©SIRJOEL EXAM SOLUTIONS
12/3/2024 11:27AM
MEDSCI 142 - Respiratory Physiology Exam
Questions With Correct Answers
Tidal volume is always:
a) greater than zero and less that total lung capacity
b) greater than residual volume
c) greater than functional residual capacity
d) greater than residual capacity and less than total lung capacity
e) all options are correct - answer✔a - correct; tidal volume is the amount you breathe in and out
when relaxed so is less than maximum but more than zero
b - no; we cant measure residual volume so dont know
c - no; FRC includes residual capacity, which cant be measured
d - no; less than total lung capacity but dont know volume of residual capacity
e - no
The lung:
a) exchanges CO2 between alveolar air and pulmonary capillary blood
, ©SIRJOEL EXAM SOLUTIONS
12/3/2024 11:27AM
b) exchanges H2O between alveolar air and ambient air
c) exchanges heat between alveolar air and ambient air
d) exchanges O2 between alveolar air and pulmonary capillary blood
e) all options are correct - answer✔e - all options are correct; the lung serves all of these
functions
Excitation of the phrenic nerve will:
a) increase volume of thorax by causing elevation of diaphragm
b) reduce volume of thorax by causing elevation of the diaphragm
c) increase volume of the thorax by causing relaxation of the diaphragm
d) increase volume of the thorax by causing contraction of the diaphragm
e) reduce volume of the thorax by causing contraction of the diaphragm - answer✔a - no;
elevation of diaphragm will decrease volume
b - no; excitation of the nerve will not cause elevation of diaphragm
c - no; excitation will not relax the diaphragm
d - correct; excitation will contract the diaphragm, causing it to go down and increase thorax
volume
e - no; contraction causes expansion of the volume
, ©SIRJOEL EXAM SOLUTIONS
12/3/2024 11:27AM
During inspiration:
a) the glottis is open and alveolar air pressure is above atmospheric
b) the glottis is open and alveolar air pressure is equal to atm
c) the glottis is open and alveolar air pressure is less that atm
d) the glottis is closed and alveolar air pressure is above atm
e) the glottis is closed and alveolar air pressure is below atm - answer✔If alveolar air pressure
was above atmospheric, it would want to equalise and the air would leave the lungs, not go in.
Due to expansion of the alveoli, the pressure decreases. The glottis is only closed for swallowing
food, so
c - correct
In pneumonia, bacterial infection causes the alveoli to become filled with liquid, thereby
reducing the space for air. This condition would be expected to:
a) decrease the surface area for diffusive exchange of O2
b) decrease the surface are for diffusive exchange of CO2
c) increase the diffusion distance of O2 between air and blood
d)increase the diffusion distance of CO2 between air and blood
e) all options are correct - answer✔Reducing space for air means less surface area available for
gas exchange, but also means more thickness for the exchange to have to work through
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12/3/2024 11:27AM
e - all options are correct
Ventilation is increased by:
a) a decrease in partial pressure of CO2 in the cerebrospinal fluid
b) a decrease in partial pressure of CO2 in the blood supply to the carotid bodies
c) decrease in partial pressure of CO2 in the inspired air
d) decrease of pH of the cerebrospinal fluid
e) all options are correct - answer✔Increase in ventilation is usually due to lower O2, and a need
to increase O2. A decrease in CO2 would not trigger this.
d - decrease in pH can occur due to increase in CO2 so ventilation is needed to correct pH
Hyperventilation will lead to:
a) increase of arteriolar Po2
b) decrease of alveolar Po2
c) increase of alveolar Pco2
d) increase of arteriolar Pco2
e) all options are correct - answer✔a - correct, more oxygen will go into the blood
b - no, Po2 at alveoli will not change, just the total amount
c - no, same as above
12/3/2024 11:27AM
MEDSCI 142 - Respiratory Physiology Exam
Questions With Correct Answers
Tidal volume is always:
a) greater than zero and less that total lung capacity
b) greater than residual volume
c) greater than functional residual capacity
d) greater than residual capacity and less than total lung capacity
e) all options are correct - answer✔a - correct; tidal volume is the amount you breathe in and out
when relaxed so is less than maximum but more than zero
b - no; we cant measure residual volume so dont know
c - no; FRC includes residual capacity, which cant be measured
d - no; less than total lung capacity but dont know volume of residual capacity
e - no
The lung:
a) exchanges CO2 between alveolar air and pulmonary capillary blood
, ©SIRJOEL EXAM SOLUTIONS
12/3/2024 11:27AM
b) exchanges H2O between alveolar air and ambient air
c) exchanges heat between alveolar air and ambient air
d) exchanges O2 between alveolar air and pulmonary capillary blood
e) all options are correct - answer✔e - all options are correct; the lung serves all of these
functions
Excitation of the phrenic nerve will:
a) increase volume of thorax by causing elevation of diaphragm
b) reduce volume of thorax by causing elevation of the diaphragm
c) increase volume of the thorax by causing relaxation of the diaphragm
d) increase volume of the thorax by causing contraction of the diaphragm
e) reduce volume of the thorax by causing contraction of the diaphragm - answer✔a - no;
elevation of diaphragm will decrease volume
b - no; excitation of the nerve will not cause elevation of diaphragm
c - no; excitation will not relax the diaphragm
d - correct; excitation will contract the diaphragm, causing it to go down and increase thorax
volume
e - no; contraction causes expansion of the volume
, ©SIRJOEL EXAM SOLUTIONS
12/3/2024 11:27AM
During inspiration:
a) the glottis is open and alveolar air pressure is above atmospheric
b) the glottis is open and alveolar air pressure is equal to atm
c) the glottis is open and alveolar air pressure is less that atm
d) the glottis is closed and alveolar air pressure is above atm
e) the glottis is closed and alveolar air pressure is below atm - answer✔If alveolar air pressure
was above atmospheric, it would want to equalise and the air would leave the lungs, not go in.
Due to expansion of the alveoli, the pressure decreases. The glottis is only closed for swallowing
food, so
c - correct
In pneumonia, bacterial infection causes the alveoli to become filled with liquid, thereby
reducing the space for air. This condition would be expected to:
a) decrease the surface area for diffusive exchange of O2
b) decrease the surface are for diffusive exchange of CO2
c) increase the diffusion distance of O2 between air and blood
d)increase the diffusion distance of CO2 between air and blood
e) all options are correct - answer✔Reducing space for air means less surface area available for
gas exchange, but also means more thickness for the exchange to have to work through
, ©SIRJOEL EXAM SOLUTIONS
12/3/2024 11:27AM
e - all options are correct
Ventilation is increased by:
a) a decrease in partial pressure of CO2 in the cerebrospinal fluid
b) a decrease in partial pressure of CO2 in the blood supply to the carotid bodies
c) decrease in partial pressure of CO2 in the inspired air
d) decrease of pH of the cerebrospinal fluid
e) all options are correct - answer✔Increase in ventilation is usually due to lower O2, and a need
to increase O2. A decrease in CO2 would not trigger this.
d - decrease in pH can occur due to increase in CO2 so ventilation is needed to correct pH
Hyperventilation will lead to:
a) increase of arteriolar Po2
b) decrease of alveolar Po2
c) increase of alveolar Pco2
d) increase of arteriolar Pco2
e) all options are correct - answer✔a - correct, more oxygen will go into the blood
b - no, Po2 at alveoli will not change, just the total amount
c - no, same as above
