Chapter 40: Oxygenation
Test Bank
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The structure that is responsible for returning oxygenated blood to the heart is the
a. Pulmonary artery.
b. Pulmonary vein.
c. Superior vena cava.
d. Inferior vena cava.
ANS: B
The pulmonary vein carries oxygenated blood to the heart. The pulmonary artery carries
deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs. Both venae cavae return blood to the right
atrium of the heart.
DIF: Remember REF: 823-824
OBJ: Describe the structure and function of the cardiopulmonary system.
TOP: Planning MSC: Physiological Integrity
2. Chemical receptors that stimulate inspiration are located in the
a. Brain.
b. Lungs.
c. Aorta.
d. Heart.
ANS: C
Chemical receptors in the aorta send signals to begin the inspiration process. The brain, lungs,
and heart all are affected by this chemical reaction.
DIF: Remember REF: 822
OBJ: State the process of the neural and chemical regulation of respiration.
TOP: Planning MSC: Physiological Integrity
3. The nurse knows that the primary function of the alveoli is to
a. Carry out gas exchange.
b. Store oxygen.
c. Regulate tidal volume.
d. Produce hemoglobin.
ANS: A
The alveolus is a capillary membrane that allows gas exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide
during respiration. The alveoli do not store oxygen, regulate tidal volume, or produce
hemoglobin.
DIF: Remember REF: 822
OBJ: Describe the structure and function of the cardiopulmonary system.
TOP: Knowledge MSC: Physiological Integrity
4. The nurse knows that anemia will result in
a. Hypoxemia.
, b. Impaired ventilation.
c. Hypovolemia.
d. Decreased lung compliance.
ANS: A
Patients who are anemic do not have the same level of oxygen-carrying capacity. As a result,
oxygen is unable to properly perfuse the tissues, resulting in hypoxemia. Impaired ventilation
occurs when oxygen/carbon dioxide exchange occurs at the alveolar level. Hypovolemia is
related to decreased circulating blood volume. Lung compliance is related to the elasticity of
the lung tissue.
DIF: Understand REF: 822-823
OBJ: Identify the clinical outcomes occurring as a result of disturbances in conduction, altered
cardiac output, impaired valvular function, myocardial ischemia, and impaired tissue perfusion.
TOP: Assessment MSC: Physiological Integrity
5. The process of exchanging gases through the alveolar capillary membrane is known as
a. Disassociation.
b. Diffusion.
c. Perfusion.
d. Ventilation.
ANS: B
Diffusion is the process of gases exchanging across the alveoli and capillaries of body tissues.
Disassociation is not related to oxygenation. Perfusion is the ability of the cardiovascular
system to carry oxygenated blood to tissues and return deoxygenated blood to the heart.
Ventilation is the process of moving gases into and out of the lungs.
DIF: Remember REF: 822
OBJ: Describe the physiological processes of ventilation, perfusion, and exchange of respiratory
gases. TOP: Assessment MSC: Physiological Integrity
6. A nurse caring for a patient who was in a motor vehicle accident that resulted in trauma to C4
would expect to find
a. Decreased tidal volumes.
b. Increased perfusion.
c. Increased use of accessory muscles.
d. Decreased hemoglobin.
ANS: A
A C4 injury would result in damage to the phrenic nerve and would cause a decrease in
inspiratory lung expansion. Accessory muscles will also be damaged by a C4 injury. The
patient may exhibit decreased perfusion and increased hemoglobin to compensate for
hypoxemia.
DIF: Understand REF: 822
OBJ: State the process of the neural and chemical regulation of respiration.
TOP: Assessment MSC: Physiological Integrity
7. The nurse would expect to see increased ventilations if a patient exhibits
a. Increased oxygen saturation.
b. Decreased carbon dioxide levels.
, c. Decreased pH.
d. Increased hemoglobin levels.
ANS: C
Retained CO2 creates H+ byproducts that lower pH. This sends a chemical signal to increase
respiratory rate and would result in increased ventilation. All other options would cause the
ventilation rate to normalize or decrease to increase carbon dioxide retention or as the result of
delivery of higher levels of oxygen to tissues.
