Respiratory Structure & Function

Question 1

When we lose weight, where does it go?

Answer 1

Most of it expels through air (CO2)

Question 2

Why is the majority of weight loss attributed to CO₂ during respiration?

Answer 2

because it is released as waste

Question 3

What are the major components of the respiratory system, and what is the primary function of each?

Question 4

Why is cartilage present in the trachea and bronchi but absent in bronchioles and alveoli?

Question 6

What are the conducting airways, and why are they not involved in gas exchange?

Question 7

How do bronchioles and alveoli contribute to respiratory efficiency?

Question 8

What are alveoli, and why are they the key site for gas exchange?

Question 9

What structural adaptations make alveoli efficient for O₂ and CO₂ exchange?

Question 10

What is Boyle’s Law, and how does it relate to inspiration and expiration?

Question 11

How does the pressure-volume relationship enable air to flow into and out of the lungs?

Question 12

Describe the mechanical changes that occur in the diaphragm and intercostal muscles during inspiration.

Question 13

Why does air flow into the lungs when lung pressure drops below atmospheric pressure?

Question 14

How does expiration differ during rest and exercise?

Question 15

Why do we primarily breathe through our nose at rest, and why does this change during exercise?

Question 16

What are the advantages of nose breathing over mouth breathing?

Question 17

Define Tidal Volume, Vital Capacity, and Residual Volume

Question 18

How do Inspiratory Capacity (IC) and Functional Residual Capacity (FRC) relate to other volumes?

Question 19

Why is it important to have residual air left in the lungs after exhalation?

Question 20

How does body position (standing vs. lying down) affect lung volumes and capacities?

Question 21

How do you calculate Minute Ventilation (VE) at rest and during exercise?

Question 22

How is alveolar ventilation (VA) different from minute ventilation, and how is it calculated?

Question 23

How do obstructive disorders like asthma and emphysema affect FEV1 and FVC?

Question 24

Why is the FEV1/FVC ratio reduced in obstructive disorders but increased in restrictive disorders?

Question 25

How does pulmonary fibrosis affect lung elasticity and lung volumes?

Question 26

What is anatomical dead space, and why does it not participate in gas exchange?

Question 27

How does dead space affect alveolar ventilation?

Question 28

How does minute ventilation change as exercise intensity increases?

Question 29

What is the ventilatory threshold, and why does ventilation spike at this point?

Question 30

Why does the ventilatory threshold signify the switch from aerobic to anaerobic energy production?

Question 31

What are the pulmonary and systemic circuits, and how do they differ in function and pressure?

Question 32

Why is the left ventricle’s wall thicker than the right ventricle’s?

Question 33

How do valves in veins prevent backflow, and what happens when they deform?

Question 34

What role do muscular and respiratory pumps play in returning blood to the heart?

Question 35

Trace the pathway of electrical conduction in the heart starting from the SA node.

Question 36

Why is there a 0.1-second delay at the AV node?

Question 37

How does ventricular contraction differ from atrial contraction, and why does it start from the bottom up?

Question 38

What does the P-wave, QRS complex, and T-wave represent in an ECG?

Question 39

How are electrical intervals and segments used to assess cardiac function?

Question 40

What is the difference between atrial and ventricular fibrillation?

Question 41

Why is ventricular fibrillation life-threatening, while atrial fibrillation is not?

Question 42

What factors make arrhythmias more likely to occur during exercise?

Question 43

What are tachycardia and bradycardia, and how are they defined in terms of resting heart rate?

Question 44

What are systolic and diastolic pressures, and how do they change during exercise?

Question 45

Why does increased systolic pressure lead to a higher pulse during exercise?

Question 46

How does hemoglobin in red blood cells transport oxygen and carbon dioxide?

Question 47

What is the Bohr Effect, and how does it affect oxygen release in tissues with high CO₂ or low pH?

Question 48

How does blood doping artificially increase RBC count, and why does it pose health risks?

Question 49

How does partial pressure drive the diffusion of O₂ and CO₂ during gas exchange?

Question 50

What structural adaptations in alveoli and capillaries optimize this process?

Question 51

Why is most oxygen transported bound to hemoglobin rather than dissolved in plasma?

Question 52

How does hemoglobin’s affinity for oxygen change with pH, CO₂ levels, and temperature?

Question 53

Practice calculating pressure changes during inspiration and expiration.

Question 54

How would Boyle’s Law apply if atmospheric pressure changes (e.g., at high altitudes)?

Question 55

Calculate VE and VA for different activity levels (rest vs. exercise).

Question 56

How would changes in anatomical dead space affect alveolar ventilation?

Question 57

Identify abnormalities in sample ECG tracings and determine their potential effects on heart function.

Question 58

Why is surface area important in the respiratory system, particularly in the bronchi and alveoli?

Question 59

How do bronchioles regulate airflow without cartilage support?

Question 60

What structural adaptations in the diaphragm allow it to perform its role during breathing?

Question 61

How do changes in thoracic cavity pressure differ between normal breathing and exercise?

Question 62

How does mouth breathing during exercise affect airflow resistance and gas exchange compared to nasal breathing?

Question 63

How do lung volumes and capacities change with age, disease, or fitness level?

Question 64

Why do functional residual capacity and tidal volume decrease in the supine position?

Question 65

How does the thickness of the respiratory membrane affect the rate of gas exchange in alveoli?

Question 66

Why is the partial pressure of O₂ and CO₂ critical for gas diffusion, and how does exercise alter these gradients?

Question 67

How does high altitude affect alveolar gas exchange and oxygen transport?

Question 68

What physiological adaptations occur in the respiratory system during long-term aerobic exercise?

Question 69

Why is alveolar ventilation more critical than minute ventilation during exercise?

Question 70

How does the delay at the AV node contribute to efficient cardiac function?

Question 71

Why does blood flow to skeletal muscles increase during exercise, and how is blood flow maintained to other vital organs like the brain?

Question 72

How do valves in veins help prevent venous pooling during prolonged standing?

Question 73

How would a patient’s ECG change during atrial fibrillation versus ventricular fibrillation?

Question 74

What are the risks associated with deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and how can muscle contraction mitigate this?

Question 75

How do blood doping and high RBC counts affect oxygen transport and cardiovascular health?

Question 76

How do respiratory and cardiovascular systems work together to meet increased oxygen demands during exercise?

Question 77

Why does oxygen delivery to tissues decrease in conditions with low pH or high CO₂ concentrations (Bohr effect)?

Question 78

How does lung compliance affect the work of breathing in restrictive versus obstructive disorders?

Question 79

How does emphysema affect the structural integrity of alveoli and overall gas exchange efficiency?

Question 80

Why does pulmonary fibrosis decrease both FEV1 and FVC but maintain an elevated FEV1/FVC ratio?

Question 81

How does sleep apnea impact gas exchange and respiratory mechanics during rest?

Question 82

What physiological mechanism prevents the lungs from collapsing at the end of expiration?