GMS6402: MEDICAL PULMONARY
PHYSIOLOGY. EXAM 2025 QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
The vast majority of the total surface area of the lung is found in the - ANS alveoli
All of the following can be measured via spirometry except - ANS Functional residual capacity
(FRC)
What is the muscle that is used for expiration? - ANS External obliques
What is the transpulmonary pressure if pleural pressure is -7 cm H2O and alveolar pressure is -3
cm H2O? - ANS +4 cm H2O
Lung compliance test indicates that a 3 cm H2O change in transpulmonary pressure generates a
0.9 L change in lung volume. What is this patient's lung compliance? - ANS 0.3 L of air/cm
H2O
Airway resistance across a set of airways is lowest under what conditions? - ANS Airway
radius is large and length of the tube is small
1
As the lungs fill with air and we move from a low lung volume to a higher lung volume, airway
Page
resistance will - ANS Decrease exponentially
@COPYRIGHT @THEBRIGHT 2025/2026
, A patient performs an expiratory forced vital capacity maneuver. His FVC is 2 L and his FEV1 is 1
L. Based on these numbers, you would predict this patient suffers from what? -
ANS Obstructive lung disease
When at sea level and breathing room air, the partial pressure of O2 in inspired air is what? -
ANS 160 mmHg
A patient begins to hyperventilate while sitting in a clinic on Miami Beach and breathing room
air. Over the ensuing 1 minute, his PaCO2 drops to 20 mmHg. What is his PaO2 at that moment
in time? - ANS 125 mmHg
With respect to the path of O2 diffusion, the proper order for the movement of oxygen across
the pulmonary capillary membrane is - ANS alveolar epithelium, interstitial space, capillary
basement membrane, blood
When a gas in the blood such as oxygen fails to reach diffusion equilibrium with the alveolar air
as it leaves the pulmonary capillary bed is said to be - ANS diffusion limited
Under normal physiological conditions, the max capacity of O2 that Hb can carry is approx: -
ANS 200 mL per day
Which of the following will increase the content of arterial oxygen - ANS increased
hemoglobin concentration
Blood gas analysis: partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood = 60 mmHg, oxygen content = 18
mls O2/dL of blood. What is percent hemoglobin sat of patient? - ANS 90%
Arterial blood gas is ordered and the following values are obtained; Hb = 17 g/dL, hemoglobin
sat = 100%, PaO2 = 200 mmHg. What is content of total oxygen in arterial blood sample? -
2
Page
ANS 23.38 mls O2/dL of blood
@COPYRIGHT @THEBRIGHT 2025/2026
PHYSIOLOGY. EXAM 2025 QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
The vast majority of the total surface area of the lung is found in the - ANS alveoli
All of the following can be measured via spirometry except - ANS Functional residual capacity
(FRC)
What is the muscle that is used for expiration? - ANS External obliques
What is the transpulmonary pressure if pleural pressure is -7 cm H2O and alveolar pressure is -3
cm H2O? - ANS +4 cm H2O
Lung compliance test indicates that a 3 cm H2O change in transpulmonary pressure generates a
0.9 L change in lung volume. What is this patient's lung compliance? - ANS 0.3 L of air/cm
H2O
Airway resistance across a set of airways is lowest under what conditions? - ANS Airway
radius is large and length of the tube is small
1
As the lungs fill with air and we move from a low lung volume to a higher lung volume, airway
Page
resistance will - ANS Decrease exponentially
@COPYRIGHT @THEBRIGHT 2025/2026
, A patient performs an expiratory forced vital capacity maneuver. His FVC is 2 L and his FEV1 is 1
L. Based on these numbers, you would predict this patient suffers from what? -
ANS Obstructive lung disease
When at sea level and breathing room air, the partial pressure of O2 in inspired air is what? -
ANS 160 mmHg
A patient begins to hyperventilate while sitting in a clinic on Miami Beach and breathing room
air. Over the ensuing 1 minute, his PaCO2 drops to 20 mmHg. What is his PaO2 at that moment
in time? - ANS 125 mmHg
With respect to the path of O2 diffusion, the proper order for the movement of oxygen across
the pulmonary capillary membrane is - ANS alveolar epithelium, interstitial space, capillary
basement membrane, blood
When a gas in the blood such as oxygen fails to reach diffusion equilibrium with the alveolar air
as it leaves the pulmonary capillary bed is said to be - ANS diffusion limited
Under normal physiological conditions, the max capacity of O2 that Hb can carry is approx: -
ANS 200 mL per day
Which of the following will increase the content of arterial oxygen - ANS increased
hemoglobin concentration
Blood gas analysis: partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood = 60 mmHg, oxygen content = 18
mls O2/dL of blood. What is percent hemoglobin sat of patient? - ANS 90%
Arterial blood gas is ordered and the following values are obtained; Hb = 17 g/dL, hemoglobin
sat = 100%, PaO2 = 200 mmHg. What is content of total oxygen in arterial blood sample? -
2
Page
ANS 23.38 mls O2/dL of blood
@COPYRIGHT @THEBRIGHT 2025/2026
