NUR 221 Exam #2 Comprehensive
Questions With Detailed Verified And
100% Correct Answers Q&A 2026
Update!!!
- carbon dioxide exhaled out of lungs
- oxygen inhaled into lungs
purpose of the respiratory tract
- oxygen to blood
- remove carbon dioxide from blood
Right lung: 3 lobes
lobes of the lungs
Left lung: 2 lobes
-nasal cavity: warms/moistens air, traps
foreign material
-nasopharynx: contains tonsils
organs of the upper respiratory tract + -oropharynx: passage for air and food,
function contains epiglottis (protects larynx)
-larynx: two pairs of vocal cords
-trachea: lined w/ ciliated epithelium and
has c-shaped cartilage rings
-bronchial tree (left and right)
-bronchioles
lower respiratory tract organs -alveolar ducts (bundles of grapes)
-alveoli (lined w/ epithelium and surfactant
to allow for inflation and reduce tension)
complications w/ insufficient surfactant increased surface tension causing:
production -alveolar collapse
-decreased lung expansion
-Increased work of breathing (labored)
-Severe O2 / CO exchange abnormalities
, -Chest Wall: made of skin, ribs and
intercostal muscles
-Thoracic Cavity: Encases the lungs and
What organs/tissues protects the pleura adheres to the lung
pulmonary system
-Pleural Space: About 50 mL fluid fills
pleural space allowing two layers of the
pleura to slide over each other easily,
pressure is negative/sub-atmospheric
-cilia: propels particles to be expectorated
(smoking kills)
How does the pulmonary system protect -alveolar macrophages: eat foreign
itself from contamination? substances
-irritant receptors in nares/trachea: triggers
sneeze/cough
1. Facilitates O2/CO2 gas exchange
2. Delivers nutrients to lung tissue
pulmonary circulation purposes 3. Acts as a reservoir for the left ventricle
4. Filter system removes air and debris
from circulation
*****Vital capacity: max amount of air that
can be moved in/out of the lungs with a
single forced inspiration and expiration
important pulmonary volumes (4600mL)
******Total lung capacity: total air volume
in the lungs after max inspiration (5800mL)
-excessive carbon dioxide in the blood
Hypercapnia -causes increased rate and depth of
respirations (hyperventilation)
-decreased level of oxygen in the blood
Hypoxemia -increased respirations trying to get O2
-common in smokers and COPD pts
inspired air to expired air = low to high O2
basics of the pulmonary gas exchange and slightly higher CO2 content w/
inspired air
, -Partial pressure gradient
-Thickness of respiratory membrane: fluid
accumulation in alveoli/interstitial tissue
(blood, pneumonia)
Factors affecting gas exchange -Total surface area for diffusion: alveolar
wall destruction, decreased surface area
-Ventilation/Perfusion ratio: Ventilation &
perfusion need to match for max gas
exchange (PE throws it off bc it blocks
blood flow)
-About 1% is dissolved in plasma
Oxygen transport in blood
-Most reversibly bound to hemoglobin
-Waste product of cellular metabolism
-About 7% dissolved in plasma
CO2 transport in blood -About 20% reversibly bound to
hemoglobin
-Most diffuses into RBCs
-Loss of elastic recoil
-Stiffening of the chest wall
aging effects on the pulmonary system -Alterations in gas exchange
-Increases in flow resistance
-Decreased exercise tolerance
-Spirometry: pulmonary function testing
(PFT), measures lung volumes
-ABG analysis
-Oximetry: measures oxygen saturation
Pulmonary testing -Chest radiographs (CXR)
-Chest CT (most accurate/clear
-Bronchoscopy: biopsy or check for
bleeding/lesions
-Culture and sensitivity tests
Questions With Detailed Verified And
100% Correct Answers Q&A 2026
Update!!!
- carbon dioxide exhaled out of lungs
- oxygen inhaled into lungs
purpose of the respiratory tract
- oxygen to blood
- remove carbon dioxide from blood
Right lung: 3 lobes
lobes of the lungs
Left lung: 2 lobes
-nasal cavity: warms/moistens air, traps
foreign material
-nasopharynx: contains tonsils
organs of the upper respiratory tract + -oropharynx: passage for air and food,
function contains epiglottis (protects larynx)
-larynx: two pairs of vocal cords
-trachea: lined w/ ciliated epithelium and
has c-shaped cartilage rings
-bronchial tree (left and right)
-bronchioles
lower respiratory tract organs -alveolar ducts (bundles of grapes)
-alveoli (lined w/ epithelium and surfactant
to allow for inflation and reduce tension)
complications w/ insufficient surfactant increased surface tension causing:
production -alveolar collapse
-decreased lung expansion
-Increased work of breathing (labored)
-Severe O2 / CO exchange abnormalities
, -Chest Wall: made of skin, ribs and
intercostal muscles
-Thoracic Cavity: Encases the lungs and
What organs/tissues protects the pleura adheres to the lung
pulmonary system
-Pleural Space: About 50 mL fluid fills
pleural space allowing two layers of the
pleura to slide over each other easily,
pressure is negative/sub-atmospheric
-cilia: propels particles to be expectorated
(smoking kills)
How does the pulmonary system protect -alveolar macrophages: eat foreign
itself from contamination? substances
-irritant receptors in nares/trachea: triggers
sneeze/cough
1. Facilitates O2/CO2 gas exchange
2. Delivers nutrients to lung tissue
pulmonary circulation purposes 3. Acts as a reservoir for the left ventricle
4. Filter system removes air and debris
from circulation
*****Vital capacity: max amount of air that
can be moved in/out of the lungs with a
single forced inspiration and expiration
important pulmonary volumes (4600mL)
******Total lung capacity: total air volume
in the lungs after max inspiration (5800mL)
-excessive carbon dioxide in the blood
Hypercapnia -causes increased rate and depth of
respirations (hyperventilation)
-decreased level of oxygen in the blood
Hypoxemia -increased respirations trying to get O2
-common in smokers and COPD pts
inspired air to expired air = low to high O2
basics of the pulmonary gas exchange and slightly higher CO2 content w/
inspired air
, -Partial pressure gradient
-Thickness of respiratory membrane: fluid
accumulation in alveoli/interstitial tissue
(blood, pneumonia)
Factors affecting gas exchange -Total surface area for diffusion: alveolar
wall destruction, decreased surface area
-Ventilation/Perfusion ratio: Ventilation &
perfusion need to match for max gas
exchange (PE throws it off bc it blocks
blood flow)
-About 1% is dissolved in plasma
Oxygen transport in blood
-Most reversibly bound to hemoglobin
-Waste product of cellular metabolism
-About 7% dissolved in plasma
CO2 transport in blood -About 20% reversibly bound to
hemoglobin
-Most diffuses into RBCs
-Loss of elastic recoil
-Stiffening of the chest wall
aging effects on the pulmonary system -Alterations in gas exchange
-Increases in flow resistance
-Decreased exercise tolerance
-Spirometry: pulmonary function testing
(PFT), measures lung volumes
-ABG analysis
-Oximetry: measures oxygen saturation
Pulmonary testing -Chest radiographs (CXR)
-Chest CT (most accurate/clear
-Bronchoscopy: biopsy or check for
bleeding/lesions
-Culture and sensitivity tests
