Beachey: Respiratory Care Anatomy and Physiology, 2nd Edition

Answers to Concept Questions

Chapter 1: The Airways and Alveoli

1-1	Mouth breathing bypasses the nasal turbinates and nasal mucosa’s large surface area, decreasing humidification and filtering efficiency.

1-2	Upper airway mucosa has fenestrations (microscopic pores) and counter-current blood flow mechanisms not present in lower airway mucosa. These structures facilitate heat and moisture exchange with the air.

1-3	The eustachian tube connects the middle ear and nasopharynx.

1-4	Mechanical friction caused by tube removal may stimulate reflex laryngeal muscle spasm.

1-5	The right main bronchus is more in line with the trachea than the left main bronchus.

1-6	Endotracheal intubation decreases the volume of anatomical dead space. The endotracheal tube’s volume is much less than upper airway volume.

1-7	Because the combined cross-sectional area of the small airways is extremely large.

1-8	It would make them more prone to collapse because small airways depend on the recoil force of attached surrounding elastic fibers for patency.