Pulmonary System & Function: NR 507 Practice
Questions & Answers (2026)
http://www.fammed.usouthal.edu/Pulmonology/Self-StudyAids/PFTs/PFTCaseQuestions
%26Answers.pdf - correct answersVisit this site for case examples on d d d d d d d d d d
Pulmonary Function Testing Case Questions and Answers d d d d d d
-FVC / Forced Vital Capacity
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-FEV1 / Forced Expiratory Volume in One Second
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-TLC / Total Lung Capacity
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-RV / Residual Volume
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-DLCO / Diffusion Capacity for Carbon Monoxide
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-BD / Bronchodilator - correct answersAbbreviations:
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Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) are non-invasive tests that provide information about lung function. PFTs
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alone cannot differentiate among the causes of respiratory abnormalities. Therefore, the patient's history,
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physical exam and other diagnostics must be considered when making a diagnosis.
d d d d d d d d d d d d
The PFT can help the NP determine the patient's respiratory pattern, specifically if the abnormality is due to an
d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d
obstructive or restrictive problem. Once the pattern is identified, PFTs allow the NP to determine the severity
d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d
of the disease. This data combined with other patient findings, leads to a diagnosis. - correct
d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d
answersMechanics of Respiration: Pulmonary Function Tests d d d d d
,1. When signs and symptoms of a respiratory problem require evaluation (cough, dyspnea, cyanosis,
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wheezing, hypoxemia, hypercapnia, and lung hyperinflation).
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2. When disease progression needs to be determined.
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3. When monitoring the effectiveness of drug therapy.
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4. When monitoring for potential toxic effects of certain drugs. - correct answersThere are some indications
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to help the NP to determine when to order PFTs:
d d d d d d d d d
Spirometry: This measures air movement in and out of the lungs during various respiratory maneuvers. The
d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d
NP can also determine how much air the patient is breathing in and out and how fast the patient is doing it.
d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d
Think about the respiratory cycle in terms of lung volume and lung capacities. The capacity is just simply the
d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d
sum of one of more volumes.
d d d d d
There are three important measures on which the NP focuses when reviewing spirometry results: - correct
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answersComponents of a Pulmonary Function Tests d d d d d
Spirometry
Measure
Forced Vital Capacity (FVC); Normal 80-120%
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Definition
The FVC measures the volume of air in the lungs that can be exhaled.
d d d d d d d d d d d d d
Maneuver
Patient inhales as deep as possible and then exhales as long and as forcefully as possible. - correct
d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d
answersThere are three important measures on which the NP focuses when reviewing spirometry results: 1.)
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FVC
Measure
Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second (FEV1); Normal 80-120%
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Definition
, Amount of air forcefully exhaled from the lungs in the first second.
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Maneuver
The patient inhales and forcefully exhales as fast as possible. - correct answersThere are three important
d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d
measures on which the NP focuses when reviewing spirometry results: 2.) FEV1
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Measure
FEV1/FVC ratio d
Definition
Determines if the pattern is obstructive, restrictive or normal d d d d d d d d
Maneuver
This is a calculated ratio that represents the proportion of a person's vital capacity that they are able to expire
d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d
in the first second of forced expiration to the full, forced vital capacity. - correct answersThere are three
d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d
important measures on which the NP focuses when reviewing spirometry results: 3.) FEV1/FVC ratio
d d d d d d d d d d d d d
The diffusing capacity is simply how well the lungs are able to exchange gas. Gas exchange is most efficient in a
d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d
lung that has high surface area because it's easier for the blood to pick up the gas that's being exchange. An
d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d
example of a condition that decreases the patient's diffusing capacity because of a loss of surface area is
d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d
emphysema. Conditions that increase the lungs thickness can also decrease diffusing capacity as in the case of
d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d
pulmonary fibrosis. - correct answersComponents of a Pulmonary Function Tests:
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Diffusing capacity d
RV is the amount of air that remains in the lungs after a forceful exhalation. RV + FVC = TLC.
