Name: ___________________________________ Club:________________________________
Equine Respiratory System Practice Test
Answer Key
Matching: Match the Letters to the Correct Names for Each of the Respiratory Organs.
Word Bank:
Alveolus
Bronchiole
Trachea
Capillaries
Right & Left Bronchi
Main Bronchi
1: Trachea
2:Main Bronchi
3: Right & Left Bronchi
4: Bronchiole
5: Capillaries
6:Alveolus
Multiple Choice: Read each question and circle the best possible answer
7.) What is the normal respiration rate of a horse?
a. 8-16 bpm
b. 10-20 bpm
c. 5-14 bpm
d. 30-40 bpm
8.) Which of the following does NOT affect respiration rate?
a. Illness
b. Gender
c. Environmental Temperature
d. Exercise
9.) The trachea is formed from partial cartilage rings and it contains tiny hair like structures
called cilia inside it. What is the purpose of cilia?
a. They help to warm and humidify the air before it reaches the lungs
b. They help trap foreign objects and beat them into mucus which is then expelled from
the track
c. They help move food down the horse’s throat
d. They serve no purpose
10.) Which of the following is NOT a function of the equine respiratory system?
a. Vocalization
b. To transport oxygen molecules and oxygenate the blood
c. To help regulate body temperature
d. Fight infection
11.) How many lobes does the right lung contain?
a. 1
b.2
c.3
d.4
12.) How many lobes does the left lung contain?
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
13.) Out of all the functions of the equine respiratory system which is the PRIMARY function?
a. Vocalization
b. To transport oxygen molecules and oxygenate the blood
c. To help regulate body temperature
d. There is no primary function, they are all of equal importance
Fill in the Blanks: Write a word in the blank that correctly completes each statement.
Respiration is the movement of air into and out of the lungs. This movement of air is compelled
by contractions of the horse’s chest muscles including the Diaphragm, a sheet of muscle at the
bottom of the ribcage, and the Intercostal muscles, muscles in between the ribs. The
respiratory system begins at the Nostrils where air is taken in through Inspiration, aka
breathing. The air then passes through the Larynx, which helps to direct airflow and prevent
foreign particles from entering the tract. It also contains vocal cords that allow the horse to
vocalize. After passing through the Larynx (same as previous) air travels down the Trachea to
the lungs. This cartilaginous, ringed tube then divides into 2 (#) Bronchi for the right and left
lungs. These continue to get smaller turning into Bronchioles and then to Alveolus where blood
oxygen exchange occurs. The Alveoli are little air sacs within the lungs. The respiratory system
works closely with the Cardiovascular system.
Information source:
http://www.thebige.com/fair/agriculture/documents/08ag4hhorserespiratorysystem.pdf
http://www.equinecentre.unimelb.edu.au/_images/health_resp_preventing_fig1.gif