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Physiology MCQ
Assessment (University of Cape Coast)
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PHYSIOLOGY MCQ’S (RESPIRATORY SYSTEM)
1. External respiration includes all of these processes EXCEPT __________.
A: release of carbon dioxide by tissue cells
B: gas diffusion across respiratory membrane
C: breathing
D: gas transport
A
2. Which class of sensory receptor can modify respiratory reflexes?
A: nociceptors
B: chemoreceptors
C: stretch receptors
D: all of these sensory receptors can modify respiratory reflexes.
D
3. All of the following are changes we can expect to see in respiratory performances as
we age EXCEPT a(an) __________.
A: increase in lung compliance
B: decrease in the movement of the rib cage
C: decrease in the elasticity of the lung tissue
D: increase in emphysema
A
4. In order for the respiratory system to maintain homeostatic tissue levels of oxygen
and carbon dioxide, it must coordinate constantly with the __________ system.
A: cardiovascular
B: integumentary
C: digestive
D: urinary
A
5. Which of the following statements correctly contrasts the dorsal respiratory group
(DRG) and the ventral respiratory group (VRG)?
A: the DRG is mainly active during inspiration, while the VRG is primarily active
during expiration.
B: the DRG only becomes active when there is a need for increased breathing activity,
while the VRG is active during every respiratory cycle.
C: the VRG receives input from cerebrospinal fluid chemoreceptors, while the DRG
receives input from chemoreceptors in the bloodstream.
D: the VRG has inspiratory and expiratory centers that are active during every
breathing cycle, while the DRG is only active during expiration.
A
6. Which of the following variables is NOT monitored by the medullary breathing
centers?
A: air humidity
B: amount of stretch in the lungs
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C: partial pressure of CO2
D: blood acidity
A
7. Which breathing center promotes inhalation by stimulating the DRG?
A: VRG
B: apneustic center
C: pneumotaxic center
D: hypothalamus
B
8. The structure of the respiratory epithelium changes along the respiratory tract. In
addition to mucous cells, what other type of cells are found lining the nasal cavity,
nasopharynx, and the superior portion (trachea and bronchi) of the lower respiratory
system?
A: simple squamous epithelial cells
B: stratified squamous epithelial cells
C: cuboidal ciliated epithelial cells
D: pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelial cells
D
9. What is the name of the structures projecting from the lateral surfaces of the nasal
cavity that function to create turbulence and help humidify and warm the incoming
air?
A: nares
B: nasal vestibule
C: nasal septum
D: nasal conchae
D
10. Both sneezing and coughing are examples of protective reflexes triggered by
irritation. Sneezing and coughing both involve a disruption in respiration. What is the
formal name for the period when respiration is suspended?
A: hypoxia
B: pneumothorax
C: apnea
D: hypocapnia
C
11. Which structures in the respiratory epithelium help transport mucus out of the lower
respiratory system and into the pharynx for expulsion?
A: vocal folds
B: cilia
C: epiglottis
D: uvula
B
12. In spirometric measurements, the difference between a volume and a capacity is
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A: a volume is a measurement taken at rest whereas a capacity is a measurement
taken during peak physical exertion.
B: a capacity is a measurement taken at rest whereas a volume is a measurement taken
during peak physical exertion.
C: a capacity is a measurement expected of an average healthy individual whereas a
volume is the measurement actually obtained in a person with respiratory disease.
D: a capacity is determined by adding two or more respiratory volumes.
E: a capacity is a measure of inspiration whereas a volume is a measure of expiration.
D
13. Gasping, labored breathing or "craving for air" is called
A: eupnea.
B: hyperventilation.
C: dyspnea.
D: hyperpnea.
E: Cheyne-Stokes breathing.
C
14. ___ protects the lungs from damage by over-inflation.
A: pulmonary compliance
B: the inflation reflex
C: the baroreflex
D: airway resistance
E: the apneustic center
B
15. The common passageway shared by the respiratory and digestive systems is the
A: larynx.
B: glottis.
C: vestibule.
D: pharynx.
E: trachea.
D
16. Boyle's Law of Gases states that
A: the pressure and volume of a gas are equal.
B: as the temperature goes up, the pressure goes up.
C: the total gas pressure is equal to the sum of the partial pressures.
D: the concentration of dissolved gas is proportional to its partial pressure.
E: if the volume goes up, the pressure goes down.
E
17. The condition resulting from inadequate production of surfactant and the resultant
collapse of alveoli is
A: respiratory distress syndrome.
B: COPD.
C: anoxia.
D: pulmonary embolism.
E: pneumothorax.
A
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18. The obstructive lung disease in which elastic fibers are lost, leading to collapse of
alveoli and bronchioles, is called
A: asthma.
B: bronchitis.
C: emphysema.
D: tuberculosis.
