1
COMPREHENSIVE RADIOGRAPHIC PATHOLOGY -
CH. 3: RESPIRATORY SYSTEM LATEST QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
(100% CORRECT ANSWERS)
Two common complications of intubation and barotrauma are_________________ and
_______________ Answer: Pneumothorax and Pneumomediastinum
The optimal location for a central venous catheter is where the brachiocephalic veins join to
form the Answer: Superior Vena Cava
The most common complication associated with the Swan-Ganz catheter is ____________
distal to the catheter tip Answer: Infarction
Briefly describe why a lateral chest radiograph is very important for determining the correct
position of the tip of the electrode of a transvenous cardiac pacemaker Answer: To ensure that
the tip is in the anterior portion of the right ventricle
Is a disease of newborns characterized by progressive under aeration of the lungs and a
granular appearance Answer: Hyaline Membrane Disease
is a hereditary disease in which thick mucous is secreted by all the exocrine glands. Answer:
Cystic Fibrosis
a viral infection causing inflammatory obstructive swelling of the subglottic portion of the
trachea is Answer: Croup
Haemophilus Influenzae most commonly causes Answer: epiglottitis
when inflammatory exudate replaces air in the alveoli causing the affected area of the lung to
appear radiopaque on the image, this is an example of Answer: Alveolar Pneumonia
A necrotic area of pulmonary parenchyma containing purulent or puslike material is called
Answer: Lung Abscess
© 2025 All rights reserved
,2
What radiographic procedure is often required to confirm the diagnosis of bronchiectasis when
the results of routine chest radiographs are inconclusive Answer: Bronchography
Flattening of the domes of the diaphragm, increased AP diameter of the chest, and increased
lucency of the retrosternal air space are suggestive of a diagnosis of Answer: Emphysema
The three most common pneumoconiosis are Answer: Silicosis, asbestosis and anthracosis
A granulomatous disease of unknown origin that usually affects women more than men and
African Americans more than whites, and whose presence is most often identified on
screening chest radiographs, is Answer: Sarcoidosis
An abnormal vascular communication between a pulmonary artery and a pulmonary vein is
termed Answer: Pulmonary Arteriovenous Fistula
What medical emergency has occurred when air continues to enter the pleural space and
cannot escape, leading to complete collapse of a lung and shift of the heart and mediastinal
structures Answer: Tension Pneumothorax
Pus in the pleural space is called Answer: Empyema
A lung inflammation caused by bacteria or viruses is called Answer: Pneumonia
Name two common types of pulmonary mycoses Answer: Histoplasmosis and
Coccidiodmycosis
For the radiographers safety, it is important to remember that tuberculosis is spread mainly
by ___________ which produces infectious ___________ Answer: coughing and droplets
What medical term is used to describe the entry of air into the pleural space Answer:
Pneumothorax
An increased volume of air in the lungs is seen in Answer: Emphysema
Inhalation of irritating dusts leading to chronic inflammation and pulmonary fibrosis is called
Answer: Pneumoconiosis
© 2025 All rights reserved
,3
A malignant pleural neoplasm that results from asbestosis is Answer: Mesothelioma
The trapping of bacteria in the pulmonary circulation that occurs in patients with a history of
intravenous drug abuse is called Answer: Septic Embolism
Reduced air volume within a lung leading to collapse is termed Answer: Atelectasis
Why do intrabronchial foreign bodies occur more frequently in the lower right lung? Answer:
Larger and more vertical mainstem bronchi
Blunt or penetrating trauma to the chest can produce _________________, which appears as
streaks of air that outline muscles of the thorax and sometimes the neck. Answer:
Subcutaneous Emphysema
At what costal interspace does the diaphragm lie when the lungs are fully inflated Answer:
Tenth
Air collecting behind the sternum and dissecting up into the soft tissue of the neck is called
Answer: Mediastinal Emphysema (pneumomediastinum)
An accumulation of fluid in the pleural space, sometimes caused by heart failure or
pulmonary embolus, is called Answer: Effusion
What are the two major functions of the respiratory system ? Answer: oxygenation of blood
and removal of waste (CO2)
What does the lower respiratory system consist of? Answer: trachea, bronchi and bronchioles
The lower respiratory system is responsible for _________________ from the upper respiratory
system. Answer: conducting air
The tracheobronchial tree is lined with a _______________________. Answer: mucous
membrane
What are the hair-like projections found with in the tracheobronchial tree? Answer: cilia
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 4
What purpose does cilia serve? Answer: It prevents dust and foreign particles from reaching
the lungs.
