PARAMEDIC AIRWAY FISDAP REVIEW
PART 1 EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 100% PASS 2026/2027
Appropriate airway management - ANS *Steps must be performed in order. Bypass steps that
do not apply.*
a. Open and maintain a patent airway.
b. Recognize and treat airway obstructions.
c. Assess ventilation and oxygenation status.
d. Administer supplemental oxygen.
e.Provide ventilatory assistance.
Upper airway - ANS Consists of all anatomic airway structures above the glottic opening.
*1. Tongue*
a. Must be manipulated
b. Tends to fall back into the posterior pharynx in unresponsive patient
*2. Pharynx*
a. Muscular tube that extends from the nose and mouth to the esophagus and trachea
b. Composed of:
i. Nasopharynx
ii. Oropharynx
iii. Laryngopharynx (hypopharynx)
2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
1
,Lower airway - ANS Extends from the glottis to the pulmonary capillary membrane.
1. *Larynx*
2. *Thyroid cartilage*
3. *Cricoid cartilage (cricoid ring)*
4. *Cricothyroid membrane*
5. *Glottis*
6. *Trachea*
1. Larynx - ANS -Complex structure formed by many independent cartilaginous structures
-Marks where the upper airway ends and lower airway begins
2. Thyroid cartilage - ANS -Shield-shaped structure formed by two plates that join in a "V"
shape anteriorly to form the laryngeal prominence
i. Known as the Adam's apple
ii. More pronounced in men
iii. Can be difficult to locate in obese or short-necked patients
-Suspended from the hyoid bone by the thyroid ligament
-Directly anterior to the glottic opening
3. Cricoid cartilage (cricoid ring) - ANS -Lies inferiorly to the thyroid cartilage
-Forms the lowest portion of the larynx
-More prominent in females
4. Cricothyroid membrane - ANS -Located between the thyroid and cricoid cartilage
-Site for emergency surgical and nonsurgical access to the airway
-Bordered laterally and inferiorly by the highly vascular thyroid gland
5. Glottis - ANS -Narrowest portion of the adult airway
2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
2
,-Vocal cords are located at the lateral borders of the glottis.
-Epiglottis is located at the superior border of the glottis.
-ET intubation requires visualizing the epiglottis, glottis, and vocal cords before inserting the ET
tube.
6. Trachea - ANS -Immediately descends into the thoracic cavity
-Not a straight tube, which is key to understand when placing an ET tube
The respiratory and cardiovascular systems work together to ensure that: - ANS 1. A constant
supply of oxygen and nutrients is delivered to every cell.
2. Waste products are removed from every cell.
Ventilation - ANS -Physical act of moving air into and out of the lungs
1. *Inhalation* is the active, muscular part of breathing.
2. *Exhalation* is a passive process and does not normally require muscular effort.
Oxygenation - ANS -Process of loading oxygen molecules onto hemoglobin molecules in the
bloodstream
-Requires adequate *FiO2 (Percentage of oxygen in inhaled air)*
Respiration - ANS -Process of exchanging O2 and CO2-->
1. *External respiration (Also called pulmonary respiration)*: Process of exchanging O2 and CO2
between the alveoli and blood in pulmonary capillaries.
2. *Internal respiration (Also called cellular respiration)*: Exchange of O2 and CO2 between the
systemic circulation and the body's cells.
Pathophysiology of Respiration - ANS -Multiple conditions can inhibit the body's ability to
effectively provide oxygen to cells.
1. Disruption of pulmonary ventilation, oxygenation, and respiration will cause immediate
effects on the body.
2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
3
, a. Must be recognized and corrected immediately
b. Important to distinguish a primary ventilation problem from a primary oxygenation or
respiration problem
2. Every cell needs a constant supply of oxygen to survive.
a. Some tissues are more resilient than others.
b.Sufficient levels of external respiration and perfusion are required.
3. Hypoxia, ventilation-perfusion ratio and mismatch, factors affecting ventilation, factors
affecting oxygenation and respiration, and acid-base balance.
1. Hypoxia - ANS Tissues and cells do not receive enough oxygen --> Death may occur quickly
if not corrected.
- Varying signs and symptoms
a. Onset and degree of tissue damage often depend on the quality of ventilations.
b. Early signs include restlessness, irritability, apprehension, tachycardia, and anxiety.
c. Late signs include mental status changes, a weak pulse, and cyanosis.
d. Responsive patients often report dyspnea and may not be able to speak in complete
sentences.
-Best to administer oxygen before signs and symptoms appear
2. Ventilation-perfusion ratio and mismatch - ANS -Air and blood flow must be directed to the
same place at the same time (ventilation and perfusion must be matched).
-Failure to match ventilation and perfusion (V/Q mismatch) lies behind most abnormalities in
oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange.
-In most people, normal resting minute ventilation is approximately 6 L/min.
