NCCAA CERTIFICATION EXAM PRACTICE QUESTIONS
UPDATED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
What is the major motor nerve for the intrinsic muscles of the larynx? - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅✅Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve
Which sensory nerve is stimulated to produce laryngospasm & which muscles are responsible for
laryngospasm? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Internal branch of Superior Laryngeal Nerve &
Lateral cricoartyenoids
A 42F undergoes subtotal thyroidectomy under general anesthesia. Upon extubation, the patient
is unable to phonate when asked if they are having any pain. The patient quickly develops
strider. What is the most likely complication? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Bilateral RLN
damage
Gas exchange within the tracheobronchial tree begins at what generations? - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅✅17-19
Which description of alveoli distribution is most correct? A) Alveoli are largest at the base of the
lung. B) The smallest alveoli are found at the apex of the lung. C) The largest alveoli are found
throughout the lung. D) Alveoli are smallest at the base of the lung - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅✅D) Alveoli are smallest at the base of the lung
Which description of pneumocytes is most correct? A) Type I pneumocytes are round and more
numerous than Type II. B) Type II pneumocytes produce Type I pneumocytes which form tight
junctions. C) Type I pneumocytes contain the majority surfactant. D) Type II pneumocytes are
round and form tight junctions to prevent permeability. - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅B)
Type II pneumocytes produce Type I pneumocytes which form tight junctions
During an acute apneic event which receptors are responsible for responding to increases in
PaCO2 (H+ ions)? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Central chemoreceptors
,Where are the peripheral chemoreceptors located & what nerve(s) mediate information? -
CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Carotid/aortic bodies & Glossopharyngeal nerve and Vagus
nerve
Peripheral chemoreceptors are most sensitive to what changes? - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅✅Decreased PaO2
Which of the following is associated with an increase in P50? A) Decreased H+ ions. B) Fetal
Hemoglobin. C) Decreased temperature. D). Sickle Cell. - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅D)
Sickle Cell
All of the following are associated with the shifting of the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve to
the left except? A) Pulmonary circulation environment. B) Hypoventilation. C) Decreased 2,3-
DPG. D) Hypocapnia. - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅B) Hypoventilation
A patient is given 200mcg of fentanyl on induction. What happens tot he oxyhemoglobin
dissociation curve and the carbon dioxide blood dissociation curve? - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅✅The oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve shifts to the right.
The carbon dioxide dissociation curve shifts up and to the left
If an ABG reads PaO2 = 58mmHg with a patient breathing 21% FiO2. What is the source of this
blood and what would you except SaO2 to be?
A.Mixed venous blood / 70%
B.Arterial blood / 60%
C.Arterial blood / 90%
D.Mixed venous blood / 90% - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅C. Arterial blood/ 90%
What is the PaO2 when SaO2 is 50% - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅26-27mmHg
, Intrapulmonary pressure becomes more positive during which phase of breathing? - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅✅Expiration
What is the O2 content of whole blood if Hgb= 10g/dL, PaO2=60mmHg, and SaO2 =90% -
CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅12.5 mL/dL
In what form is CO2 carried primarily in blood? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅HCO3
(bicarbonate)
What ion is bicarbonate exchanged for at the red blood cell to maintain electroneutrality? -
CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Chloride ions
What is included in anatomic dead space? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Volume of gas in
conducting airways
What is the complication if a patient has a portion of the lung that's V/Q ratio is 0. - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅✅The patient has an absolute shunt. (Right to left shunt) Perfusion without
Ventilation
In West Zone 2, perfusion is determined by which pressure? - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅✅Arterial-Alveolar pressure gradient
When a patient is anesthetized and paralyzed, then placed in the lateral decubitus position a V/Q
mismatch occurs. What is happening with the dependent lung that is causing this mismatch? -
CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅The dependent lung receives increased perfusion but is poorly
ventilated
A patient breathing room air has a PaO2 = 50mmHg and PAO2= 100mmHg. Why is this patient
hypoxic? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅There is a V/Q mismatch
What is the purpose of preoxygenating prior to induction of anesthesia? - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅✅To fill the FRC
