64 Questions
Which of the following terms refers to decreased oxygen in the blood?
Hypoxemia
In respiratory physiology, what can cause airway resistance related to airway diameter, rate of air flow, and speed of gas flow?
Chronic bronchitis
Which factor leads to decreased gas exchange due to thinner alveolar walls and fewer capillaries in the lungs?
Emphysema
In gerontologic considerations, which of the following decreases with age, leading to an increased risk for respiratory diseases?
Cough reflex
What part of the body experiences an increase in length and hardening of cartilage in gerontologic considerations?
Nasal septum
Which of the following is a primary factor affecting lung compliance?
Fibrosis
What is a common symptom associated with respiratory system assessment that involves pain on inspiration and increased sputum production or color change?
Dyspnea
Which breath sounds are produced by air movement in bronchioles and alveoli?
Vesicular sounds
Which structure covers the lung surface?
Visceral pleura
What is the primary function of respiration?
Gas exchange between blood and cells
What is the term for the movement of O2 into the lungs?
Inspiration
What causes a decrease in pH below 7.4 due to increased CO2 primarily in body fluids as carbonic acid?
Respiratory acidosis
Which blood vessels supply blood to the trachea and bronchi?
Bronchial circulation
In respiratory physiology, what does CO2 primarily diffuse from?
Tissue cells to blood
What determines the amount of CO2 in the body?
Alveolar respiration
What does respiratory insufficiency develop from?
Interference with ventilation, diffusion, or perfusion
What is the term for the adequacy of gas exchange within pulmonary capillaries?
Perfusion
What is the primary function of ventilation?
Movement of air in and out of respiratory tract
Where are crackles (formerly called rales) typically heard?
Near one's ear
What is the main characteristic of wheezes heard during inspiration and expiration?
Hissing or whistling
What does pulse oximetry measure?
Oxygen saturation of arterial blood
Where is the site for obtaining blood gas samples during an ABG test?
Radial artery
Which diagnostic test allows the visualization of the larynx, trachea, and bronchi?
Bronchoscopy
What is the main purpose of a thoracentesis procedure?
To remove excess air or fluid from between pleurae
Which lung sound is characterized by full and deep sonorous wheezes?
(Formerly called rhonchi)
What is the main focus of pulmonary function studies using a spirometer?
Functional ability of the lungs
'Friction rubs' are characterized by which type of sound?
(Crackling or grating)
What does pulmonary angiography primarily view in the lungs?
Arterial circulation
What is the main characteristic of sonorous wheezes?
Lower pitched
During which phase of breathing are wheezes typically heard?
Both inspiration and expiration
What is the primary function of arterial blood gases (ABGs)?
Determine blood pH and oxygen-carrying capacity
Where can blood gas samples for ABGs be obtained from?
Radial artery
What is the primary focus of a pulmonary function study using a spirometer?
Assessing lung functional ability
Which diagnostic test allows the visualization of the larynx, trachea, and bronchi?
Bronchoscopy
'Crackles' in lung sounds are most similar to which of the following?
Rubbing hair strands together
'Wheezes' are characterized by which type of sound?
'Hissing or whistling'
Through which method can ABGs be obtained?
Arterial puncture at the radial artery.
During respiratory system assessment, which factor is associated with lung sounds produced by air movement through the trachea and are loud with long expiration?
Bronchial sounds
In gerontologic considerations, which change contributes to decreased gas exchange in the lungs?
Thicker alveolar walls
What is the primary factor affecting lung compliance due to decreased surfactant, fibrosis, and edema?
Thickening of alveolar walls
Which respiratory assessment symptom indicates increased sputum production or change in color/consistency of the mucus?
Dyspnea
What do vesicular breath sounds indicate during a lung assessment?
Air movement in bronchioles and alveoli
Which consideration in gerontology leads to an increased risk for respiratory diseases?
Decreased muscle tone
What should be inspected for signs of injury or inflammation during a respiratory system physical examination?
Nose
'Bronchovesicular' lung sounds are heard between which anatomical locations?
Trachea and upper lungs
Which of the following structures separates the thoracic and abdominal cavities?
