Respiratory System Test Questions

Respiratory General Questions
1. What is the function of the epiglottis?
a. The main function of the epiglottis is to prevent food and other particles from gaining entry into the trachea and other airways.
2. Do you see any anatomical reason why the right lung has more lobes than the left lung - and is subsequently larger and heavier?
a. The right lung may be larger and heavier because it has more room to develop as such. The heart is roughly centered in the chest cavity; however, it is slightly distal to the left of the central midline of the human body. Because of this, the left lung must be smaller to compensate for the presence of the heart.
3. What physiological advantage do you see in the changing proportions of muscle and cartilage as you descend the bronchial tree?
a. As you descend the bronchial tree, smooth muscle replaces cartilage. Smooth muscle allows for more bodily and muscular control. If an object or substance foreign to the body and the bronchia were to enter the airway, the smooth muscles can constrict to block entry.
4. What are the sinuses and where are the major sinuses located?
a. Sinuses are air pockets and passageways within the skull. Small passages and the nose connect them together with the trachea and bronchial tree. Sinuses provide airflow to the lungs and are the site of essential mucous drainage. Our major sinuses are Frontal, Maxillary, Ethmoid, and Sphenoid.
5. What is the difference between pulmonary ventilation and external respiration?
a. Pulmonary ventilation is the process of breathing, inhalation and expiration. External respiration refers to the gas exchange between the lungs and the blood. O2 diffuses into the blood and CO2 diffuses into the lungs for exhalation.
6. What is the difference between inhalation and exhalation?
a. Inhalation refers to the intake of air in order to supply oxygen to bodily tissues. Exhalation refers to the expulsion of carbon dioxide from the body.
7. How is the cardiovascular system related to the respiratory system?
a. The cardiovascular system transports the oxygen absorbed by the respiratory system. The hemoglobin and its ferrous base bind with oxygen molecules to provide oxygen to the rest of the body’s tissues.
8. What is the function of surfactant?
a. The main function of the surfactant is to form monolayers at the alveolar interface capable of lowering the normal surface tension to near zero.