Respiratory Exam With Questions And
Answers Latest Update 2026
Why do cells require oxygen? To synthesize ATP
What waste product is produced when cells use
Carbon dioxide
oxygen?
What is the main function of the respiratory To provide cells with needed oxygen and
system? remove carbon dioxide
What are the four processes that make up Pulmonary ventilation, pulmonary gas exchange,
respiration? gas transport in blood, and tissue gas exchange
What is pulmonary ventilation? The movement of air into and out of the lungs
What are the two phases of pulmonary
Inspiration and expiration
ventilation?
What happens during inspiration? Oxygen-rich air moves into the lungs
What happens during expiration? Carbon dioxide rich air moves out of the lungs
The movement of oxygen from the air to the
What is pulmonary gas exchange? blood and carbon dioxide from the blood to the
air
What is gas transport? The movement of gases through the blood
The exchange of gases between blood and body
What is tissue gas exchange?
tissues
Oxygen is delivered to tissues and carbon
What happens during tissue gas exchange?
dioxide is picked up by the blood
Elastic connective tissue and tiny air sacs called
What are lungs composed of?
alveoli
What are alveoli? Small air sacs where gas exchange takes place
How are lungs divided structurally? Into lobes
, How many lobes does the right lung have? Three; upper, middle, lower
How many lobes does the left lung have? Two: Upper, lower
What separates the lobes of the lungs? Deep indentations called fissures
What does the horizontal fissure separate? The right upper and right middle lobes
What does the right oblique fissure separate? The right middle and right lower lobes
What does the left oblique fissure separate? The left upper and left lower lobes
A groove in the left upper lobe where the heart
What is the cardiac notch?
sits
What is the apex of the lung? The top portion that sits above the clavicle
What is the base of the lung? The bottom portion resting on the diaphragm
What muscle is responsible for ventilation and
The diaphragm
supports the lung base?
What surrounds each lung? serous membranes
What are the two layers of the pleura? Parietal pleura and visceral pleura
What is the pleural cavity? The space between the pleural membranes
What is found in the pleural cavity? Pleural fluid
Reduces friction and allows lungs to change
What is the function of pleural fluid?
shape during ventilation
How does air reach the alveoli? Through passageways of the respiratory tract
What are the two regions of the respiratory Upper respiratory tract and lower respiratory
system? tract
What structures are in the upper respiratory
Passages from the nasal cavity to the larynx
tract?
What structures in the lower respiratory tract? Passages from the trachea to the alveoli
What are the two functional zones of the
Conducting zone and respiratory zone
respiratory system?
Carries air to structures where gas exchange
What is the function of the conducting zone?
occurs
Answers Latest Update 2026
Why do cells require oxygen? To synthesize ATP
What waste product is produced when cells use
Carbon dioxide
oxygen?
What is the main function of the respiratory To provide cells with needed oxygen and
system? remove carbon dioxide
What are the four processes that make up Pulmonary ventilation, pulmonary gas exchange,
respiration? gas transport in blood, and tissue gas exchange
What is pulmonary ventilation? The movement of air into and out of the lungs
What are the two phases of pulmonary
Inspiration and expiration
ventilation?
What happens during inspiration? Oxygen-rich air moves into the lungs
What happens during expiration? Carbon dioxide rich air moves out of the lungs
The movement of oxygen from the air to the
What is pulmonary gas exchange? blood and carbon dioxide from the blood to the
air
What is gas transport? The movement of gases through the blood
The exchange of gases between blood and body
What is tissue gas exchange?
tissues
Oxygen is delivered to tissues and carbon
What happens during tissue gas exchange?
dioxide is picked up by the blood
Elastic connective tissue and tiny air sacs called
What are lungs composed of?
alveoli
What are alveoli? Small air sacs where gas exchange takes place
How are lungs divided structurally? Into lobes
, How many lobes does the right lung have? Three; upper, middle, lower
How many lobes does the left lung have? Two: Upper, lower
What separates the lobes of the lungs? Deep indentations called fissures
What does the horizontal fissure separate? The right upper and right middle lobes
What does the right oblique fissure separate? The right middle and right lower lobes
What does the left oblique fissure separate? The left upper and left lower lobes
A groove in the left upper lobe where the heart
What is the cardiac notch?
sits
What is the apex of the lung? The top portion that sits above the clavicle
What is the base of the lung? The bottom portion resting on the diaphragm
What muscle is responsible for ventilation and
The diaphragm
supports the lung base?
What surrounds each lung? serous membranes
What are the two layers of the pleura? Parietal pleura and visceral pleura
What is the pleural cavity? The space between the pleural membranes
What is found in the pleural cavity? Pleural fluid
Reduces friction and allows lungs to change
What is the function of pleural fluid?
shape during ventilation
How does air reach the alveoli? Through passageways of the respiratory tract
What are the two regions of the respiratory Upper respiratory tract and lower respiratory
system? tract
What structures are in the upper respiratory
Passages from the nasal cavity to the larynx
tract?
What structures in the lower respiratory tract? Passages from the trachea to the alveoli
What are the two functional zones of the
Conducting zone and respiratory zone
respiratory system?
Carries air to structures where gas exchange
What is the function of the conducting zone?
occurs
