CECIL'S 16 OBSTRUCTIVE LUNG
DISEASES. EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 2026 VERIFIED.
What are Obstructive Lung diseases? - ANS A group of disorders that results in dyspnea.
Characterized by obstructive pattern of expiratory air flow limitation. Seen on Spirometry.
What are some examples of Obstructive Lung Diseases? - ANS COPD
Asthma
Cystic Fibrosis
Bronchiectasis
Bronchioles Disorders
What are some associated sx of Obstructive Lung Diseases? - ANS - Wheezes
- Sputum Production
- Chronic Airway-centered inflammation
- Presence of Airway Structural changes.
- Exacerbations of disease sx (Episodes of acutely worsened clinical status)
COPD - ANS Characterized by abnormal airway inflammation and abnormal lung structure in
response to an inhaled irritant (Cigarette Smoke).
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 1 OF 25
,Irreversible to incomplete reversible airflow limitation.
Typically progressive over time
Asthma - ANS Characteristic smooth muscle hyperactivity and reversible airflow limitation.
Frequent associated with Atopy (A heightened immune response to common allergens)
Bronchiectasis - ANS Permanent abnormal dilation of the bronchi resulting in chronic cough,
purulent sputum, and hemoptysis
Caused by CF - a genetic disorder from mutated CFTR gene
Bronchial Disorders - ANS "Small airway disorders"
Inflammation and/or fibrosis of the small airways of the lungs leading to dyspnea.
How is the flow of air through the bronchial tree related to pressure and resistance? -
ANS The flow of air is directly proportional to the driving pressure. (More pressure = more
airflow)
The flow of air is inversely proportional to the resistance. (More flow = less resistance, more
resistance = less flow)
In obstructive lung diseases, changes in one or both of these two processes may be present: -
ANS Loss of lung elastic tissue. Decreased lung elastic recoil on expiration leads to decreased
driving pressure for expiratory airflow. Seen in COPD.
Mucus Obstruction of airway lumen. This will cause increased airway resistance in all
obstructive lung diseases.
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 2 OF 25
, How does a loss of lung elastic tissue affect the lung in cases of COPD? - ANS Decreased lung
elastic recoil on expiration causes a decreased driving pressure for expiratory airflow.
How does a loss of lung elastic tissue affect the lung in asthma patients? - ANS The airflow
limitation is primarily caused by smooth muscle contractions. This results in bronchoconstriction
that increases the airway resistance, leading to decreased airflow.
Residual Volume (RV) and Functional Residual Capacity (FRC are ______________ in cases of
obstruction to airflow. - ANS Increased.
Total Lung Capacity (TLC) will ___________ or ________ with obstructed airflow diseases. -
ANS Remain normal or Increase.
Vital Lung Capacity (VC) and Inspiratory Capacity (IC) will eventually __________ by the increase
in RV - ANS Reduce.
What are some factors that contribute to the increase in RV and FRC in patients with obstructive
lung diseases? - ANS Dec lung elastic recoil in COPD will inc FRC bc reduced opposition to
outward force exerted by the chest wall.
Airways more likely to collapse at high lung volumes and trap excessive air (inc FRC and RV) in
COPD and asthma where there is bronchoconstriction and mucus plugging.
Exercise - inc demand of minute ventilation. Inc resistance to airflow may not allow the lungs to
completely empty during expiration and will lead to dynamic hyperinflation as the volume of
trapped air progressively increases. (Chest tightness and dyspnea during exercise)
Two major consequences of lung volume changes in obstructive lung disease: - ANS 1.
Increased work of breathing: Breathing at higher volumes requires a higher change in pressure
for the smaller change in lung volume. Need to do more work to breathe.
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 3 OF 25
DISEASES. EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 2026 VERIFIED.
What are Obstructive Lung diseases? - ANS A group of disorders that results in dyspnea.
Characterized by obstructive pattern of expiratory air flow limitation. Seen on Spirometry.
What are some examples of Obstructive Lung Diseases? - ANS COPD
Asthma
Cystic Fibrosis
Bronchiectasis
Bronchioles Disorders
What are some associated sx of Obstructive Lung Diseases? - ANS - Wheezes
- Sputum Production
- Chronic Airway-centered inflammation
- Presence of Airway Structural changes.
- Exacerbations of disease sx (Episodes of acutely worsened clinical status)
COPD - ANS Characterized by abnormal airway inflammation and abnormal lung structure in
response to an inhaled irritant (Cigarette Smoke).
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 1 OF 25
,Irreversible to incomplete reversible airflow limitation.
Typically progressive over time
Asthma - ANS Characteristic smooth muscle hyperactivity and reversible airflow limitation.
Frequent associated with Atopy (A heightened immune response to common allergens)
Bronchiectasis - ANS Permanent abnormal dilation of the bronchi resulting in chronic cough,
purulent sputum, and hemoptysis
Caused by CF - a genetic disorder from mutated CFTR gene
Bronchial Disorders - ANS "Small airway disorders"
Inflammation and/or fibrosis of the small airways of the lungs leading to dyspnea.
How is the flow of air through the bronchial tree related to pressure and resistance? -
ANS The flow of air is directly proportional to the driving pressure. (More pressure = more
airflow)
The flow of air is inversely proportional to the resistance. (More flow = less resistance, more
resistance = less flow)
In obstructive lung diseases, changes in one or both of these two processes may be present: -
ANS Loss of lung elastic tissue. Decreased lung elastic recoil on expiration leads to decreased
driving pressure for expiratory airflow. Seen in COPD.
Mucus Obstruction of airway lumen. This will cause increased airway resistance in all
obstructive lung diseases.
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 2 OF 25
, How does a loss of lung elastic tissue affect the lung in cases of COPD? - ANS Decreased lung
elastic recoil on expiration causes a decreased driving pressure for expiratory airflow.
How does a loss of lung elastic tissue affect the lung in asthma patients? - ANS The airflow
limitation is primarily caused by smooth muscle contractions. This results in bronchoconstriction
that increases the airway resistance, leading to decreased airflow.
Residual Volume (RV) and Functional Residual Capacity (FRC are ______________ in cases of
obstruction to airflow. - ANS Increased.
Total Lung Capacity (TLC) will ___________ or ________ with obstructed airflow diseases. -
ANS Remain normal or Increase.
Vital Lung Capacity (VC) and Inspiratory Capacity (IC) will eventually __________ by the increase
in RV - ANS Reduce.
What are some factors that contribute to the increase in RV and FRC in patients with obstructive
lung diseases? - ANS Dec lung elastic recoil in COPD will inc FRC bc reduced opposition to
outward force exerted by the chest wall.
Airways more likely to collapse at high lung volumes and trap excessive air (inc FRC and RV) in
COPD and asthma where there is bronchoconstriction and mucus plugging.
Exercise - inc demand of minute ventilation. Inc resistance to airflow may not allow the lungs to
completely empty during expiration and will lead to dynamic hyperinflation as the volume of
trapped air progressively increases. (Chest tightness and dyspnea during exercise)
Two major consequences of lung volume changes in obstructive lung disease: - ANS 1.
Increased work of breathing: Breathing at higher volumes requires a higher change in pressure
for the smaller change in lung volume. Need to do more work to breathe.
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 3 OF 25
