RCP 160 Exam Questions and Answers Latest Update 2025-2026
Tidal volume breathing - Answers Facilitates removal of CO2 and replenishes O2
Alveolar ventilation - Answers Amount of fresh gas reaching alveoli per minute, determined by
tidal volume, dead space and RR
Compliance - Answers Higher lung inflates easily, lower lung inflation is difficult
Surfactant - Answers Prevents alveolar collapse, inhaling toxins decrease effectiveness
Restrictive lung diseases - Answers More pressure needed to meet volume
Obstructive lung diseases - Answers More volume needed to meet pressure
Rapid shallow breathing and high minute volume - Answers Results in bad alveolar ventilation
Anatomic dead space - Answers Gas left in the conducting airways, including the nasopharynx
oropharynx and laryngopharynx
Alveolar dead space - Answers Can be caused by PE,
Anatomic dead space - Answers Each inspiration the fas left in the conducting airways that do
not participate in gas exchange is anatomic dead space
Physiologic dead space - Answers Combination of anatomic and alveolar dead space
Alveolar air equation - Answers PaO2 = FiO2 x (Pb - PH2O) - (PaCO2 / .8)
A-g gradient - Answers Compares PAO2 to PaO2 (Alveolar O2 with arterial O2)
Factors that impact diffusion across the AC membrane - Answers Capillary membrane,
interstitial fluid, alveolar membrane
Things that could thicken the AC membrane - Answers Interstitial disease, pulmonary fibrosis,
PNA, atelectasis
Factors that impact the A-a gradient - Answers Diffusion (A-C membrane thickening), cardiac
shunting, pulmonary shunt, time
Minute ventilation - Answers Ve = RR x Vt
Alveolar minute ventilation - Answers VA = (Vt - Vd) x RR
A-a gradient equation - Answers PAO2 - PaO2
Respiratory Failure - Answers Two types, Hypoxemic and Hypercapnic
Relationship between PAO2 and PaO2 - Answers Inversely proportional
Tidal volume breathing - Answers Facilitates removal of CO2 and replenishes O2
Alveolar ventilation - Answers Amount of fresh gas reaching alveoli per minute, determined by
tidal volume, dead space and RR
Compliance - Answers Higher lung inflates easily, lower lung inflation is difficult
Surfactant - Answers Prevents alveolar collapse, inhaling toxins decrease effectiveness
Restrictive lung diseases - Answers More pressure needed to meet volume
Obstructive lung diseases - Answers More volume needed to meet pressure
Rapid shallow breathing and high minute volume - Answers Results in bad alveolar ventilation
Anatomic dead space - Answers Gas left in the conducting airways, including the nasopharynx
oropharynx and laryngopharynx
Alveolar dead space - Answers Can be caused by PE,
Anatomic dead space - Answers Each inspiration the fas left in the conducting airways that do
not participate in gas exchange is anatomic dead space
Physiologic dead space - Answers Combination of anatomic and alveolar dead space
Alveolar air equation - Answers PaO2 = FiO2 x (Pb - PH2O) - (PaCO2 / .8)
A-g gradient - Answers Compares PAO2 to PaO2 (Alveolar O2 with arterial O2)
Factors that impact diffusion across the AC membrane - Answers Capillary membrane,
interstitial fluid, alveolar membrane
Things that could thicken the AC membrane - Answers Interstitial disease, pulmonary fibrosis,
PNA, atelectasis
Factors that impact the A-a gradient - Answers Diffusion (A-C membrane thickening), cardiac
shunting, pulmonary shunt, time
Minute ventilation - Answers Ve = RR x Vt
Alveolar minute ventilation - Answers VA = (Vt - Vd) x RR
A-a gradient equation - Answers PAO2 - PaO2
Respiratory Failure - Answers Two types, Hypoxemic and Hypercapnic
Relationship between PAO2 and PaO2 - Answers Inversely proportional