Diaphragm
What is the primary function of the mediastinum in the respiratory system?
Divides the thoracic cavity into two halves
What is the main purpose of alveolar respiration in the body?
To maintain normal pH levels
What is the primary method by which oxygen is transported in the blood?
Combining with hemoglobin in RBCs
In respiratory physiology, what effect does an increased concentration of CO2 in body fluids have on pH?
Decreases pH
Which term refers to the flow of blood in the pulmonary circulation?
Perfusion
What does respiratory insufficiency result from if there is too much interference with ventilation, diffusion, or perfusion?
Altered gas exchange
What aspect of ventilation primarily involves the movement of air in and out of the respiratory tract?
Inspiration
Which condition results from an increase in CO2 primarily as carbonic acid in body fluids, causing pH levels to drop below 7.4?
Respiratory acidosis
What is the primary purpose of arterial blood gases (ABGs) in assessing a client with respiratory distress?
Determining pH levels in the blood
Which diagnostic test allows visualization of the larynx, trachea, and bronchi?
Bronchoscopy
What do sonorous wheezes (rhonchi) sound like and where are they heard?
Low-pitched sounds in the trachea and bronchi
Which lung sound is characterized by crackling or grating sounds on inspiration and expiration?
Friction rubs
What does a ventilation-perfusion scan (V-Q scan) primarily assess?
Gas exchange within pulmonary capillaries
Where is a thoracentesis procedure typically performed?
Between visceral and parietal pleurae
'Crackles' in lung sounds are most similar to which of the following?
'Friction rubs'
'Wheezes' are characterized by which type of sound?
'Hissing or whistling'
'Sonorous wheezes' are heard in which anatomical structures?
Trachea and bronchi
What does pulse oximetry primarily measure about arterial blood?
Oxygen saturation levels (SaO2)
Study Notes
- Respiratory system includes upper airway (nose, paranasal sinuses, turbinates, pharynx, and larynx) and lower airway (trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, lungs, and alveoli)
- Paranasal sinuses have four types: frontal, ethmoidal, sphenoidal, and maxillary
- Lungs perform main functions of respiration and ventilation
- Respiration is the exchange of O2 and CO2 between atmospheric air and the blood and between the blood and cells
- Ventilation is the actual movement of air in and out of the respiratory tract
- Mechanics of ventilation include inspiration (movement of O2 into lungs), expiration (removal of CO2 from lungs), and diffusion (transferring a substance from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration)
- Alveolar respiration is the process by which CO2 is eliminated from the body and O2 is conserved
- Pulmonary perfusion is the blood supply to the lungs, where lungs receive nutrients and O2
- Ventilation/perfusion ratio measures effectiveness of airflow within the alveoli and adequacy of gas exchange within pulmonary capillaries
- Problems in respiratory physiology include respiratory insufficiency due to interference with ventilation, diffusion, or perfusion
- Primary factors of respiratory insufficiency include hypoxia, hypoxemia, hypercapnia, and hypocapnia
- Gerontologic considerations include changes in nasal septum, alveolar walls, and lung elasticity, which increase the risk for respiratory disease
- Assessment includes taking a history and performing physical examination, including inspecting the nose and lungs, and listening for breath sounds
- Normal breath sounds include vesicular sounds, bronchial sounds, and bronchovesicular sounds
- Adventitious lung sounds include crackles (rales), wheezes, sonorous wheezes, and friction rubs
- Diagnostic tests include arterial blood gases (ABGs), pulse oximetry, radiography, pulmonary function studies, sputum studies, and diagnostic procedures like bronchoscopy and thoracentesis.
- ABGs can be obtained by puncturing the radial, brachial, or femoral artery.
- Nursing care plan for bronchoscopy includes nursing diagnosis of fear and risk for aspiration, interventions to manage anxiety and complications, and desired outcomes.
Learn about the upper and lower airway structures, paranasal sinuses, and accessory structures of the respiratory system. Explore the functions and characteristics of the nose, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, alveoli, diaphragm, mediastinum, and pleura.
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