AP Biology : Respiratory Physiology
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Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Understanding Other Respiratory Physiology
Which of the following answers lists the correct order of respiratory structures that air moves through as it is drawn into the lungs?
Alveoli, trachea, bronchi, bronchioles
Bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli, trachea
Trachea, bronchioles, bronchi, alveoli
Trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli
Trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli
Air enters the body of most terrestrial vertebrates through the nose or the mouth; the air then passes through the trachea to narrower tubes called the bronchi, to still narrower tubes called the bronchioles. The bronchioles "dead end" into structures called alveoli, which is where gas exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place with the blood in adjacent capillaries.
Example Question #2 : Understanding Other Respiratory Physiology
Which of the following structures is not found within the lungs?
Trachea
Bronchi
Bronchioles
Alveoli
Trachea
The lungs contain the bronchioles, the alveoli, and part of the bronchi. The trachea carries inhaled air into the bronchi, but it is not actually enclosed by the bronchi— the lungs only enclose structures that arise after the bronchi branch away from the trachea.
Example Question #2 : Understanding Other Respiratory Physiology
Terrestrial animals must combat the drying out of respiratory surfaces due to evaporation. What is one strategy they use?
Increased perspiration of cells on respiratory surface
Increased metabolism
Having very low respiratory rates
Excretion of fluids from walls of lungs
Folding the respiratory surface into the body
Folding the respiratory surface into the body
By folding the respiratory surface into the body, terrestrial animals increase the humidity of the environment of the respiratory surface, which will minimize evaporation and maintain moisture. Note that water loss via evaporation and perspiration accounts for the majority of water loss in terrestrial mammals.
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