ATI RN
Questions of Respiratory System Questions
Question 1 of 5
An emergency room nurse is assessing a male client who has sustained a blunt injury to the chest wall. Which of these signs would indicate the presence of a pneumothorax in this client?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Diminished breath sounds. In the case of a pneumothorax, air leaks into the pleural space, causing the lung to collapse partially. This results in diminished or absent breath sounds on the affected side. A low respiratory rate (A) is a general sign of respiratory distress but not specific to pneumothorax. The presence of a barrel chest (C) is associated with conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) but not indicative of a pneumothorax. A sucking sound at the site of injury (D) is characteristic of an open pneumothorax, not necessarily present in all cases of pneumothorax.
Question 2 of 5
A patient with a history of smoking two packs of cigarettes a day for the past 20 years says that he is not alarmed by his cough. He says, "I get this cough and spit up mucus every winter." The nurse recognizes these symptoms as being suggestive of:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Chronic bronchitis. The patient's history of smoking for 20 years and persistent cough with mucus production every winter are indicative of chronic bronchitis. Chronic bronchitis is characterized by inflammation of the bronchial tubes due to irritants like smoking, leading to excessive mucus production and persistent cough. Emphysema is characterized by destruction of lung tissue, not necessarily accompanied by mucus production. Sarcoidosis is a systemic inflammatory disease affecting multiple organs, not specifically related to the symptoms described. Diffuse interstitial fibrosis involves scarring of lung tissue, typically presenting with a dry, non-productive cough.
Question 3 of 5
What is the name given to the respiratory ailment in which the bronchioles constrict severely?
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.
Question 4 of 5
Most of the carbon dioxide produced by the body is transported to the lungs in
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.
Question 5 of 5
During swallowing, the glottis is covered by
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).