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Question 1
Correct
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When the pulmonary artery is completely blocked, what is the ventilation over perfusion ratio for the area that it supplies?
Your Answer: Infinity
Explanation:The ventilation/perfusion ratio (V/Q ratio) is a ratio used to assess the efficiency and adequacy of the matching ventilation and perfusion.
A pulmonary artery carries deoxygenated blood from the right side of the heart to the lungs. When a large pulmonary embolus completed blocked a pulmonary artery the alveoli were ventilated but not perfused at all, then the V/Q ratio would be infinity.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Physiology
- Respiratory Physiology
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Question 2
Correct
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When calculating the ventilation over perfusion ratio of a male patient, you should remember the ideal V/Q ratio for this patient to compare with his results. What is the approximate ventilation value for a healthy male patient?
Your Answer: 5 L/min
Explanation:The ventilation/perfusion ratio (V/Q ratio) is a ratio used to assess the efficiency and adequacy of the matching ventilation and perfusion. The ideal V/Q ratio is 1. In an average healthy male, the ventilation value is approximately 5 L/min and the perfusion value is approximately 5 L/min.
Any mismatch between ventilation and perfusion will be evident in the V/Q ratio. If perfusion is normal but ventilation is reduced, the V/Q ratio will be less than 1, whereas if ventilation is normal but perfusion is reduced, the V/Q ratio will be greater than 1. If the alveoli were ventilated but not perfused at all, then the V/Q ratio would be infinity.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Physiology
- Respiratory Physiology
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Question 3
Correct
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The following statements concerning lung compliance is true EXCEPT?
Your Answer: Lung compliance is described by the equation: C = ā P/ āV, where C = compliance, P = pressure, and V = volume
Explanation:Lung compliance is the change in volume per unit change in distending pressure.
It is calculated using the equation:
Lung compliance = ĪV / ĪP
Where:
ĪV is the change in volume
ĪP is the change in pleural pressure.Lung compliance is inversely proportional to stiffness and elastance.
It comprises static (no airflow) and dynamic (during continuous breathing) components.
It is the slope of the pressure-volume curve.
Lung compliance describes the distensibility of the lungs and the chest wall.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Physiology
- Respiratory Physiology
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Question 4
Correct
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Pre-oxygenation is done prior to intubation to extend the āsafe apnoea timeā.
Which lung volume or capacity is the most important store of oxygen in the body?
Your Answer: Functional residual capacity
Explanation:The administration of oxygen to a patient before intubation is called pre-oxygenation and it helps extend the āsafe apnoea timeā.
The Functional residual capacity (FRC) is the volume of gas that remains in the lungs after normal tidal expiration. It is the most important store of oxygen in the body. The aim of pre-oxygenation is to replace the nitrogen in the FRC with oxygen.
Apnoea can be tolerated for longer periods before critical hypoxia develops if the FRC is large. Patients with reduced FRC reach critical hypoxia more rapidly.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Physiology
- Respiratory Physiology
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Question 5
Incorrect
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What is the partial pressure of oxygen if it makes up 20.9 percent of the ambient air composition and the atmospheric pressure of ambient air is 760 mmHg?
Your Answer: 597 mmHg
Correct Answer: 159 mmHg
Explanation:Ambient air isĀ atmospheric air in its natural state. Ambient air is typically 78.6% nitrogen and 20.9% oxygen. The extra 1% is made up of carbon, helium, methane, argon and hydrogen.
The partial pressure of any gas can be calculated using this formula: P = atmospheric pressure (760 mmHg) x percent content in the mixture.
Atmospheric pressure is the sum of all of the partial pressures of the atmospheric gases added together: The formula for atmospheric pressure is: Patm = PN2 + PO2Ā + PH2O + PCO2. The atmospheric pressure is known to be 760 mmHg.
The partial pressures of the various gases can be estimated to have partial pressures of approximately 597.4 mmHg for nitrogen,Ā 158.8 mm Hg for oxygen, and 7.6 mmHg for argon.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Physiology
- Respiratory Physiology
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Question 6
Incorrect
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A patient with a history of worsening chronic breathlessness on exertion undergoes lung function testing. The results demonstrate an FEV 1 that is 58% predicted and an FEV 1 /FVC ratio less than 0.7.
Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis? Select ONE answer only.Your Answer: Obesity
Correct Answer: COPD
Explanation:Obstructive lung disorders are characterised by airway obstruction. Many obstructive diseases of the lung result from narrowing of the smaller bronchi and larger bronchioles, often because of excessive contraction of the smooth muscle itself.
In obstructive lung disease, FEV1is reduced to <80% of normal and FVC is usually reduced but to a lesser extent than FEV1. The FEV1/FVC ratio is reduced to <0.7.