2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
4
PART 1 EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 100% PASS 2026/2027
Appropriate airway management - ANS *Steps must be performed in order. Bypass steps that
do not apply.*
a. Open and maintain a patent airway.
b. Recognize and treat airway obstructions.
c. Assess ventilation and oxygenation status.
d. Administer supplemental oxygen.
e.Provide ventilatory assistance.
Upper airway - ANS Consists of all anatomic airway structures above the glottic opening.
*1. Tongue*
a. Must be manipulated
b. Tends to fall back into the posterior pharynx in unresponsive patient
*2. Pharynx*
a. Muscular tube that extends from the nose and mouth to the esophagus and trachea
b. Composed of:
i. Nasopharynx
ii. Oropharynx
iii. Laryngopharynx (hypopharynx)
2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
1
,Lower airway - ANS Extends from the glottis to the pulmonary capillary membrane.
1. *Larynx*
2. *Thyroid cartilage*
3. *Cricoid cartilage (cricoid ring)*
4. *Cricothyroid membrane*
5. *Glottis*
6. *Trachea*
1. Larynx - ANS -Complex structure formed by many independent cartilaginous structures
-Marks where the upper airway ends and lower airway begins
2. Thyroid cartilage - ANS -Shield-shaped structure formed by two plates that join in a "V"
shape anteriorly to form the laryngeal prominence
i. Known as the Adam's apple
ii. More pronounced in men
iii. Can be difficult to locate in obese or short-necked patients
-Suspended from the hyoid bone by the thyroid ligament
-Directly anterior to the glottic opening
3. Cricoid cartilage (cricoid ring) - ANS -Lies inferiorly to the thyroid cartilage
-Forms the lowest portion of the larynx
-More prominent in females
4. Cricothyroid membrane - ANS -Located between the thyroid and cricoid cartilage
-Site for emergency surgical and nonsurgical access to the airway
-Bordered laterally and inferiorly by the highly vascular thyroid gland
5. Glottis - ANS -Narrowest portion of the adult airway
2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
2
,-Vocal cords are located at the lateral borders of the glottis.
-Epiglottis is located at the superior border of the glottis.
-ET intubation requires visualizing the epiglottis, glottis, and vocal cords before inserting the ET
tube.
6. Trachea - ANS -Immediately descends into the thoracic cavity
-Not a straight tube, which is key to understand when placing an ET tube
The respiratory and cardiovascular systems work together to ensure that: - ANS 1. A constant
supply of oxygen and nutrients is delivered to every cell.
2. Waste products are removed from every cell.
Ventilation - ANS -Physical act of moving air into and out of the lungs
1. *Inhalation* is the active, muscular part of breathing.
2. *Exhalation* is a passive process and does not normally require muscular effort.
Oxygenation - ANS -Process of loading oxygen molecules onto hemoglobin molecules in the
bloodstream
-Requires adequate *FiO2 (Percentage of oxygen in inhaled air)*
Respiration - ANS -Process of exchanging O2 and CO2-->
1. *External respiration (Also called pulmonary respiration)*: Process of exchanging O2 and CO2
between the alveoli and blood in pulmonary capillaries.
2. *Internal respiration (Also called cellular respiration)*: Exchange of O2 and CO2 between the
systemic circulation and the body's cells.
Pathophysiology of Respiration - ANS -Multiple conditions can inhibit the body's ability to
effectively provide oxygen to cells.
1. Disruption of pulmonary ventilation, oxygenation, and respiration will cause immediate
effects on the body.
2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
3
, a. Must be recognized and corrected immediately
b. Important to distinguish a primary ventilation problem from a primary oxygenation or
respiration problem
2. Every cell needs a constant supply of oxygen to survive.
a. Some tissues are more resilient than others.
b.Sufficient levels of external respiration and perfusion are required.
3. Hypoxia, ventilation-perfusion ratio and mismatch, factors affecting ventilation, factors
affecting oxygenation and respiration, and acid-base balance.
1. Hypoxia - ANS Tissues and cells do not receive enough oxygen --> Death may occur quickly
if not corrected.
- Varying signs and symptoms
a. Onset and degree of tissue damage often depend on the quality of ventilations.
b. Early signs include restlessness, irritability, apprehension, tachycardia, and anxiety.
c. Late signs include mental status changes, a weak pulse, and cyanosis.
d. Responsive patients often report dyspnea and may not be able to speak in complete
sentences.
-Best to administer oxygen before signs and symptoms appear
2. Ventilation-perfusion ratio and mismatch - ANS -Air and blood flow must be directed to the
same place at the same time (ventilation and perfusion must be matched).
-Failure to match ventilation and perfusion (V/Q mismatch) lies behind most abnormalities in
oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange.
-In most people, normal resting minute ventilation is approximately 6 L/min.
2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
4