DIF: Understand REF: 823-825
OBJ: State the process of the neural and chemical regulation of respiration.
TOP: Assessment MSC: Physiological Integrity
8. The nurse recommends that a patient install a carbon monoxide detector in the home because
a. It is required by law.
b. Carbon monoxide tightly bonds to hemoglobin, causing hypoxia.
c. Carbon monoxide signals the cerebral cortex to cease ventilations.
d. Carbon monoxide combines with oxygen in the body and produces a deadly toxin.
ANS: B
Carbon monoxide has a higher affinity for hemoglobin; therefore, oxygen is not able to bond
to hemoglobin and be transported to tissues. A carbon monoxide detector is not required by
law, does not signal the cerebral cortex to cease ventilations, and does not combine with
oxygen but with hemoglobin to produce a toxin.
DIF: Remember REF: 826
OBJ: Describe nursing care interventions used to promote oxygenation in the primary care, acute
care, and restorative and continuing care settings. TOP: Planning
MSC: Physiological Integrity
9. While performing an assessment, the nurse hears crackles in the patient’s lung fields. The
nurse also learns that the patient is sleeping on three pillows. What do these symptoms most
likely indicate?
a. Left-sided heart failure
b. Right-sided heart failure
c. Atrial fibrillation
d. Myocardial ischemia
ANS: A
Left-sided heart failure results in pulmonary congestion, the signs and symptoms of which
include shortness of breath, crackles, and discomfort when lying supine. Right-sided heart
failure is systemic and results in peripheral edema and hepatojugular distention. Atrial
fibrillation results in an irregular heart rate. Myocardial ischemia most often results in chest
pain, along with shortness of breath, nausea, and fatigue.
DIF: Understand REF: 828-830
OBJ: Assess for the physical manifestations that occur with alterations in oxygenation.
TOP: Assessment MSC: Physiological Integrity
10. The nurse knows that a myocardial infarction is an occlusion of what blood vessel?
a. Pulmonary artery
b. Ascending aorta
Test Bank
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The structure that is responsible for returning oxygenated blood to the heart is the
a. Pulmonary artery.
b. Pulmonary vein.
c. Superior vena cava.
d. Inferior vena cava.
ANS: B
The pulmonary vein carries oxygenated blood to the heart. The pulmonary artery carries
deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs. Both venae cavae return blood to the right
atrium of the heart.
DIF: Remember REF: 823-824
OBJ: Describe the structure and function of the cardiopulmonary system.
TOP: Planning MSC: Physiological Integrity
2. Chemical receptors that stimulate inspiration are located in the
a. Brain.
b. Lungs.
c. Aorta.
d. Heart.
ANS: C
Chemical receptors in the aorta send signals to begin the inspiration process. The brain, lungs,
and heart all are affected by this chemical reaction.
DIF: Remember REF: 822
OBJ: State the process of the neural and chemical regulation of respiration.
TOP: Planning MSC: Physiological Integrity
3. The nurse knows that the primary function of the alveoli is to
a. Carry out gas exchange.
b. Store oxygen.
c. Regulate tidal volume.
d. Produce hemoglobin.
ANS: A
The alveolus is a capillary membrane that allows gas exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide
during respiration. The alveoli do not store oxygen, regulate tidal volume, or produce
hemoglobin.
DIF: Remember REF: 822
OBJ: Describe the structure and function of the cardiopulmonary system.
TOP: Knowledge MSC: Physiological Integrity
4. The nurse knows that anemia will result in
a. Hypoxemia.
, b. Impaired ventilation.
c. Hypovolemia.
d. Decreased lung compliance.
ANS: A
Patients who are anemic do not have the same level of oxygen-carrying capacity. As a result,
oxygen is unable to properly perfuse the tissues, resulting in hypoxemia. Impaired ventilation
occurs when oxygen/carbon dioxide exchange occurs at the alveolar level. Hypovolemia is
related to decreased circulating blood volume. Lung compliance is related to the elasticity of
the lung tissue.