Types of obstructive lung disorders include:
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Asthma
Bronchiectasis -
This question is part of the following fields:
- Physiology
- Respiratory Physiology
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Question 7
Incorrect
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A 60-year-old man presents with marked breathlessness. He has with a history of ischaemic heart disease. On examination, there is coarse bibasal crackles, marked peripheral oedema and chest X-ray taken is consistent with severe pulmonary oedema. RR is 28 per minute.
Which receptor is responsible for detecting pulmonary oedema and the subsequent increase in respiratory rate?Your Answer: Aortic baroreceptors
Correct Answer: Juxtacapillary receptors
Explanation:Pulmonary oedema causes stimulation of the Juxtacapillary receptors (J receptors) leading to a reflex increase in breathing rate. These receptors are also thought to be involved in the sensation of dyspnoea. The J receptors are sensory cells and are located within the alveolar walls in juxtaposition to the pulmonary capillaries.
Aortic baroreceptor are involved in detecting blood pressure
Central chemoreceptors detect changes in CO2 and hydrogen ion within the brain
Atrial volume receptors regulate plasma volume
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Physiology
- Respiratory Physiology
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Question 8
Incorrect
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A 64-year-old woman with a history of chronic breathlessness is referred for lung function testing.
Which of the following statements regarding lung function testing is FALSE? Select ONE answer only.Your Answer: In obstructive lung disease, FVC is usually reduced but to a lesser extent than FEV 1
Correct Answer: In restrictive lung disease, the FVC is increased
Explanation:In restrictive lung disorders there is a reduction in the forced vital capacity (FVC) and the forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1). The decline in the FVC is greater than that of the FEV1, resulting in preservation of the FEV1/FVC ratio (>0.7%).
In obstructive lung disease, FEV1is reduced to <80% of normal and FVC is usually reduced but to a lesser extent than FEV1. The FEV1/FVC ratio is reduced to <0.7.
According to the latestNICE guidelines(link is external), airflow obstruction is defined as follows:
Mild airflow obstruction = an FEV1 of >80% in the presence of symptoms
Moderate airflow obstruction = FEV1 of 50-79%
Severe airflow obstruction = FEV1 of 30-49%
Very severe airflow obstruction = FEV1<30%.
Spirometry is a poor predictor of durability and quality of life in COPD but can be used as part of the assessment of severity.
COPD can only be diagnosed on spirometry if the FEV1 is <80% and FEV1/FVC ratio is < 0.7. -
This question is part of the following fields:
- Physiology
- Respiratory Physiology
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Question 9
Incorrect
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A 67-year-old man with chronic breathlessness is sent for a lung function test.
Which statement concerning lung function testing is true?Your Answer: In obstructive lung disease, the FEV 1 /FVC ratio is usually normal
Correct Answer: In restrictive lung disease, the FEV 1 /FVC ratio is usually >0.7
Explanation:In restrictive lung disease, the FEV1/FVC ratio is usually >0.7%.
In obstructive lung disease, FEV1 is reduced to <80% of normal and FVC is usually reduced. The FEV1/FVC ratio is reduced to <0.7. Airflow obstruction is defined in the NICE guidelines as:
Mild airflow obstruction = an FEV 1 of >80% in the presence of symptoms
Moderate airflow obstruction = FEV 1 of 50-79%
Severe airflow obstruction = FEV 1 of 30-49%
Very severe airflow obstruction = FEV1<30%. Spirometry is a poor predictor of quality of life in COPD. However, it can be used as part of the assessment of severity of COPD. -
This question is part of the following fields:
- Physiology
- Respiratory Physiology
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Question 10
Incorrect
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The juxtacapillary receptors, or J receptors, are sensory cells that play an important role in the control of respiration.
At which of the following anatomical sites are the J receptors located? Select ONE answer only.Your Answer: The trachea
Correct Answer: The alveolar walls
Explanation:Juxtacapillary receptors (J receptors) are sensory cells that are located within the alveolar walls in juxtaposition to the pulmonary capillaries of the lung.
The J receptors are innervated by the vagus nerve and are activated by physical engorgement of the pulmonary capillaries or increased pulmonary interstitial volume, for example, in the presence of pulmonary oedema, pulmonary embolus, pneumonia and barotraumas. They may also be stimulated by hyperinflation of the lung.
Stimulation of the J receptors causes a reflex increase in breathing rateĀ and is also thought to be involved in the sensation of dyspnoea. The reflex response that is produced is apnoea, followed by rapid breathing, bradycardia, and hypotension. -
This question is part of the following fields:
- Physiology
- Respiratory Physiology
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