alleryStart learning →Which factor is the primary determinant of airway resistance?
AThe thickness of the pleural fluid film
BThe elasticity of the thoracic cage
CThe surfactant content of the alveoli
DThe diameter of the airway itself
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: D. The diameter of the airway itself
1. Resistance is a force that slows the flow of gases.
2. The size of the airway is the primary factor affecting it.
3. A small diameter forces air through a smaller space and causes more collisions with the walls, raising resistance.
4. Surfactant affects surface tension and alveolar collapse rather than resistance to flow, so the third option is a distractor.
_Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology (CC BY 4.0), Ch 22 "The Respiratory System", section 22.3 The Process of Breathing_
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