SJVC RCP 100 FINAL EXAM ACTUAL 2026/2027 COMPREHENSIVE HIGH
YIELD PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND STUDY GUIDE ACCURATE EXAM
1. A respiratory care student is reviewing the major functions of the
respiratory system and is asked to identify the process that allows oxygen
from the alveoli to enter pulmonary capillary blood while carbon dioxide
moves in the opposite direction. Which process best describes this
movement of gases across the alveolar-capillary membrane?
A. Active transport
B. Osmosis
C. Filtration
D. Diffusion
Answer: D
2. During a discussion of respiratory anatomy, an instructor asks which
structure serves as the primary muscular partition separating the thoracic
and abdominal cavities and contributes most to quiet inspiration by
contracting downward. Which structure should the student identify?
A. Diaphragm
B. Internal intercostal muscles
C. Abdominal muscles
D. Sternocleidomastoid muscles
Answer: A
3. A patient is breathing quietly at rest, and the respiratory therapist explains
that normal inspiration is primarily produced by contraction of one major
muscle that increases thoracic volume. Which muscle is primarily
responsible for this process?
A. Rectus abdominis
B. Diaphragm
C. Internal intercostals
D. Transversus thoracis
Answer: B
pg. 1
, 4. A patient with severe respiratory distress is using accessory muscles and
demonstrating increased work of breathing. Which group of muscles would
most appropriately be identified as accessory inspiratory muscles recruited
when ventilatory demand increases?
A. Rectus abdominis and internal intercostals
B. Diaphragm and pelvic floor
C. Sternocleidomastoid and scalene muscles
D. Gluteal and abdominal muscles
Answer: C
5. A respiratory care student is comparing the conducting and respiratory
zones of the airway and needs to identify the structure where substantial
gas exchange normally begins. Which structure should the student select?
A. Trachea
B. Terminal bronchiole
C. Main bronchus
D. Respiratory bronchiole
Answer: D
6. A patient has inflammation involving the small airways, and the therapist is
reviewing the branching sequence of the lower respiratory tract. Which
structure normally follows the terminal bronchioles and begins the
respiratory zone?
A. Respiratory bronchioles
B. Main bronchi
C. Trachea
D. Larynx
Answer: A
7. A patient has difficulty protecting the lower airway while swallowing. The
respiratory therapist explains that a leaf-shaped structure normally assists
in preventing food and liquids from entering the laryngeal opening during
swallowing. Which structure is being described?
A. Uvula
pg. 2
, B. Epiglottis
C. Thyroid cartilage
D. Vocal cord
Answer: B
8. A patient develops a harsh, high-pitched inspiratory noise caused by
narrowing of the upper airway. Which term should the respiratory therapist
use to describe this abnormal sound?
A. Rhonchus
B. Crackle
C. Stridor
D. Pleural rub
Answer: C
9. A patient with narrowing of the lower airways produces a musical,
continuous sound that is particularly prominent during expiration. Which
breath sound is most consistent with this finding?
A. Wheeze
B. Fine crackle
C. Pleural friction rub
D. Bronchial sound
Answer: A
10. During physical assessment, a therapist hears discontinuous popping
sounds during inspiration that are associated with the sudden opening of
previously closed small airways or alveoli. Which finding is being described?
A. Stridor
B. Rhonchi
C. Wheezing
D. Crackles
Answer: D
11. A patient with retained secretions in larger airways produces a low-pitched,
coarse, continuous sound that may change after coughing. Which
auscultatory finding is most consistent with this description?
pg. 3
, A. Fine crackles
B. Rhonchi
C. Pleural rub
D. Stridor
Answer: B
12. A patient has a normal air-filled lung field, and percussion over the chest
produces the expected hollow sound associated with air-containing lung
tissue. Which percussion note should normally be expected?
A. Flat
B. Dull
C. Resonant
D. Tympanic
Answer: C
13. During percussion of a patient's chest, the therapist obtains a markedly dull
sound over an area where fluid is suspected to be present. Which condition
would most likely produce this finding?
A. Pleural effusion
B. Pneumothorax
C. Emphysema
D. Normal lung tissue
Answer: A
14. A patient with suspected pneumothorax has percussion performed over the
affected region. Which percussion finding would be most consistent with
increased air within the pleural space?
