A&P 1 101 Module 2 Exam Questions and Answers
Portage Learning | 2026/2027 Edition | Respiratory System
Examination Overview: This 29-question exam is aligned with the 2026-2027 Portage Learning A&P 1 101
Module 2 course objectives covering the respiratory system. The exam is organized into eight sections progressing
from lung anatomy and lobes through respiratory epithelium, gas exchange physiology, pressure mechanics, lung
volumes and capacities, upper respiratory anatomy, respiratory disorders, and integrated clinical case scenarios.
Cognitive distribution is approximately 30% recall, 50% application, and 20% analysis. Each question includes a
verified correct answer and a detailed rationale grounded in Portage Learning course principles, respiratory system
anatomy, physiological mechanics, and clinical applications. Use this exam as both a final readiness assessment and
a study guide; review the rationale for every question you miss, because Module 2 exam errors most often stem from
lung lobe confusion, alveolar cell type confusion, respiratory volume formula confusion, or bronchial tree branching
order errors.
Section Topic Range Questions
1 Lung Anatomy and Lobes Q1-Q4
2 Respiratory Epithelium and Cell Types Q5-Q9
3 Respiratory Physiology and Gas Exchange Q10-Q14
4 Respiratory Mechanics and Pressure Dynamics Q15-Q19
5 Respiratory Volumes and Capacities Q20-Q22
6 Upper Respiratory Anatomy Q23-Q25
7 Respiratory Disorders and Clinical Applications Q26-Q28
8 Integrated Clinical Case Scenarios Q29
SECTION 1: Lung Anatomy and Lobes (Right Lung Lobes, Respiratory System
Structures)
Q1: How many lobes does the right human lung contain, and what are they named?
A. Two lobes: superior and inferior
B. Three lobes: superior, middle, and inferior [CORRECT]
C. Four lobes: superior, middle, inferior, and accessory
D. Three lobes: anterior, posterior, and medial
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The right human lung has three lobes - the superior, middle, and inferior lobes - separated by the
horizontal and oblique fissures. The left lung has only two lobes (superior and inferior) because the heart
occupies space in the left thoracic cavity. Option A describes the left lung; option C invents a non-existent
'accessory' lobe; option D uses incorrect anatomical terms.
Aligned with Portage Learning A&P 1 Course Objectives Page 1
, A&P 1 101 Module 2 Exam - Portage Learning 2026/2027 Edition | 29 Questions | Respiratory System
Q2: Which structure allows the passage of air but NOT food, serving as a dedicated pathway in the upper
respiratory tract?
A. Oropharynx, because it serves both food and air
B. Laryngopharynx, because it is shared with the digestive tract
C. Nasopharynx, because only air passes through it [CORRECT]
D. Esophagus, because it is the dedicated air pathway
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The nasopharynx is positioned posterior to the nasal cavity and superior to the soft palate, allowing
only air to pass through it; food and liquid are redirected by the soft palate during swallowing. The oropharynx
(A) and laryngopharynx (B) are shared passages for both air and food. The esophagus (D) is part of the
digestive tract, not the respiratory tract.
Q3: Where does gas exchange occur in the respiratory system?
A. Only in the primary bronchi, where air first enters the lungs
B. In the trachea and main bronchi, where cartilage keeps airways open
C. In the respiratory bronchioles and pulmonary alveoli [CORRECT]
D. Only in the terminal bronchioles, the smallest conducting airways
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Gas exchange occurs in the respiratory bronchioles and pulmonary alveoli, which together form the
respiratory zone of the lung where the blood-air barrier is thin enough for diffusion of O2 and CO2. The
primary bronchi (A), trachea (B), and terminal bronchioles (D) are conducting airways that transport air but do
not participate in gas exchange because their walls are too thick and lack alveolar-capillary contact.
Q4: Which sequence correctly lists the respiratory tree branching from widest to narrowest?
A. Bronchioles -> Primary bronchi -> Secondary bronchi -> Tertiary bronchi
B. Secondary bronchi -> Tertiary bronchi -> Primary bronchi -> Bronchioles
C. Primary bronchi -> Secondary bronchi -> Tertiary bronchi -> Bronchioles [CORRECT]
D. Primary bronchi -> Tertiary bronchi -> Secondary bronchi -> Bronchioles
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The respiratory tree branches from widest to narrowest as: primary (main) bronchi entering each
lung, then secondary (lobar) bronchi supplying each lobe, then tertiary (segmental) bronchi supplying each
bronchopulmonary segment, and finally bronchioles that progressively narrow as they branch into the lung
tissue. Options A, B, and D reverse or misorder this branching sequence, which mirrors the anatomical
progression of decreasing airway diameter.
SECTION 2: Respiratory Epithelium and Cell Types (Alveolar Cells, Macrophages,
Bronchioles)
Aligned with Portage Learning A&P 1 Course Objectives Page 2