Additional Critical Thinking Questions

1. You are the captain of a miniature submarine that is being senton a voyage through the body. Your assignment is to plot the coursetaken by molecules of oxygen from the atmosphere to the heart andthe reverse course taken by molecules of carbon dioxide from theheart to the atmosphere. Diagram and explain how you would organizethe course.

1. A five-year-old child threatens to hold his breath until hedies if his mother does not buy him an ice cream cone. Would youadvise the mother to let the child hold his breath or to give in tohis demand? Your advice should be based only on any possiblephysiological damage to the child.

1. You have been asked to assist an 80-year-old resident of anursing home who is hyperventilating. You want to be sure she doesnot faint and lose consciousness. What are you going to do to helpthis individual?

1. A tracheotomy is an operation to make an opening in the tracheaif there is an upper respiratory obstruction of airflow. Explainhow ventilation is possible via this opening and why you don’t needto use your nose or mouth to bring air into your lungs.

1. Asthma is an obstructive disease characterized by inflamedairways that lead to decreased diameter of the airways. Based onyour knowledge of airway resistance and mechanics of breathingexplain the effect of asthma on inspiration and expiration. Whichof these, expiration or inspiration, will be more greatly affectedby this disease?