What can happen if cilia become damaged? Answer: When particles are allowed to enter the
respiratory system (because of damage) the foreign particles produce a disease process.
Where does external respiration take place? Answer: in the lung parenchyma (alveoli)
Explain the process of internal respiration: Answer: O2 attaches to hemoglobin molecules in
red blood cells and circulates to various tissues in the body.
During respiration which muscles are stimulated to contract? Answer: The diaphragm and
intercostal muscles
What happens to the lungs when the muscles responsible for respiration contract? Answer:
They expand and fill with air
Pulmonary circulation provides the ____________ with oxygenated blood. Answer: body
What is the inner lining surrounding and attached to the lung wall called? Answer: visceral
pleura
Irregular thickening of linear chest markings due to excessively viscous mucus is the
radiographic appearance in what pathology? Answer: Cystic fibrosis
Surfactant consists of lipoproteins and serves what purpose in the respiratory system?
Answer: It provides the proper surface tension in the alveoli, allowing full external
respiration.
What types of images best demonstrate a rounded thickening of the epiglottic shadow and
what disease is characteristic of this? Answer: Soft tissue AP and lateral neck images;
Epiglottitis
How are the various types of pneumonia characterized? Answer: by their cause and location
in the lung
© 2025 All rights reserved
COMPREHENSIVE RADIOGRAPHIC PATHOLOGY -
CH. 3: RESPIRATORY SYSTEM LATEST QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
(100% CORRECT ANSWERS)
Two common complications of intubation and barotrauma are_________________ and
_______________ Answer: Pneumothorax and Pneumomediastinum
The optimal location for a central venous catheter is where the brachiocephalic veins join to
form the Answer: Superior Vena Cava
The most common complication associated with the Swan-Ganz catheter is ____________
distal to the catheter tip Answer: Infarction
Briefly describe why a lateral chest radiograph is very important for determining the correct
position of the tip of the electrode of a transvenous cardiac pacemaker Answer: To ensure that
the tip is in the anterior portion of the right ventricle
Is a disease of newborns characterized by progressive under aeration of the lungs and a
granular appearance Answer: Hyaline Membrane Disease
is a hereditary disease in which thick mucous is secreted by all the exocrine glands. Answer:
Cystic Fibrosis
a viral infection causing inflammatory obstructive swelling of the subglottic portion of the
trachea is Answer: Croup
Haemophilus Influenzae most commonly causes Answer: epiglottitis
when inflammatory exudate replaces air in the alveoli causing the affected area of the lung to
appear radiopaque on the image, this is an example of Answer: Alveolar Pneumonia
A necrotic area of pulmonary parenchyma containing purulent or puslike material is called
Answer: Lung Abscess
© 2025 All rights reserved
,2
What radiographic procedure is often required to confirm the diagnosis of bronchiectasis when
the results of routine chest radiographs are inconclusive Answer: Bronchography
Flattening of the domes of the diaphragm, increased AP diameter of the chest, and increased
lucency of the retrosternal air space are suggestive of a diagnosis of Answer: Emphysema
The three most common pneumoconiosis are Answer: Silicosis, asbestosis and anthracosis
A granulomatous disease of unknown origin that usually affects women more than men and
African Americans more than whites, and whose presence is most often identified on
screening chest radiographs, is Answer: Sarcoidosis
An abnormal vascular communication between a pulmonary artery and a pulmonary vein is
termed Answer: Pulmonary Arteriovenous Fistula
What medical emergency has occurred when air continues to enter the pleural space and
cannot escape, leading to complete collapse of a lung and shift of the heart and mediastinal