UPDATED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
What is the major motor nerve for the intrinsic muscles of the larynx? - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅✅Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve
Which sensory nerve is stimulated to produce laryngospasm & which muscles are responsible for
laryngospasm? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Internal branch of Superior Laryngeal Nerve &
Lateral cricoartyenoids
A 42F undergoes subtotal thyroidectomy under general anesthesia. Upon extubation, the patient
is unable to phonate when asked if they are having any pain. The patient quickly develops
strider. What is the most likely complication? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Bilateral RLN
damage
Gas exchange within the tracheobronchial tree begins at what generations? - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅✅17-19
Which description of alveoli distribution is most correct? A) Alveoli are largest at the base of the
lung. B) The smallest alveoli are found at the apex of the lung. C) The largest alveoli are found
throughout the lung. D) Alveoli are smallest at the base of the lung - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅✅D) Alveoli are smallest at the base of the lung
Which description of pneumocytes is most correct? A) Type I pneumocytes are round and more
numerous than Type II. B) Type II pneumocytes produce Type I pneumocytes which form tight
junctions. C) Type I pneumocytes contain the majority surfactant. D) Type II pneumocytes are
round and form tight junctions to prevent permeability. - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅B)
Type II pneumocytes produce Type I pneumocytes which form tight junctions
During an acute apneic event which receptors are responsible for responding to increases in
PaCO2 (H+ ions)? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Central chemoreceptors
,Where are the peripheral chemoreceptors located & what nerve(s) mediate information? -
CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Carotid/aortic bodies & Glossopharyngeal nerve and Vagus
nerve
Peripheral chemoreceptors are most sensitive to what changes? - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅✅Decreased PaO2
Which of the following is associated with an increase in P50? A) Decreased H+ ions. B) Fetal
Hemoglobin. C) Decreased temperature. D). Sickle Cell. - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅D)
Sickle Cell
All of the following are associated with the shifting of the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve to
the left except? A) Pulmonary circulation environment. B) Hypoventilation. C) Decreased 2,3-
DPG. D) Hypocapnia. - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅B) Hypoventilation
A patient is given 200mcg of fentanyl on induction. What happens tot he oxyhemoglobin
dissociation curve and the carbon dioxide blood dissociation curve? - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅✅The oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve shifts to the right.
The carbon dioxide dissociation curve shifts up and to the left
If an ABG reads PaO2 = 58mmHg with a patient breathing 21% FiO2. What is the source of this
blood and what would you except SaO2 to be?
A.Mixed venous blood / 70%
B.Arterial blood / 60%
C.Arterial blood / 90%
D.Mixed venous blood / 90% - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅C. Arterial blood/ 90%
What is the PaO2 when SaO2 is 50% - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅26-27mmHg
, Intrapulmonary pressure becomes more positive during which phase of breathing? - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅✅Expiration
What is the O2 content of whole blood if Hgb= 10g/dL, PaO2=60mmHg, and SaO2 =90% -
CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅12.5 mL/dL
In what form is CO2 carried primarily in blood? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅HCO3
(bicarbonate)
What ion is bicarbonate exchanged for at the red blood cell to maintain electroneutrality? -
CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Chloride ions
What is included in anatomic dead space? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Volume of gas in
conducting airways
What is the complication if a patient has a portion of the lung that's V/Q ratio is 0. - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅✅The patient has an absolute shunt. (Right to left shunt) Perfusion without
Ventilation
In West Zone 2, perfusion is determined by which pressure? - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅✅Arterial-Alveolar pressure gradient
When a patient is anesthetized and paralyzed, then placed in the lateral decubitus position a V/Q
mismatch occurs. What is happening with the dependent lung that is causing this mismatch? -
CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅The dependent lung receives increased perfusion but is poorly
ventilated
A patient breathing room air has a PaO2 = 50mmHg and PAO2= 100mmHg. Why is this patient
hypoxic? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅There is a V/Q mismatch
What is the purpose of preoxygenating prior to induction of anesthesia? - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅✅To fill the FRC
