NR283 Chapter 13 Mock Exam 2026 | Respiratory System
Disorders | Trusted Q&A
CHAPTER 13 – RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DISORDERS
Respiratory System: Purpose and General Function
• Transport of oxygen from air to blood
o Oxygen is necessary for cellular metabolism.
• Removal of carbon dioxide from the blood
o Carbon dioxide is a waste product from metabolism.
• Two anatomical areas
o Upper respiratory tract
▪ Resident flora
• Lower respiratory tract
o Sterile
Upper Respiratory Tract
• Nasal cavity
o Warming and moistening of air
o Foreign material trapped by mucous secretions
• Nasopharynx
o Pharyngeal tonsils in posterior wall
• Palatine tonsils
o Lymphoid tissue in posterior portion of the oral cavity
Anatomy of the Respiratory System
,
, Upper Respiratory Tract (Cont.)
• Oropharynx
o Common passage for air and food
o Epiglottis protects opening into larynx.
▪ Closes over glottis at swallowing to prevent aspiration
• Larynx
o Two pairs of vocal cords
• Trachea
o Lined by pseudostratified ciliated epithelium
o C-shaped rings of cartilage
Lower Respiratory Tract
• Bronchial tree (continuous branching)
o Trachea branches into:
▪ Right and left primary bronchi
▪ Secondary bronchi
▪ Bronchioles
▪ Terminal bronchioles
▪ Respiratory bronchioles
▪ Alveolar ducts
▪ Alveoli—lined by simple squamous epithelium and surfactant to reduce surface tension
and maintain inflation
• End point for inspired air
• Site of gas exchange
Ventilation
• Process of inspiration and expiration
o Airflow depends on pressure gradient (Boyle’s law).
▪ Air always moves from high-pressure area to low- pressure area
o Atmospheric pressure higher than pressure in alveoli
▪ Inspiration—air moves from atmosphere into lungs
o Pressure in alveoli higher than in atmosphere
▪ Expiration—air moves from lungs into atmosphere
Disorders | Trusted Q&A
CHAPTER 13 – RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DISORDERS
Respiratory System: Purpose and General Function
• Transport of oxygen from air to blood
o Oxygen is necessary for cellular metabolism.
• Removal of carbon dioxide from the blood
o Carbon dioxide is a waste product from metabolism.
• Two anatomical areas
o Upper respiratory tract
▪ Resident flora
• Lower respiratory tract
o Sterile
Upper Respiratory Tract
• Nasal cavity
o Warming and moistening of air
o Foreign material trapped by mucous secretions
• Nasopharynx
o Pharyngeal tonsils in posterior wall
• Palatine tonsils
o Lymphoid tissue in posterior portion of the oral cavity
Anatomy of the Respiratory System
,
, Upper Respiratory Tract (Cont.)
• Oropharynx
o Common passage for air and food
o Epiglottis protects opening into larynx.
▪ Closes over glottis at swallowing to prevent aspiration
• Larynx
o Two pairs of vocal cords
• Trachea
o Lined by pseudostratified ciliated epithelium
o C-shaped rings of cartilage
Lower Respiratory Tract
• Bronchial tree (continuous branching)
o Trachea branches into:
▪ Right and left primary bronchi
▪ Secondary bronchi
▪ Bronchioles
▪ Terminal bronchioles
▪ Respiratory bronchioles
▪ Alveolar ducts
▪ Alveoli—lined by simple squamous epithelium and surfactant to reduce surface tension
and maintain inflation
• End point for inspired air
• Site of gas exchange
Ventilation
• Process of inspiration and expiration
o Airflow depends on pressure gradient (Boyle’s law).
▪ Air always moves from high-pressure area to low- pressure area
o Atmospheric pressure higher than pressure in alveoli
▪ Inspiration—air moves from atmosphere into lungs
o Pressure in alveoli higher than in atmosphere
▪ Expiration—air moves from lungs into atmosphere
