A female client is undergoing a complete physical examination as a requirement for college. When checking the client's respiratory status, the nurse observes respiratory excursion to help assess:

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: Chest movements. When checking respiratory status, observing chest movements, known as respiratory excursion, helps assess the depth and symmetry of breathing. This provides valuable information about lung expansion and function. Lung vibrations (A) are assessed by tactile fremitus, vocal sounds (B) by auscultating for voice sounds, and breath sounds (C) by listening for air movement in the lungs. However, these do not directly assess respiratory excursion.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: asthma. Asthma is a respiratory ailment characterized by severe constriction of the bronchioles due to inflammation and muscle contraction. This leads to difficulty breathing and wheezing. Pleurisy (A) is inflammation of the lining of the lungs, emphysema (B) is a long-term lung disease, and bronchitis (C) is inflammation of the bronchial tubes. Asthma specifically refers to the bronchioles constriction, making it the correct choice.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: bicarbonate ions. When carbon dioxide is produced by the body, it combines with water in the blood to form carbonic acid. This carbonic acid then dissociates into bicarbonate ions and hydrogen ions. The majority of the carbon dioxide is transported in the blood as bicarbonate ions, which are more soluble and can easily travel to the lungs where they are converted back into carbon dioxide for exhalation. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because carbon dioxide is primarily transported in the form of bicarbonate ions, not as a gas, in blood plasma, or as potassium carbonate ions.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The epiglottis covers the glottis during swallowing to prevent food or liquid from entering the airway. This helps protect the lungs from aspiration. False vocal cords (A) are not directly involved in this process. True vocal cords (B) are responsible for producing sound and are located below the glottis. Adam's apple (D) is the laryngeal prominence formed by the thyroid cartilage and does not cover the glottis during swallowing. Therefore, the correct answer is C (epiglottis).

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Emphysema is the correct answer because it is a condition where the alveoli walls break down, reducing the surface area for gas exchange in the lungs. This leads to difficulty in breathing. Asphyxia is suffocation due to lack of oxygen, not related to alveoli breakdown. Bronchitis is inflammation of the bronchial tubes, not alveoli damage. Asthma is a chronic condition affecting the airways, not specifically related to alveoli destruction. Therefore, emphysema is the most appropriate term for reduction in respiratory surface due to alveolar breakdown.