E: pneumonia
C
19. Which of the following factors would increase the amount of oxygen discharged by
hemoglobin to peripheral tissues?
A: decreased temperature
B: decreased pH
C: increased tissue PO2
D: decreased amounts of DPG
E: none of these
B
20. Most of the carbon dioxide in the blood is transported as
A: solute dissolved in the plasma.
B: carbaminohemoglobin.
C: bicarbonate ions.
D: solute dissolved in the cytoplasm of red blood cells.
E: carbonic acid.
C
21. The normal rate and depth of breathing is established by the ________ center.
A: ventral respiratory group (VRG)
B: pneumotaxic
C: apneustic
D: expiratory
E: both apneustic and expiratory
C
22. During swallowing, the
A: solids and liquids are forced into the esophagus.
B: larynx is elevated.
C: epiglottis folds back over the glottis.
D: all of these
D
23. Which of these age-based changes is false?
A: the lungs lose elastic tissue.
B: the lung's compliance changes.
C: vital capacity increases.
D: respiratory muscles weaken.
E: costal cartilages become more flexible.
C
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24. A mucosa consists of
A: an epithelium.
B: an underlying layer of areolar tissue.
C: stratified squamous cells.
D: both an epithelium and an underlying layer of areolar tissue.
E: both an underlying layer of areolar tissue and stratified squamous cells.
D
25. Air entering the body is filtered, warmed, and humidified by the
A: upper respiratory tract.
B: lower respiratory tract.
C: lungs.
D: alveoli.
E: bronchioles.
A
26. The glottis is
A: the soft tissue that hangs off the end of the soft palate.
B: a flap of elastic cartilage.
C: the opening to the larynx.
D: the opening to the pharynx.
E: part of the hard palate.
C
27. External respiration involves the
A: movement of air into and out of the lungs.
B: diffusion of gases between the alveoli and the circulating blood.
C: exchange of dissolved gases between the blood and the interstitial fluid.
D: binding of oxygen by hemoglobin.
E: utilization of oxygen by tissues to support metabolism.
B
28. The adult human trachea is about ________ in diameter and contains ________
tracheal cartilages.
A: 1.0 cm; 15-20
B: 1.0 cm; 10-15
C: 2.5 cm; 15-20
D: 2.5 cm; 40-50
E: none of these
C
29. The difference between the amount of air you normally inhale with each breath and
the amount you can inhale with maximum effort is
A: the inspiratory reserve volume.
B: the maximum inspiratory volume.
C: the vital capacity.
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D: the residual volume.
E: the maximum breathing capacity.
A
30. Which of the following is not a paranasal sinus?
A: sphenoid
B: cricoid
C: ethmoid
D: maxillary
E: frontal
B
31. Which of these would not cause atelectasis?
A: emphysema
B: a tumor blocking a tertiary bronchus
C: a chest puncture
D: pneumothorax
E: a marble caught in a child's bronchus
A
32. When you inhale, your lungs expand easily because they have
A: low compliance.
B: high compliance.
C: low elasticity.
D: high elasticity.
E: high resistance.
B
33. Which of the following organs is not part of the lower respiratory system?
A: oropharynx
B: bronchioles
C: larynx
D: bronchi
E: alveoli
A
34. The common passageway shared by the respiratory and digestive systems is the
A: larynx.
B: glottis.
C: vestibule.
D: pharynx.
E: trachea.
D
35. Which of the following is most important in keeping food out of the trachea?
A: extrinsic muscles of the larynx
B: epiglottis
C: glottis
D: soft palate
E: uvula
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B
36. Your resting ventilation rate is about ____ mL per minute.
A: 420
B: 4,200
C: 600
D: 1500
E: 6000
C
37. ________ equals the respiratory rate x (tidal volume - anatomic dead space).
A: vital capacity
B: respiratory minute volume
C: pulmonary ventilation rate
D: alveolar ventilation rate
E: external respiration rate
D
38. You measured your resting breathing frequency at 12 breaths per minute with a tidal
volume of 500 mL per breath. You exercised by riding a bicycle and peddled as fast
as you could for 20 minutes. You then stopped and measured your breathing
frequency and tidal volume again. You would predict that your breathing frequency
would _____ and your tidal volume would _____.
increase; increase
39. One effect of hypoxia is
A: pneumothorax.
B: atelectasis.
C: low hematocrit.
D: anemia.
E: cyanosis
E
40. The respiratory epithelium of the conducting airways consists of
A: pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium.
B: moist cuboidal epithelium.
C: simple squamous epithelium.
D: ciliated squamous epithelium.
E: surfactant cells.
A
41. Which of the following can be calculated if the tidal volume and respiratory rate are
known?
