A male adult patient hospitalized for treatment of a pulmonary embolism develops respiratory alkalosis. Which clinical findings commonly accompany respiratory alkalosis?
- A. Nausea or vomiting
- B. Abdominal pain or diarrhea
- C. Hallucinations or tinnitus
- D. Lightheadedness or paresthesia
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Lightheadedness or paresthesia. Respiratory alkalosis is caused by hyperventilation, leading to decreased carbon dioxide levels and an increase in pH. This can result in symptoms such as lightheadedness (from decreased cerebral blood flow) and paresthesia (tingling sensations due to changes in calcium ionization). Choices A, B, and C are incorrect as they are not typically associated with respiratory alkalosis. Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea are more commonly seen in metabolic alkalosis, while hallucinations and tinnitus are not typical symptoms of respiratory alkalosis.
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The nurse is performing a respiratory assessment of a patient who has been experiencing episodes of hypoxia. The nurse is aware that this is ultimately attributable to impaired gas exchange. On what factor does adequate gas exchange primarily depend?
- A. An appropriate perfusion-diffusion ratio
- B. An adequate ventilation-perfusion ratio
- C. Adequate diffusion of gas in shunted blood
- D. Appropriate blood nitrogen concentration
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: An adequate ventilation-perfusion ratio. Adequate gas exchange primarily depends on the matching of ventilation (air reaching the alveoli) and perfusion (blood flow to the alveoli). A mismatch in this ratio can lead to impaired gas exchange, resulting in hypoxia. Option A relates to gas movement efficiency but does not address the matching of ventilation and perfusion. Option C mentions shunted blood, which is not directly related to the ventilation-perfusion ratio. Option D is unrelated to gas exchange. In summary, the ventilation-perfusion ratio is crucial for optimal gas exchange, making it the correct choice.
Diaphragm is supplied with Phrenic nerve and is involved in
- A. Inspiration
- B. Parturition
- C. Micturition and Defecation
- D. All these
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: All these. The phrenic nerve innervates the diaphragm, which is responsible for inspiration (A). During parturition (B), the diaphragm plays a role in the pushing phase of labor. While the diaphragm is not directly involved in micturition and defecation (C), it indirectly affects these processes by helping to create intra-abdominal pressure. Therefore, the correct answer is D as the diaphragm is involved in inspiration, parturition, and indirectly affects micturition and defecation.
One way to improve respiratory performance with age is to
- A. eat smaller meals
- B. stop smoking
- C. sleep longer
- D. maintain normal glucose levels
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: stop smoking. Smoking can damage the lungs and reduce respiratory function. By quitting smoking, lung health can improve, leading to better respiratory performance with age. Eating smaller meals, sleeping longer, and maintaining normal glucose levels do not directly impact respiratory performance. Smoking cessation is the most effective way to improve lung function and overall respiratory health.
Muscles attached to diaphragm contract during inspiration to make it
- A. Flat
- B. Dome-shaped
- C. Concave
- D. Rotate
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Flat. During inspiration, the muscles attached to the diaphragm contract, causing it to flatten. This action increases the volume of the thoracic cavity, allowing air to rush into the lungs. The diaphragm moving downward creates a larger space for the lungs to expand. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because the diaphragm does not become dome-shaped, concave, or rotate during inspiration. The key concept here is understanding the role of the diaphragm in the breathing process and how its contraction affects the shape of the thoracic cavity.
During internal and external respiration, gases move by
- A. osmosis
- B. active transport
- C. diffusion
- D. endocytosis
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: diffusion. During internal and external respiration, gases move from areas of high concentration to low concentration through passive diffusion. This process is driven by the concentration gradient, allowing gases like oxygen and carbon dioxide to exchange in the lungs and tissues. Osmosis (A) is the movement of water across a semipermeable membrane, not gases. Active transport (B) requires energy and moves substances against their concentration gradient, which is not how gases move during respiration. Endocytosis (D) is a process where cells engulf substances by forming vesicles, not how gases are exchanged in respiration.