vertebral line begins at C7 and descends through the
spinous process of each thoracic vertebrae. - divides the thoracic in half, forming posterior right and left
thoracic cage
2. Right left scapular lines are parallel to the vertebral line, and is drawn from the inferior angle of the
scapula to the level of the 12th rib. - subdivides the right and left thoracic cage into two equal parts.
3. Right and left posterior axillary lines (PAL) starts at the posterior axillary fold and descends along the
lateral aspect of the thoracic cage to the 12th rib. Parallel to the vertebral line.
Lines of the lateral thoracic cage - ✔✔1. Midaxillary line is parallel to the anterior and posterior axillary
lines. - descends from the middle axillae to the level of the 12th rib. - Forms the frontal plane, dividing
the thorax into the anterior and posterior portions.
2. Anterior axillary line starts at eh anterior axillary fold
3. Posterior axillary line starts at the posterior axillary fold
PRACTICE QUESTIONS & EXAM REVIEW 2026/2027
thorax or thoracic cavity - ✔✔closed cavity of the body, containing structures needed for respirations.
Surrounded by the ribs and muscles and extends from the base of the neck to the diaphragm.
Three section of the thorax - ✔✔Mediastinum and the right and left pleural cavities
mediastinum - ✔✔contains the heart, trachea, esophagus, and major blood vessels of the body.
pleural cavity - ✔✔contains lungs.
lower respiratory - ✔✔includes trachea, bronchi and lungs
trachea - ✔✔located in the mediastinum, descends from the larynx in the neck to the main bronchi at
the distal point.
bronchi anteriorly - ✔✔the trachea bifurcates at about the level of the sternal angle, forming the right
and left main bronchi.
Main bronchus - ✔✔enters each lung at the hilus (medial depression) and maintain an oblique position
in the mediastinum.
Right main bronchus - ✔✔shorter, wider, and more vertical than the left bronchus; aspirated objects
are more likely to enter the right lung.
lungs - ✔✔cone-shaped , elastic, spongy, air-filled, structures that are situated in the pleural cavities of
the thorax on the side of the mediastinum
left lung - ✔✔two lobes (upper and lower) and tends to be longer and narrower that the right lung.
- accommodates the heart at the medial surface.
right lung - ✔✔three lobes (upper, middle, and lower) and is slightly larger, wider, and shorter than the
left lung.
Pleural membrane - ✔✔a thin, double-layered, serous membrane the lines each pleural cavity. parietal
pleura which lines superior aspect of the diaphragm and walls of thoracic cavity and deep visceral pleura
covers the lungs
pleural membrane fluid - ✔✔produced these membranes acts as a lubricant, allowing the lung to glide
during the respiratory cycle of inspiration and expiration.
surface tension - ✔✔created by the fluid and negative pressure between the membranes helps keep
the lungs expanded. As the negative pressure changes, one is able to move air into and out of the lungs.
, landmarks - ✔✔Reference points for internal structures of the respiratory system. Helps a professional
nurse develop a mental picture of the structures being assessed. Posteriorly, the vertical lines start at the
vertical column and additional lines are drawn parallel to the reference point.
Sternum - ✔✔the manubrium, body, and xiphoid process.
manubrium - ✔✔Superior portion of the sternum. The depression at the superior border is called the
suprasternal notch and jugular notch. Joins the body at the sternum.
angle of louis (sternal angle) - ✔✔A horizontal ridge at the bottom , where the jugular notch and
manubrium meet the body of the sternum
Ribs - ✔✔12 pairs - first 7 'true ribs' that articulate directly with sternum; ribs 8, 9, 10 attach to cartilage
of the superior ribs; ribs 11 & 12 are 'free floating' anteriorly.
The 1st rib and 1st intercostal space, being obscured by the clavicle, are not palpable. Anteriorly, ribs 2-7
and the corresponding intercostal spaces are easily palpated along the sternal border.
Vertebral column - ✔✔spine, located at the midline of the posterior portion of the thoracic cage. 12
vertebrae
Seventh cervical vertebrae - ✔✔Most visible at the base of the neck. The much larger spinous process
contributes to the uniqueness of the vertebrae. Most prominent vertebrae (C7) used to count and locate
other spinous processes. Two spinous processes are equally prominent, they are C7 and T1.
five imaginary vertical lines anteriorly aspect of the thoracic cage - ✔✔1. sternal line (SL) starts at the
sternal notch and descends through the xiphoid process - divides sternum in half and ultimately
identifies left and right thoracic cage.
2. Right and left mid-calvicular lines are parallel to the sternal line. - line begins at the midpoint of the
clavicle and descends to the level of the 12th rib. - nipples are slightly lateral to this line. - subdivides
right and left thoracic cage into two equal parts.
3. Right and left anterior axillary lines (AAL) are drawn parallel. - begins at the anterior fold of the axillae
and descends along the anterior lateral aspect of the thoracic cage to the 12th rib.
Five vertical lines of the posterior thorax - ✔✔1. Vertebral line begins at C7 and descends through the
spinous process of each thoracic vertebrae. - divides the thoracic in half, forming posterior right and left
thoracic cage
2. Right left scapular lines are parallel to the vertebral line, and is drawn from the inferior angle of the
scapula to the level of the 12th rib. - subdivides the right and left thoracic cage into two equal parts.
3. Right and left posterior axillary lines (PAL) starts at the posterior axillary fold and descends along the
lateral aspect of the thoracic cage to the 12th rib. Parallel to the vertebral line.
Lines of the lateral thoracic cage - ✔✔1. Midaxillary line is parallel to the anterior and posterior axillary
lines. - descends from the middle axillae to the level of the 12th rib. - Forms the frontal plane, dividing
the thorax into the anterior and posterior portions.
2. Anterior axillary line starts at eh anterior axillary fold
3. Posterior axillary line starts at the posterior axillary fold
