Regarding emphysema

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Expiratory airflow obstruction diagnosed by spirometry (A) confirms emphysema'. Choice B is false; weight loss is common, akin to neoplasia. Choice C is incorrect; blood gases are normal at rest in pure emphysema (unlike bronchitis-dominant cases). Choice D is wrong; symptoms emerge with one-third parenchymal loss, not one-quarter. Choice E (purulent cough) fits bronchitis, not pure emphysema. Page 721 details spirometry's role reduced FEV₁/FVC reflects irreversible obstruction from alveolar destruction, making A the diagnostic cornerstone, unlike B's rarity claim or C's gas error.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Pleural plaques are the most common asbestos exposure finding (B), seen in parietal pleura. Choice A is false; asbestos bodies (ferruginous) are frequent but less common than plaques. Choice C is incorrect; plaques form anterolaterally and over diaphragmatic domes, not apices. Choice D is wrong; plaques are fibrous, not containing asbestos bodies (parenchyma does). Choice E (uncommon effusions) is true. Page 736 highlights B's prevalence calcified plaques mark chronic exposure, unlike A's frequency or C's location error.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Bacterial pneumonia is the most common cause of death in influenza epidemics (C), via superinfection. Choice A is false; respiratory infections outnumber UTIs in both sexes. Choice B is true; pneumonia is parenchymal infection. Choice D is incorrect; gram-negative rods (e.g., Klebsiella) dominate nosocomial cases, not Strep pneumoniae. Choice E (respiratory portal) is true. Page 747 confirms C's epidemiology influenza weakens defenses, leading to fatal bacterial overlay, unlike A's prevalence or D's pathogen.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Antigenic shift involves recombination of RNA segments with animal viruses (B), replacing haemagglutinin/neuramidase. Choice A is false; shift is major, drift is mutation. Choice C is incorrect; type B drifts (not shifts). Choice D is wrong; type A affects birds (e.g., H5N1). Choice E (ssRNA) is true. Page 752 defines B's shift pandemic-causing reassortment contrasts with drift's gradual change, distinguishing it over A's reversal or D's bird error.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The nasopharynx, part of the upper throat behind the nasal cavity, connects directly to several structures. The middle ear links via the Eustachian tube, regulating pressure and draining mucus. The oropharynx lies below, sharing a continuous passage for air and food. The nasal cavity opens into it anteriorly, forming the primary airway. However, the lacrimal glands, located near the eyes, connect to the nasal cavity via the nasolacrimal duct, not the nasopharynx directly tears drain into the nose, bypassing the nasopharynx. This indirect link makes lacrimal glands the exception. Understanding these anatomical relationships is key in respiratory health, as infections can spread via these connections, but the lacrimal glands' drainage path distinguishes them, aligning with their role in tear production rather than respiratory function.