Physiology: Respiratory

Increased compliance would lead to a(n) _______ of air entering the alveoli and therefore _______ perfusion to that alveoli. 

• decrease; increase

• increase; increase

• increase; decrease

• decrease; decrease

I am playing hide-and-seek with my daughter.  I hide for 20 minutes in a box and the carbon dioxide levels are increasing.  Which of the following is TRUE?

• higher CO2 levels lead to bronchoconstriction to decrease airway resistance

• I'm panicking and my adrenaline causes my airways to bronchoconstrict

  
  

• higher CO2 levels lead to bronchodilation to increase airway resistance

• higher CO2 levels lead to bronchodilation to decrease airway resistance

During a yoga class you take a deep breath, then relax and let the breath out slowly. During that exhalation, which would NOT be true?

• Alveolar pressure is greater than atmospheric pressure.

• Intrapleural pressure is greater than alveolar pressure.

• Intrapleural pressure is lower than alveolar pressure.

• Lung volume decreases.

You (a healthy individual) are swimming underwater when you can no longer resist the urge to breathe. This overwhelming urge is probably due to:

• HCO3- ions signaling the respiratory control center to increase ventilation rate

• CO2 binding to the peripheral chemoreceptors to increase ventilation rate

• H+ ions from the plasma are binding to the central chemoreceptors to increase ventilation rate

  
  

• the autorhymthic cells in your diaphragm contracting

During a run, your calf muscle has a temperature of 38.5° C, while your upper arm muscle has a temperature of 37.5° C. Which of the following is TRUE of the red blood cells as they pass by these muscles?

• hemoglobin will have a higher affinity for oxygen when they pass the calf muscle compared to the upper arm

• hemoglobin will have the same affinity for oxygen at both locations

• hemoglobin will have a lower affinity for oxygen when they pass the calf muscle compared to the upper arm

• The hemoglobin molecules may denature as they pass by the calf muscle

Which is true if you have an airway obstruction?

• Your vital capacity would increase

• Your vital capacity would decrease

• Your FEV1 would increase

• Your FEV1 would decrease

Type II alveolar cells are among the last cells to mature during fetal development. In babies born prematurely, type II alveolar cells are often not ready to perform their function. Which of the following would be TRUE of these babies?

• they would produce less mucus in the conducting zone

• they would have low compliance and high resistance

• they would have coughing fits

• they would have high compliance and low resistance

Which of the following would decrease gas diffusion between alveoli and blood?

• breathing deeply

• increased compliance

• thick scar tissue forming around the alveolar sacs

• decreased resistance

You move to the Sierra's mountains (150 mmHg) from the Bay Area (760 mmHg).    Which of the following is true?

• Your RBCs begin to make more 2,3-BPG, which decreases hemoglobin's affinity for oxygen

• Your RBCs begin to make more 2,3-BPG, which increases hemoglobin's affinity for oxygen

• Your body is making more carbon dioxide while living at a higher elevation

• Your RBCs begin to make less 2,3-BPG, which decreases hemoglobin's affinity for oxygen

You embark on a hiking trip on Mt. Kilimanjaro (ATM = 379 mmHg).  As you ascend, what are you likely to notice about your breathing?  (ATM at sea level is 760 mmHg).  

• There is no change in breathing

• Breathing does not change because of change of ATM pressure, only because you're climbing

• Less blood flow to alveoli because there's less oxygen in the air

• You need to work harder to inhale, expanding your thoracic cage beyond what is normal