GAS EXCHANGE AND OXYGENATION ATI
TEST PAPER 2026 QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS CERTIFICATION EVALUATION
GRADED A+
⩥ what is the upper airway comprised of.
Answer: nasopharynx (nose), larynx (voice box), oropharynx (mouth)
⩥ what is the function of the upper airway.
Answer: warms and humidifies inhaled air
⩥ what is the small flap located just below the larynx and what is its
function.
Answer: epiglottis; prevents food and drinks from entering the trachea
⩥ what occurs when the epiglottis becomes swollen.
Answer: the upper airway will narrow or becomes completely blocked
⩥ what is the lower airway comprised of.
Answer: trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli of lungs
⩥ what is the function of the lower airway.
,Answer: conduction of air, mucociliary clearance, production of
pulmonary surfactant
⩥ what is the function of the bronchi.
Answer: move air in and out of lungs
⩥ what is the function of alveoli and where are they located.
Answer: location of gas exchange between CO2 and O2; small sacs in
the lungs (grape like structures)
⩥ what are the lungs made of.
Answer: elastic tissue
⩥ what is surfactant and where is it located.
Answer: detergent like phospholipid that reduces surface tension
between the membranes of the alveoli and prevent collapse
⩥ what is pleura and where is it located.
Answer: serous membrane that lines the lungs and thoracic cavity
⩥ what is the function of cilia.
Answer: propel and trap material, moves mucus toward upper airway to
be coughed
, ⩥ what is necessary to facilitate proper cilia functioning and mucus
movement.
Answer: proper fluid intake
⩥ when patients are smokers, what happens to their cilia.
Answer: the cilia become paralyzed and mucus cannot be expectorated
⩥ how many lobes are in the right lung.
Answer: 3; upper, middle, lower
⩥ how many lobes are in the left lung.
Answer: 2; upper, lower
⩥ why is there no middle lobe in the left lung.
Answer: to make room for the heart
⩥ how would you document crackling sounds that are in both lungs all
throughout.
Answer: bilateral crackles present throughout all lung fields
⩥ what is bronchodilation.
TEST PAPER 2026 QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS CERTIFICATION EVALUATION
GRADED A+
⩥ what is the upper airway comprised of.
Answer: nasopharynx (nose), larynx (voice box), oropharynx (mouth)
⩥ what is the function of the upper airway.
Answer: warms and humidifies inhaled air
⩥ what is the small flap located just below the larynx and what is its
function.
Answer: epiglottis; prevents food and drinks from entering the trachea
⩥ what occurs when the epiglottis becomes swollen.
Answer: the upper airway will narrow or becomes completely blocked
⩥ what is the lower airway comprised of.
Answer: trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli of lungs
⩥ what is the function of the lower airway.
,Answer: conduction of air, mucociliary clearance, production of
pulmonary surfactant
⩥ what is the function of the bronchi.
Answer: move air in and out of lungs
⩥ what is the function of alveoli and where are they located.
Answer: location of gas exchange between CO2 and O2; small sacs in
the lungs (grape like structures)
⩥ what are the lungs made of.
Answer: elastic tissue
⩥ what is surfactant and where is it located.
Answer: detergent like phospholipid that reduces surface tension
between the membranes of the alveoli and prevent collapse
⩥ what is pleura and where is it located.
Answer: serous membrane that lines the lungs and thoracic cavity
⩥ what is the function of cilia.
Answer: propel and trap material, moves mucus toward upper airway to
be coughed
, ⩥ what is necessary to facilitate proper cilia functioning and mucus
movement.
Answer: proper fluid intake
⩥ when patients are smokers, what happens to their cilia.
Answer: the cilia become paralyzed and mucus cannot be expectorated
⩥ how many lobes are in the right lung.
Answer: 3; upper, middle, lower
⩥ how many lobes are in the left lung.
Answer: 2; upper, lower
⩥ why is there no middle lobe in the left lung.
Answer: to make room for the heart
⩥ how would you document crackling sounds that are in both lungs all
throughout.
Answer: bilateral crackles present throughout all lung fields
⩥ what is bronchodilation.
