CARDIOPULMONARY ANATOMY AND
PHYSIOLOGY EXAM EXAM SCRIPT 2026
COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS WITH
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
⩥ What are the main functions of the nose? Answer: Humidification,
heating, and filtering
⩥ What are the reflexes that are responsible for preventing aspiration of
foreign material into the lungs? Answer: Laryngeal and Pharyngeal
⩥ Individuals with obstructive sleep apnea typically have what
characteristics? Answer: Snoring, Daytime sleepiness, Obesity
⩥ Each alveolus may have 1000 ___________ segments Answer:
capillaries
⩥ As a result of parasympathetic stimulation, what happens to airway
secretions? Answer: Increased production and Viscosity
⩥ The sequence of events that generate a cough (D-Dig-Age) Answer:
Diaphragmatic contraction, deep inspiration, inspiratory pause, glottic
closing, abdominal muscle contraction, glottic opening, explosion
releasing compressed gas
,⩥ A25-year-old is brought ot the emergency department after a car
versus pedestrian accident. She suffered fractures of C2 and C3. Which
of the following respiratory muscles will be
compromised by this cervical injury? Answer: Diaphragm, abdominals,
intercostal
muscles
⩥ A plural effusion will _______________ the pressure in the lungs
required for lung inflation. Answer: Increase
⩥ I adeeply unconscious patient, what si the most common threatot
upper airway patency? Answer: Soft tissue obstruction
⩥ A5-year-old patient is brought to the emergency room with severe
respiratory distress after aspirating a coin. Which of the following signs
is the most suggestive of complete airway obstruction? Answer:
Inspiratory effort without sound or air movement
⩥ Inflammation of which of the following anatomical structures is
considered a life- threatening condition? Answer: Epiglottis
⩥ Which of the following mechanisms explains why drowning victims
often have little water in their lungs? Answer: Laryngospasm
, ⩥ Why might abdominal surgery be a risk for pulmonary complications?
.1 shallow breathing
2. avoid coughing
3. increases coughing
4. mucus is thin and watery Answer: 1. and 2.
⩥ The presence of irritants such as noxious gases elicit reflex
bronchoconstriction to limit penetration of injurious substances into the
lungs. This reflex is produced by stimulation of which of the following
structures? Answer: Cough receptors
⩥ Which of the following are considered accessory muscles of
respiration? Answer: Pectoralis major, sternomastoid, abdominals
⩥ If the lungs fail to empty normally during exhalation, because of
either weakened elastic recoil forces or high resistance to airflow, the
retained volume causes which change in the chest radiograph? Answer:
Flattening of the diaphragm
⩥ Patients addicted to tobacco products will have stimulation of which
neurotransmitter causing the brain to "want" more nicotine? Answer:
Dopamine
⩥ Main cause of Bronchoconstriction Answer: Parasympathetic
response
PHYSIOLOGY EXAM EXAM SCRIPT 2026
COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS WITH
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
⩥ What are the main functions of the nose? Answer: Humidification,
heating, and filtering
⩥ What are the reflexes that are responsible for preventing aspiration of
foreign material into the lungs? Answer: Laryngeal and Pharyngeal
⩥ Individuals with obstructive sleep apnea typically have what
characteristics? Answer: Snoring, Daytime sleepiness, Obesity
⩥ Each alveolus may have 1000 ___________ segments Answer:
capillaries
⩥ As a result of parasympathetic stimulation, what happens to airway
secretions? Answer: Increased production and Viscosity
⩥ The sequence of events that generate a cough (D-Dig-Age) Answer:
Diaphragmatic contraction, deep inspiration, inspiratory pause, glottic
closing, abdominal muscle contraction, glottic opening, explosion
releasing compressed gas
,⩥ A25-year-old is brought ot the emergency department after a car
versus pedestrian accident. She suffered fractures of C2 and C3. Which
of the following respiratory muscles will be
compromised by this cervical injury? Answer: Diaphragm, abdominals,
intercostal
muscles
⩥ A plural effusion will _______________ the pressure in the lungs
required for lung inflation. Answer: Increase
⩥ I adeeply unconscious patient, what si the most common threatot
upper airway patency? Answer: Soft tissue obstruction
⩥ A5-year-old patient is brought to the emergency room with severe
respiratory distress after aspirating a coin. Which of the following signs
is the most suggestive of complete airway obstruction? Answer:
Inspiratory effort without sound or air movement
⩥ Inflammation of which of the following anatomical structures is
considered a life- threatening condition? Answer: Epiglottis
⩥ Which of the following mechanisms explains why drowning victims
often have little water in their lungs? Answer: Laryngospasm
, ⩥ Why might abdominal surgery be a risk for pulmonary complications?
.1 shallow breathing
2. avoid coughing
3. increases coughing
4. mucus is thin and watery Answer: 1. and 2.
⩥ The presence of irritants such as noxious gases elicit reflex
bronchoconstriction to limit penetration of injurious substances into the
lungs. This reflex is produced by stimulation of which of the following
structures? Answer: Cough receptors
⩥ Which of the following are considered accessory muscles of
respiration? Answer: Pectoralis major, sternomastoid, abdominals
⩥ If the lungs fail to empty normally during exhalation, because of
either weakened elastic recoil forces or high resistance to airflow, the
retained volume causes which change in the chest radiograph? Answer:
Flattening of the diaphragm
⩥ Patients addicted to tobacco products will have stimulation of which
neurotransmitter causing the brain to "want" more nicotine? Answer:
Dopamine
⩥ Main cause of Bronchoconstriction Answer: Parasympathetic
response
