A+ Grade
What is the amount of air that normally reaches the alveoli in an adult?
- correct answer 350ml
How much air is in the average adult ventilation?
- correct answer 500ml
How much air is lost in the area of dead space when an adult is ventilating?
- correct answer 150ml
A 67 year old male complains of mild respiratory distress. He smokes 4 packs of cigarettes a day and
reports a consistent cough and frequent respiratory infections. Chest sounds reveal bilateral rhonchi.
What should you suspect?
- correct answer Chronic bronchitis
EXPLANATION: chronic bronchitis is long term inflammation of the bronchioles. Excessive mucus and pus
production leads to obstructed airways. the consistent cough is the body's response to clear the airway
obstruction
An unresponsive 43 year old male is cool, pale, diaphoretic, and breathing 6 times a minute. which
device should you use to administer oxygen?
- correct answer Bag-valve mask
EXPLANATION: He is unresponsive and breathing too slow. This is a "sick" patient and assisting his
ventilation should be the first intervention. You can increase his respiratory rate with a bag-valve mask.
diaphoretic
- correct answer Characterized by profuse sweating.
, Nasal cannula delivers about what percentage of oxygen
- correct answer 20-44%
What are the structures that branch off of the trachea into the lower airway?
- correct answer Bronchi
EXPLANATION: the trachea splits at the carina into the left and right bronchus. The bronchi get smaller
and smaller until it reaches the terminal bronchioles where the alveoli are located.
What is the normal range of breaths per minute for an adult
- correct answer 12-20
A febrile 44 year old male complains of shortness of breath and has dull chest pain. he has been
coughing up "rusty" sputum for the last 3 days. what is the most likely cause?
- correct answer Pneumonia
EXPLANATION: Pneumonia is an infection of the lung tissue and the "rusty" sputum (spit) is a sign of a
lower airway infection. He is febrile (has a fever) from an immune response to the infection, and the
"dull" chest pain is a common symptom at the location of the infection.
A 42 year old male complains of shortness of breath after being sprayed with super-heated steam. He
has burns to his face, neck and upper chest. Vitals signs are BP 112/66, P 124, R 26 shallow and labored.
What should you do?
- correct answer Assists his ventilations
EXPLANATION: He is in respiratory failure. His breathing is ineffective because his respirations are fast
and shallow. Shallow respirations do not allow for adequate oxygen exchange because the air is not
drawn down far enough into the lungs. Assisting his breathing with positive pressure ventilations will
help reduce any developing pulmonary edema from the lower airway burns.
What is the term for abnormal breath sounds that result from an obstructed upper airway?
- correct answer Stridor