d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d
Note that the RV cannot be measured by spirometry. Other methods are used that require the patient to
d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d
inhale an inert gas (helium) or sit in an airtight booth where the pressure is measured during breathing. These
d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d
measurements are also called static lung volumes. The values add to the information obtained from d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d
spirometry. d
Questions & Answers (2026)
http://www.fammed.usouthal.edu/Pulmonology/Self-StudyAids/PFTs/PFTCaseQuestions
%26Answers.pdf - correct answersVisit this site for case examples on d d d d d d d d d d
Pulmonary Function Testing Case Questions and Answers d d d d d d
-FVC / Forced Vital Capacity
d d d d d
-FEV1 / Forced Expiratory Volume in One Second
d d d d d d d d
-TLC / Total Lung Capacity
d d d d d
-RV / Residual Volume
d d d d
-DLCO / Diffusion Capacity for Carbon Monoxide
d d d d d d d
-BD / Bronchodilator - correct answersAbbreviations:
d d d d d
Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) are non-invasive tests that provide information about lung function. PFTs
d d d d d d d d d d d d d d
alone cannot differentiate among the causes of respiratory abnormalities. Therefore, the patient's history,
d d d d d d d d d d d d d
physical exam and other diagnostics must be considered when making a diagnosis.
d d d d d d d d d d d d
The PFT can help the NP determine the patient's respiratory pattern, specifically if the abnormality is due to an
d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d
obstructive or restrictive problem. Once the pattern is identified, PFTs allow the NP to determine the severity
d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d
of the disease. This data combined with other patient findings, leads to a diagnosis. - correct
d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d
answersMechanics of Respiration: Pulmonary Function Tests d d d d d
,1. When signs and symptoms of a respiratory problem require evaluation (cough, dyspnea, cyanosis,
d d d d d d d d d d d d d d
wheezing, hypoxemia, hypercapnia, and lung hyperinflation).
d d d d d
2. When disease progression needs to be determined.
d d d d d d d
3. When monitoring the effectiveness of drug therapy.
d d d d d d d
4. When monitoring for potential toxic effects of certain drugs. - correct answersThere are some indications
d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d
to help the NP to determine when to order PFTs:
d d d d d d d d d
Spirometry: This measures air movement in and out of the lungs during various respiratory maneuvers. The
d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d
NP can also determine how much air the patient is breathing in and out and how fast the patient is doing it.
d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d
Think about the respiratory cycle in terms of lung volume and lung capacities. The capacity is just simply the
d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d
sum of one of more volumes.
d d d d d
There are three important measures on which the NP focuses when reviewing spirometry results: - correct
d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d
answersComponents of a Pulmonary Function Tests d d d d d
Spirometry
Measure
Forced Vital Capacity (FVC); Normal 80-120%
d d d d d
Definition
The FVC measures the volume of air in the lungs that can be exhaled.
d d d d d d d d d d d d d
Maneuver
Patient inhales as deep as possible and then exhales as long and as forcefully as possible. - correct
d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d
answersThere are three important measures on which the NP focuses when reviewing spirometry results: 1.)
d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d
FVC
Measure
Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second (FEV1); Normal 80-120%
d d d d d d d d
Definition
, Amount of air forcefully exhaled from the lungs in the first second.
d d d d d d d d d d d
Maneuver
The patient inhales and forcefully exhales as fast as possible. - correct answersThere are three important
d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d
measures on which the NP focuses when reviewing spirometry results: 2.) FEV1
d d d d d d d d d d d
Measure
FEV1/FVC ratio d
Definition
Determines if the pattern is obstructive, restrictive or normal d d d d d d d d
Maneuver
This is a calculated ratio that represents the proportion of a person's vital capacity that they are able to expire
d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d
in the first second of forced expiration to the full, forced vital capacity. - correct answersThere are three
d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d
important measures on which the NP focuses when reviewing spirometry results: 3.) FEV1/FVC ratio
d d d d d d d d d d d d d
The diffusing capacity is simply how well the lungs are able to exchange gas. Gas exchange is most efficient in a
d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d
lung that has high surface area because it's easier for the blood to pick up the gas that's being exchange. An
d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d
example of a condition that decreases the patient's diffusing capacity because of a loss of surface area is
d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d
emphysema. Conditions that increase the lungs thickness can also decrease diffusing capacity as in the case of
d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d
pulmonary fibrosis. - correct answersComponents of a Pulmonary Function Tests:
d d d d d d d d d d d
Diffusing capacity d
RV is the amount of air that remains in the lungs after a forceful exhalation. RV + FVC = TLC.
d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d
Note that the RV cannot be measured by spirometry. Other methods are used that require the patient to
d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d
inhale an inert gas (helium) or sit in an airtight booth where the pressure is measured during breathing. These
d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d
measurements are also called static lung volumes. The values add to the information obtained from d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d
spirometry. d