A: respiratory minute volume
B: inspiratory reserve volume
C: expiratory reserve volume
D: anatomical dead space
E: forced vital capacity
A
42. Which is greater?
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A: the number of lobes in the right lung
B: the number of lobes in the left lung
C: neither; the number of lobes is usually equal.
A
43. The elastic cartilage that covers the opening to the larynx during swallowing is the
A: thyroid cartilage.
B: cricoid cartilage.
C: corniculate cartilage.
D: cuneiform cartilage.
E: epiglottis.
E
44. Most of the carbon dioxide in the blood is transported as
A: solute dissolved in the plasma.
B: carbaminohemoglobin.
C: bicarbonate ions.
D: solute dissolved in the cytoplasm of red blood cells.
E: carbonic acid.
C
45. ________ protects the lungs from damage by over-inflation.
A: pulmonary compliance
B: the inflation reflex
C: the baroreflex
D: airway resistance
E: the apneustic center
B
46. Stimulation of the apneustic center would result in
A: increased respiratory rate.
B: more intense inhalation.
C: a shorter respiratory cycle.
D: less activity in the DRG center.
E: decreased vital capacity.
B
47. Air passing through the glottis vibrates the vocal folds and produces
A: speech.
B: articulation.
C: phonation.
D: whistling.
E: ululation.
C
48. When a mixture of gases is in contact with a liquid, the amount of each gas that
dissolves in the liquid is proportional to its partial pressure, according to
A: Poiseuille's law.
B: Henry's law.
C: Dalton's law.
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D: the law of Laplace.
E: Hoyle's rule.
B
49. Your frequency of breathing is 12 breaths/minute; your tidal volume is 500 mL; your
vital capacity is 4,700 mL; and your dead air space is 150 mL. Your alveolar
ventilation rate is ____ mL/min.
A: 1,800
B: 3,000
C: 4,200
D: 6,000
E: 6,500
B
50. The glossopharyngeal and vagus nerves carry signals from the peripheral
chemoreceptors to
A: the central chemoreceptors.
B: the aortic and carotid bodies.
C: the aortic and carotid sinuses.
D: the pneumotaxic center of the pons.
E: the medulla oblongata.
E
51. In emphysema, which of these occur?
A: alveoli collapse
B: compliance increases
C: elevated PCO2 in the blood
D: all of these
E: none of these
D
52. Most of the wall of an alveolus consists of _____. Cells that wander the lumens of the
alveoli and surrounding connective tissue are called _____.
A: squamous (type I) alveolar cells; alveolar macrophages
B: squamous (type I) alveolar cells; great (type II) alveolar cells
C: great (type II) alveolar cells; alveolar macrophages
D: great (type II) alveolar cells; squamous (type I) alveolar cells
E: alveolar macrophages; squamous (type I) alveolar cells
A
53. The openings to the nostrils are the
A: external nares.
B: internal nares.
C: vestibules.
D: conchae.
E: nasal apertures
A
54. The nasal cavities are divided from one another by the
A: hard palate.
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B: soft palate.
C: cribriform plate.
D: internal nares.
E: nasal septum.
E
55. Internal respiration refers to exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the
________ and the ________.
blood; tissues
56. A 10 percent increase in the level of carbon dioxide in the blood will
A: decrease the rate of breathing.
B: increase the rate of breathing.
C: decrease pulmonary ventilation.
D: decrease the alveolar ventilation rate.
E: decrease the vital capacity.
B
57. The palatine tonsils lie in the walls of the
A: nasopharynx.
B: oropharynx.
C: laryngopharynx.
D: larynx.
E: nasal cavity.
B
58. The C shape of the tracheal cartilages is important because
A: large masses of food can pass the rough the esophagus during swallowing.
B: large masses of air can pass through the trachea.
C: it facilitates turning of the head.
D: all of these
E: none of these
A
59. The most superior portion of the lung is termed the
A: base.
B: apex.
C: cardiac notch.
D: hilus.
E: epipleurium.
B
60. Squamous cell carcinoma is a form of lung cancer that begins in
A: the epithelium of the bronchi.
B: the pulmonary lymph nodes.
C: the squamous type I cells of the alveoli.
D: the mucous glands of the bronchi.
E: the respiratory bronchioles.
A
61. Carbonic anhydrase
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A: is in RBCs.
B: is an enzyme.
C: can increase the amount of bicarbonate ion in plasma.
D: can convert carbon dioxide into carbonic acid.
E: all of these
E
62. ________ is the amount of air that you can inhale above the resting tidal volume.
A: residual inhaled volume
B: expiratory reserve volume
C: inspiratory reserve volume
D: enhanced tidal volume
E: inspiratory capacity
C
63. Boyle's law states that gas volume is
A: directly proportional to pressure.
B: directly proportional to temperature.
C: inversely proportional to pressure.
D: inversely proportional to temperature.
E: both directly proportional to pressure and directly proportional to temperature.
C
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