structures Answer: Tension Pneumothorax
Pus in the pleural space is called Answer: Empyema
A lung inflammation caused by bacteria or viruses is called Answer: Pneumonia
Name two common types of pulmonary mycoses Answer: Histoplasmosis and
Coccidiodmycosis
For the radiographers safety, it is important to remember that tuberculosis is spread mainly
by ___________ which produces infectious ___________ Answer: coughing and droplets
What medical term is used to describe the entry of air into the pleural space Answer:
Pneumothorax
An increased volume of air in the lungs is seen in Answer: Emphysema
Inhalation of irritating dusts leading to chronic inflammation and pulmonary fibrosis is called
Answer: Pneumoconiosis
© 2025 All rights reserved
,3
A malignant pleural neoplasm that results from asbestosis is Answer: Mesothelioma
The trapping of bacteria in the pulmonary circulation that occurs in patients with a history of
intravenous drug abuse is called Answer: Septic Embolism
Reduced air volume within a lung leading to collapse is termed Answer: Atelectasis
Why do intrabronchial foreign bodies occur more frequently in the lower right lung? Answer:
Larger and more vertical mainstem bronchi
Blunt or penetrating trauma to the chest can produce _________________, which appears as
streaks of air that outline muscles of the thorax and sometimes the neck. Answer:
Subcutaneous Emphysema
At what costal interspace does the diaphragm lie when the lungs are fully inflated Answer:
Tenth
Air collecting behind the sternum and dissecting up into the soft tissue of the neck is called
Answer: Mediastinal Emphysema (pneumomediastinum)
An accumulation of fluid in the pleural space, sometimes caused by heart failure or
pulmonary embolus, is called Answer: Effusion
What are the two major functions of the respiratory system ? Answer: oxygenation of blood
and removal of waste (CO2)
What does the lower respiratory system consist of? Answer: trachea, bronchi and bronchioles
The lower respiratory system is responsible for _________________ from the upper respiratory
system. Answer: conducting air
The tracheobronchial tree is lined with a _______________________. Answer: mucous
membrane
What are the hair-like projections found with in the tracheobronchial tree? Answer: cilia
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 4
What purpose does cilia serve? Answer: It prevents dust and foreign particles from reaching
the lungs.
What can happen if cilia become damaged? Answer: When particles are allowed to enter the
respiratory system (because of damage) the foreign particles produce a disease process.
Where does external respiration take place? Answer: in the lung parenchyma (alveoli)
Explain the process of internal respiration: Answer: O2 attaches to hemoglobin molecules in
red blood cells and circulates to various tissues in the body.
During respiration which muscles are stimulated to contract? Answer: The diaphragm and
intercostal muscles
What happens to the lungs when the muscles responsible for respiration contract? Answer:
They expand and fill with air
Pulmonary circulation provides the ____________ with oxygenated blood. Answer: body
What is the inner lining surrounding and attached to the lung wall called? Answer: visceral
pleura
Irregular thickening of linear chest markings due to excessively viscous mucus is the
radiographic appearance in what pathology? Answer: Cystic fibrosis
Surfactant consists of lipoproteins and serves what purpose in the respiratory system?
Answer: It provides the proper surface tension in the alveoli, allowing full external
respiration.
What types of images best demonstrate a rounded thickening of the epiglottic shadow and
what disease is characteristic of this? Answer: Soft tissue AP and lateral neck images;
Epiglottitis
How are the various types of pneumonia characterized? Answer: by their cause and location
in the lung
© 2025 All rights reserved
