A patient involved in a motor vehicle accident experiences a ...

[ENagel]

A patient involved in a motor vehicle accident experiences a severe head injury and dies as a re-sult of the loss of respirations. The nurse suspects the area of the brain most likely damaged is the:
 
  a. cerebral cortex.
  b. thalamus.
  c. basal ganglia.
  d. brainstem.

Question 2

A newborn is in respiratory distress and requires ventilation. Tests reveal that he does not pro-duce surfactant due to the absence of:
 
  a. mucus-producing cells.
  b. type II alveolar cells.
  c. alveolar macrophages.
  d. goblet cells.

[zacnyjessica]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: D
The respiratory center in the brainstem controls respiration by transmitting impulses to the respir-atory muscles, causing them to contract and relax. Respirations are not controlled by the cerebral cortex, the thalamus, or the basal ganglia.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: B
Surfactant is produced by the type II alveolar cells. Surfactant is not produced by mu-cus-producing cells, alveolar macrophages, or goblet cells.