DIF: Understand REF: 822-823
OBJ: Identify the clinical outcomes occurring as a result of disturbances in conduction, altered
cardiac output, impaired valvular function, myocardial ischemia, and impaired tissue perfusion.
TOP: Assessment MSC: Physiological Integrity
5. The process of exchanging gases through the alveolar capillary membrane is known as
a. Disassociation.
b. Diffusion.
c. Perfusion.
d. Ventilation.
ANS: B
Diffusion is the process of gases exchanging across the alveoli and capillaries of body tissues.
Disassociation is not related to oxygenation. Perfusion is the ability of the cardiovascular
system to carry oxygenated blood to tissues and return deoxygenated blood to the heart.
Ventilation is the process of moving gases into and out of the lungs.
DIF: Remember REF: 822
OBJ: Describe the physiological processes of ventilation, perfusion, and exchange of respiratory
gases. TOP: Assessment MSC: Physiological Integrity
6. A nurse caring for a patient who was in a motor vehicle accident that resulted in trauma to C4
would expect to find
a. Decreased tidal volumes.
b. Increased perfusion.
c. Increased use of accessory muscles.
d. Decreased hemoglobin.
ANS: A
A C4 injury would result in damage to the phrenic nerve and would cause a decrease in
inspiratory lung expansion. Accessory muscles will also be damaged by a C4 injury. The
patient may exhibit decreased perfusion and increased hemoglobin to compensate for
hypoxemia.
DIF: Understand REF: 822
OBJ: State the process of the neural and chemical regulation of respiration.
TOP: Assessment MSC: Physiological Integrity
7. The nurse would expect to see increased ventilations if a patient exhibits
a. Increased oxygen saturation.
b. Decreased carbon dioxide levels.
, c. Decreased pH.
d. Increased hemoglobin levels.
ANS: C
Retained CO2 creates H+ byproducts that lower pH. This sends a chemical signal to increase
respiratory rate and would result in increased ventilation. All other options would cause the
ventilation rate to normalize or decrease to increase carbon dioxide retention or as the result of
delivery of higher levels of oxygen to tissues.
DIF: Understand REF: 823-825
OBJ: State the process of the neural and chemical regulation of respiration.
TOP: Assessment MSC: Physiological Integrity
8. The nurse recommends that a patient install a carbon monoxide detector in the home because
a. It is required by law.
b. Carbon monoxide tightly bonds to hemoglobin, causing hypoxia.
c. Carbon monoxide signals the cerebral cortex to cease ventilations.
d. Carbon monoxide combines with oxygen in the body and produces a deadly toxin.
ANS: B
Carbon monoxide has a higher affinity for hemoglobin; therefore, oxygen is not able to bond
to hemoglobin and be transported to tissues. A carbon monoxide detector is not required by
law, does not signal the cerebral cortex to cease ventilations, and does not combine with
oxygen but with hemoglobin to produce a toxin.
DIF: Remember REF: 826
OBJ: Describe nursing care interventions used to promote oxygenation in the primary care, acute
care, and restorative and continuing care settings. TOP: Planning
MSC: Physiological Integrity
9. While performing an assessment, the nurse hears crackles in the patient’s lung fields. The
nurse also learns that the patient is sleeping on three pillows. What do these symptoms most
likely indicate?
a. Left-sided heart failure
b. Right-sided heart failure
c. Atrial fibrillation
d. Myocardial ischemia
ANS: A
Left-sided heart failure results in pulmonary congestion, the signs and symptoms of which
include shortness of breath, crackles, and discomfort when lying supine. Right-sided heart
failure is systemic and results in peripheral edema and hepatojugular distention. Atrial
fibrillation results in an irregular heart rate. Myocardial ischemia most often results in chest
pain, along with shortness of breath, nausea, and fatigue.
DIF: Understand REF: 828-830
OBJ: Assess for the physical manifestations that occur with alterations in oxygenation.
TOP: Assessment MSC: Physiological Integrity
10. The nurse knows that a myocardial infarction is an occlusion of what blood vessel?
a. Pulmonary artery
b. Ascending aorta
