ATI RN
Respiratory System Exam Questions Questions
Question 1 of 5
The nurse is caring for a patient who has been scheduled for a bronchoscopy. How should the nurse prepare the patient for this procedure?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D because withholding food and fluids for several hours before a bronchoscopy is important to prevent aspiration during the procedure. When the patient is sedated for the bronchoscopy, there is an increased risk of vomiting, and having an empty stomach reduces this risk. Administering IV fluids (choice A) is not necessary unless clinically indicated. Inserting a peripherally inserted central catheter (choice B) is not typically required for a bronchoscopy. Administering nebulized bronchodilators (choice C) may not be needed for all patients and should be based on the individual's respiratory condition.
Question 2 of 5
Carbon dioxide and water combine to form
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: carbonic acid. When carbon dioxide and water combine, they form carbonic acid through a chemical reaction known as hydration. This process is essential for the transportation of carbon dioxide in the blood and plays a crucial role in maintaining the body's pH balance. Hydrochloric acid (A) is formed by the reaction of hydrogen chloride gas with water. Oxygen (B) is not a product of the reaction between carbon dioxide and water. Carbaminohemoglobin (D) is a compound formed by the binding of carbon dioxide to hemoglobin in red blood cells, not a direct product of the reaction between carbon dioxide and water.
Question 3 of 5
The pneumotaxic center of the pons
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C because the pneumotaxic center in the pons modifies the rate and depth of breathing by sending inhibitory signals to the dorsal respiratory group in the medulla, which controls inspiration and expiration. It does not set the at-rest respiratory pattern like option A, prolong inspiration like option B, or suppress the expiratory center in the medulla like option D. This center plays a crucial role in fine-tuning breathing patterns to maintain appropriate oxygen levels in the body.
Question 4 of 5
What is the function of the conchae in the nasal cavity?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The function of the conchae in the nasal cavity is to increase surface area. By increasing the surface area of the nasal cavity, conchae help to humidify, filter, and warm the air entering the respiratory system. This ensures optimal conditions for efficient gas exchange in the lungs. Choice B (exchange gases) is incorrect because gas exchange primarily occurs in the alveoli of the lungs, not in the nasal cavity. Choice C (maintain surface tension) is incorrect as surface tension is typically associated with liquid interfaces, not with the nasal cavity. Choice D (maintain air pressure) is also incorrect because the conchae do not play a direct role in maintaining air pressure within the nasal cavity.
Question 5 of 5
All of the following are unpaired cartilage of larynx except
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: cuneiform. The cuneiform cartilages are paired cartilages, not unpaired. The epiglottis, cricoid, and thyroid cartilages are unpaired cartilages of the larynx. The epiglottis functions in covering the larynx during swallowing, the cricoid provides support for the larynx, and the thyroid cartilage forms the "Adam's apple." The cuneiform cartilages, on the other hand, are small paired cartilages located within the aryepiglottic folds. They help maintain the shape and stiffness of these folds, assisting in vocal cord function.