NURS 5315 Pulmonary, Respiratory
Advanced Patho Exam with Verified
Answers 2026/2027
Which of the following best describes respiration?
A) The mechanical process of moving air in and out of the lungs
B) The exchange of gases between the environment and the cells of the body
C) The contraction and relaxation of the diaphragm
D) The movement of oxygen into the lungs through the trachea - ANSWER-B) The
exchange of gases between the environment and the cells of the body
Rationale: Respiration is a biochemical process that involves gas exchange at the
cellular level, including both external and internal respiration.
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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - 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% - 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 - 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 - ANSWER-B) Pharynx
Advanced Patho Exam with Verified
Answers 2026/2027
Which of the following best describes respiration?
A) The mechanical process of moving air in and out of the lungs
B) The exchange of gases between the environment and the cells of the body
C) The contraction and relaxation of the diaphragm
D) The movement of oxygen into the lungs through the trachea - ANSWER-B) The
exchange of gases between the environment and the cells of the body
Rationale: Respiration is a biochemical process that involves gas exchange at the
cellular level, including both external and internal respiration.
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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - 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% - 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 - 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 - ANSWER-B) Pharynx
