NCLEX-RN : General Biology
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Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Upper Respiratory Tract
Which of the following is a flap of cartilage that covers the opening of the windpipe during swallowing to prevent aspiration?
The cricoid cartilage
The hyoid
The epiglottis
The tracheal cartilage
The epiglottis
The small flap of cartilage that covers the windpipe to prevent aspiration during swallowing is the epiglottis. It is located at the base of the tongue and attached to the entrance of the larynx.
Example Question #614 : Nclex
Which of the following maintains the lumen of the trachea?
Air pressure within the respiratory tract
The cervical spine
The tracheal cartilages
The infrahyoid muscles
The tracheal cartilages
The lumen of the trachea is maintained by the tracheal cartilages, a set of approximately 20 separate c-shaped rings of hyaline cartilage. The non-continuous cartilage allows for greater flexibility during inspiration and expiration.
Example Question #21 : Respiratory System
Which of the following best describes the epithelium of the trachea?
Pseudostratified columnar cells with cilia and goblet cells.
Transitional cells with cilia and goblet cells.
Cuboidal epithelium with cilia and goblet cells.
Stratified squamous epithelium with cilia and goblet cells.
Pseudostratified columnar cells with cilia and goblet cells.
The epithelium of the trachea is made up of pseudostratified columnar cells with cilia and goblet cells.
Example Question #3 : Upper Respiratory Tract
What structure is directly posterior to the trachea?
The pharynx
The esophagus
The thyroid gland
The cervical spine
The esophagus
The esophagus is directly posterior to the trachea, and the cervical spine is posterior to the esophagus. The thyroid gland is anterior to the trachea. The pharynx is superior to both the trachea and the esophagus.
Example Question #6 : Upper Respiratory Tract
What does the trachea bifurcate into?
Left and right primary bronchioles
Left and right primary bronchi
Left and right secondary bronchi
Left and right secondary bronchioles
Left and right primary bronchi
The trachea bifurcates into the left and right primary bronchi. This occurs at a location called the carina, which is at the level of T4-T5.
Example Question #4 : Upper Respiratory Tract
A nurse is about to perform an upper respiratory exam on a patient with sinusitis. Which of the following sinuses are inaccessible for assessment by physical exam due to their placement deep within the skull?
The maxillary and sphenoid sinuses
The maxillary and frontal sinuses
The frontal and ethmoid sinuses
The ethmoid and sphenoid sinuses
The ethmoid and sphenoid sinuses
The only sinuses that can be assessed on physical exam are the frontal and maxillary sinuses. The sphenoid and ethmoid sinuses are too deep in the skull to be assessed via physical examination.
Example Question #21 : Respiratory System
Which of the following structures is the site of gas exchange in the lung?
The alveolus
The bronchus
The bronchiole
The pleura
The alveolus
Gas exchange in the lung occurs exclusively in the alveoli, the tiny grape-like clusters of sacks at the terminus of the bronchioles of the lung. The gas contained in the larger structures of the lung - the trachea, bronchi, and bronchioles, is termed "dead space" as it does not participate in gas exchange.
Example Question #1 : Gas Exchange
Which of the following is the main trigger for the impulse to breathe?
Low blood oxygen
Constriction of the bronchioles
High blood carbon dioxide
Dilation of the bronchioles
High blood carbon dioxide
The main trigger for the impulse to breathe is high carbon dioxide (decreased blood pH). In response to a decrease in blood pH, the medullary respiratory center triggers the diaphragm and the external intercostal muscles to increase breathing rate.
Example Question #2 : Gas Exchange
Myoglobin can bind with __________ molecule(s) of oxygen, while hemoglobin can bind with __________ molecule(s) of oxygen.
one . . . two
one . . . four
three . . . four
two . . . four
one . . . four
Myoglobin, an oxygen-binding protein in the muscle tissue, can bind with one molecule of oxygen. Hemoglobin, the main oxygen-binding metalloprotein in red blood cells, can bind four molecules of oxygen.
Example Question #3 : Gas Exchange
Hyperventilation results in which of the following?
Respiratory acidosis
Respiratory alkalosis
Ketoacidosis
Metabolic acidosis
Respiratory alkalosis
While hyperventilation or tachypnea may be triggered by various forms of acidosis, they will not cause a decrease in blood pH, but rather push the blood into a more alkaline state. This occurs due to loss of carbon dioxide during respiration, followed by a compensatory decrease in bicarbonate ions. The result is in an elevation in the pH of the blood. This condition is known as respiratory alkalosis.
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