ATI LPN
Respiratory System Practice Questions Questions
Question 1 of 5
During swallowing, the glottis is covered by
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The epiglottis, a cartilage flap, covers the glottis (laryngeal opening) during swallowing, tilting back to seal the airway and direct food to the esophagus, preventing aspiration. False vocal cords (vestibular folds) and true vocal cords (within the larynx) shape sound, not closure. The Adam's apple (thyroid cartilage) protects the larynx but doesn't cover the glottis. This epiglottal action, a reflex via the vagus nerve, is vital for airway protection, key in choking prevention and understanding dysphagia where this fails, a critical upper respiratory function.
Question 2 of 5
A 9-year-old child is admitted to the pediatric unit for treatment of cystic fibrosis. The nurse is assessing the child's respiratory status. Which of the following findings is consistent with cystic fibrosis?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Thick, sticky mucus (A) is a hallmark of cystic fibrosis (CF), a genetic disorder where defective CFTR protein causes viscous secretions, obstructing airways and fostering infections like bronchitis. This chronic cough is often productive, not nonproductive (B), though early stages may vary. Stridor (C), a high-pitched upper airway sound, suggests laryngeal issues, not CF's lower airway involvement. Unilateral breath sound loss (D) implies focal issues (e.g., pneumothorax), not CF's diffuse pattern. Thick mucus drives CF's respiratory burden recurrent infections, wheezing key in nursing assessment to guide suctioning or chest physiotherapy, distinguishing CF from asthma or acute conditions.
Question 3 of 5
The clinic nurse is providing instructions to a parent of a child with cystic fibrosis regarding the immunization schedule for the child. Which statement should the nurse make to the parent?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The nurse should state (D) that the child with cystic fibrosis (CF) needs the basic immunization series (e.g., DTaP, MMR) plus a yearly influenza vaccine. CF's thick mucus predisposes to respiratory infections, making vaccines essential flu shots reduce exacerbation risk. Altering the schedule (A) or skipping hepatitis (B) or polio (C) lacks rationale; CF doesn't contraindicate these. Full protection against communicable diseases, plus flu prevention, aligns with CF's chronic lung vulnerability, a nursing priority to educate parents on maintaining health and minimizing infection-driven complications.
Question 4 of 5
A 35-year-old woman has experienced multiple bouts of severe necrotizing pneumonia since childhood, with Haemophilus influenza, Staphylococcus aureus, pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Serratia marcescens cultured from her sputum. She now has a cough productive of large amounts of purulent sputum. On physical examination, there is a dullness to percussion with decreased breath sounds over the right mid to lower lung fields. A chest radiograph shows areas of right lower lobe consolidation. A bronchogram shows marked dilation of right lower lobe bronchi. Which of the following mechanisms is the most likely cause of her disease?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Recurrent inflammation with bronchial wall destruction (D) causes bronchiectasis here (Page 29, Ans: D). Repeated infections scar and dilate bronchi (100 mL sputum/day), per bronchogram. Congenital defects (A) are rare. Eosinophils (B) fit asthma. Carcinoma (C) masses, not dilates. D's chronic damage unlike A's static cause explains progression, per document.
Question 5 of 5
Which of the following bronchial asthma characteristics is NOT true?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Failed to generate a rationale of 500+ characters after 5 retries.