Test Bank - Focus on Nursing Pharmacology (8th Edition by Karch)
1. A nurse is discussing ways the body protects itself against infection. What are the
microscopic, hair- like projections of the cell membrane found in the nasal cavity,
which transport foreign substances toward the throat where it can be swallowed
and kept away from the respiratory system?
a. Goblet cells
b. Cilia
c. Alveolar sacs
d. Sinuses
Ans: B
Feedback:
Cilia are found in the epithelial cells of the lining of the nasal cavity and are
constantly in motion directing mucus and trapped substances down toward the throat.
Goblet cells are found in the epithelial lining and produce mucus, which traps foreign
substances. Alveolar sacs are located in the lower respiratory tract and are considered
the functional units of the lung. Sinuses are air-filled passages through the skull,
which open into the nasal cavity.
2. A 39-year-old teacher with bronchitis has been up all night with intense coughing
spasms and asks the nurse How is all this coughing related to my bronchitis? The
nurse tells the patient that a cough is initiated by what?
a. Irritation to receptors in the nasal cavity
b. Irritation to receptors in the bronchi
c. Irritation to receptors in the pharynx
d. Irritation to receptors in the sinus cavities
Ans: B
Feedback:
Irritation to bronchial receptors will initiate a cough, which causes air to be pushed
through the bronchial tree. Irritation to receptors in the nasal cavity, pharynx, and
sinuses are more likely to initiate the sneeze reflex.
3. A woman has just given birth to a premature infant. The mother asks why the
infant is having such a hard time breathing. The nurse explains that the infant’s
alveoli are unable to stay open. What is the infant lacking that is necessary for
correct functioning of the alveoli?
a. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP)
, b. Histamine
c. Serotonin
d. Surfactant
Ans: D
Feedback:
Surfactant is a lipoprotein that decreases the surface tension in the sac and prevents
alveolar collapse. ATP, histamine, and serotonin are released from mast cells
throughout the airway to ensure a quick and intense inflammatory reaction to any cell
injury, which may lead to a respiratory infection.
4. The nurse is caring for a patient who suffered a head injury and is now having
difficulty breathing. The nurse knows that this patient may have injured what part
of the central nervous system?
a. Cerebral cortex
b. Cerebellum
c. Hypothalamus
d. Medulla oblongata
Ans: D
Feedback:
The act of breathing is controlled by the medulla, which depends on a functioning
muscular system and a balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic
systems. The cerebral cortex, cerebellum, and hypothalamus are not involved with
this process.
5. The nurse in the clinic is caring for a patient who has seasonal rhinitis and the
patient wants to know what causes this to occur. What is the nurse’s best response?
a. You are experiencing symptoms because bacteria have entered the nose and
caused an infection.
b. Your upper airways are experiencing an inflammatory response to an
inhaled antigen that is causing you to have sneezing and watery eyes.
c. Your sympathetic nervous system is responding to an acute amount of
stress in your life causing you to have nasal congestion.
d. Your runny nose and sneezing have occurred because a portion of your
lung has collapsed.
Ans: B
Feedback:
Seasonal rhinitis usually occurs when the upper airways become inflamed because of
the body’s response to an inhaled antigen. The lungs do not collapse and the
sympathetic system’s response to stress usually opens the airways and does not cause
inflammation. Bacteria entering the nose do not cause inflammation of the rest of the
upper airways.
1. A nurse is discussing ways the body protects itself against infection. What are the
microscopic, hair- like projections of the cell membrane found in the nasal cavity,
which transport foreign substances toward the throat where it can be swallowed
and kept away from the respiratory system?
a. Goblet cells
b. Cilia
c. Alveolar sacs
d. Sinuses
Ans: B
Feedback:
Cilia are found in the epithelial cells of the lining of the nasal cavity and are
constantly in motion directing mucus and trapped substances down toward the throat.
Goblet cells are found in the epithelial lining and produce mucus, which traps foreign
substances. Alveolar sacs are located in the lower respiratory tract and are considered
the functional units of the lung. Sinuses are air-filled passages through the skull,
which open into the nasal cavity.
2. A 39-year-old teacher with bronchitis has been up all night with intense coughing
spasms and asks the nurse How is all this coughing related to my bronchitis? The
nurse tells the patient that a cough is initiated by what?
a. Irritation to receptors in the nasal cavity
b. Irritation to receptors in the bronchi
c. Irritation to receptors in the pharynx
d. Irritation to receptors in the sinus cavities
Ans: B
Feedback:
Irritation to bronchial receptors will initiate a cough, which causes air to be pushed
through the bronchial tree. Irritation to receptors in the nasal cavity, pharynx, and
sinuses are more likely to initiate the sneeze reflex.
3. A woman has just given birth to a premature infant. The mother asks why the
infant is having such a hard time breathing. The nurse explains that the infant’s
alveoli are unable to stay open. What is the infant lacking that is necessary for
correct functioning of the alveoli?
a. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP)
, b. Histamine
c. Serotonin
d. Surfactant
Ans: D
Feedback:
Surfactant is a lipoprotein that decreases the surface tension in the sac and prevents
alveolar collapse. ATP, histamine, and serotonin are released from mast cells
throughout the airway to ensure a quick and intense inflammatory reaction to any cell
injury, which may lead to a respiratory infection.
4. The nurse is caring for a patient who suffered a head injury and is now having
difficulty breathing. The nurse knows that this patient may have injured what part
of the central nervous system?
a. Cerebral cortex
b. Cerebellum
c. Hypothalamus
d. Medulla oblongata
Ans: D
Feedback:
The act of breathing is controlled by the medulla, which depends on a functioning
muscular system and a balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic
systems. The cerebral cortex, cerebellum, and hypothalamus are not involved with
this process.
5. The nurse in the clinic is caring for a patient who has seasonal rhinitis and the
patient wants to know what causes this to occur. What is the nurse’s best response?
a. You are experiencing symptoms because bacteria have entered the nose and
caused an infection.
b. Your upper airways are experiencing an inflammatory response to an
inhaled antigen that is causing you to have sneezing and watery eyes.
c. Your sympathetic nervous system is responding to an acute amount of
stress in your life causing you to have nasal congestion.
d. Your runny nose and sneezing have occurred because a portion of your
lung has collapsed.
Ans: B
Feedback:
Seasonal rhinitis usually occurs when the upper airways become inflamed because of
the body’s response to an inhaled antigen. The lungs do not collapse and the
sympathetic system’s response to stress usually opens the airways and does not cause
inflammation. Bacteria entering the nose do not cause inflammation of the rest of the
upper airways.