A. Flatness
B. Dullness
C. Resonance
D. Hyperresonance
Answer: D
15. A respiratory care student is reviewing the basic physical properties of gases
and learns that gas molecules have weak attractive forces, no fixed shape,
pg. 4
YIELD PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND STUDY GUIDE ACCURATE EXAM
1. A respiratory care student is reviewing the major functions of the
respiratory system and is asked to identify the process that allows oxygen
from the alveoli to enter pulmonary capillary blood while carbon dioxide
moves in the opposite direction. Which process best describes this
movement of gases across the alveolar-capillary membrane?
A. Active transport
B. Osmosis
C. Filtration
D. Diffusion
Answer: D
2. During a discussion of respiratory anatomy, an instructor asks which
structure serves as the primary muscular partition separating the thoracic
and abdominal cavities and contributes most to quiet inspiration by
contracting downward. Which structure should the student identify?
A. Diaphragm
B. Internal intercostal muscles
C. Abdominal muscles
D. Sternocleidomastoid muscles
Answer: A
3. A patient is breathing quietly at rest, and the respiratory therapist explains
that normal inspiration is primarily produced by contraction of one major
muscle that increases thoracic volume. Which muscle is primarily
responsible for this process?
A. Rectus abdominis
B. Diaphragm
C. Internal intercostals
D. Transversus thoracis
Answer: B
pg. 1
, 4. A patient with severe respiratory distress is using accessory muscles and
demonstrating increased work of breathing. Which group of muscles would
most appropriately be identified as accessory inspiratory muscles recruited
when ventilatory demand increases?
A. Rectus abdominis and internal intercostals
B. Diaphragm and pelvic floor
C. Sternocleidomastoid and scalene muscles
D. Gluteal and abdominal muscles
Answer: C
5. A respiratory care student is comparing the conducting and respiratory
zones of the airway and needs to identify the structure where substantial
gas exchange normally begins. Which structure should the student select?
A. Trachea
B. Terminal bronchiole
C. Main bronchus
D. Respiratory bronchiole
Answer: D
6. A patient has inflammation involving the small airways, and the therapist is
reviewing the branching sequence of the lower respiratory tract. Which
structure normally follows the terminal bronchioles and begins the
respiratory zone?
A. Respiratory bronchioles
B. Main bronchi
C. Trachea
D. Larynx
Answer: A
7. A patient has difficulty protecting the lower airway while swallowing. The
respiratory therapist explains that a leaf-shaped structure normally assists
in preventing food and liquids from entering the laryngeal opening during
swallowing. Which structure is being described?
A. Uvula
pg. 2
, B. Epiglottis
C. Thyroid cartilage
D. Vocal cord
Answer: B
8. A patient develops a harsh, high-pitched inspiratory noise caused by
narrowing of the upper airway. Which term should the respiratory therapist
use to describe this abnormal sound?
A. Rhonchus
B. Crackle
C. Stridor
D. Pleural rub
Answer: C
9. A patient with narrowing of the lower airways produces a musical,
continuous sound that is particularly prominent during expiration. Which
breath sound is most consistent with this finding?
A. Wheeze
B. Fine crackle
C. Pleural friction rub
D. Bronchial sound
Answer: A
10. During physical assessment, a therapist hears discontinuous popping
sounds during inspiration that are associated with the sudden opening of
previously closed small airways or alveoli. Which finding is being described?
A. Stridor
B. Rhonchi
C. Wheezing
D. Crackles
Answer: D
11. A patient with retained secretions in larger airways produces a low-pitched,
coarse, continuous sound that may change after coughing. Which
auscultatory finding is most consistent with this description?
pg. 3
, A. Fine crackles
B. Rhonchi
C. Pleural rub
D. Stridor
Answer: B
12. A patient has a normal air-filled lung field, and percussion over the chest
produces the expected hollow sound associated with air-containing lung
tissue. Which percussion note should normally be expected?
A. Flat
B. Dull
C. Resonant
D. Tympanic
Answer: C
13. During percussion of a patient's chest, the therapist obtains a markedly dull
sound over an area where fluid is suspected to be present. Which condition
would most likely produce this finding?
A. Pleural effusion
B. Pneumothorax
C. Emphysema
D. Normal lung tissue
Answer: A
14. A patient with suspected pneumothorax has percussion performed over the
affected region. Which percussion finding would be most consistent with
increased air within the pleural space?
A. Flatness
B. Dullness
C. Resonance
D. Hyperresonance
Answer: D
15. A respiratory care student is reviewing the basic physical properties of gases
and learns that gas molecules have weak attractive forces, no fixed shape,
pg. 4
