1
EMT FISDAP (AIRWAY) EXAM 2025/2026
ACTUAL EXAM 150 QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS WITH
RATIONALES|ALREADY GRADED A+ BRAND NEW!!
What muscles are involved in inhalation? - CORRECT ANSWER>>The
diaphragm, cervical muscles (neck), intercostals, abdominal muscles,
and pectoral muscles.
What muscles are involved in expiration? - CORRECT ANSWER>>none,
expiration (if done passively) is achieved by the relaxation of the
diaphragm.
What is the primary driver of respiration? (Why would we
increase/decrease RR?) - CORRECT
ANSWER>>The CSF in the brain has chemoreceptors sensitive to CO2.
When there is too much CO2. The pH changes. These sensors feed back
to the medulla oblongata, which stimulates the phrenic nerve which
innervates the diaphragm. They cause an increase in activity of the
diaphragm. This increases the RR which causes us to increase tidal
volume. This means more CO2 is exhaled. And brings our pH back to
normal.
,2
We also have the less sensitive hypoxic drive
What is hypoxic drive? - CORRECT ANSWER>>Backup system to control
respiration.
Chemoreceptors in brain, aorta, and carotid arteries. But they are
"satisfied" by a small amount of O2, which means it is not as sensitive
as pH control of CO2
What two areas of the brain are involved in respiration? - CORRECT
ANSWER>>medullacontrols rhythm, initiates inspiration, sets base
pattern for respirations, and stimulates diaphragm to contract.
pons-changes depth of inspiration, expiration or both.
True or false: arteries bring oxygenated blood to organs/capillaries -
CORRECT ANSWER>>True in most cases with one exception. Arteries
(away) bring blood away from the heart. Usually this is oxygenated
blood. But the pulmonary arteries bring oxygen poor blood away from
the heart, to the lungs to be oxygenated.
What is the tidal volume? - CORRECT ANSWER>>amount of air moved
in/out of lungs in single breath. Usually 500 ml in adult
,3
What is inspiratory reserve volume? - CORRECT ANSWER>>Deepest
breath you can take after normal respiration
What is expiratory reserve volume/Vital Capacity? - CORRECT
ANSWER>>maximum amount you can breathe out after normal breath.
What is residual volume? - CORRECT ANSWER>>Remaining gas in lungs
after exhalation. This is to keep lungs inflated
What is dead space? What structures are considered part of dead
space? - CORRECT
ANSWER>>Part of respiratory system not involved in active respiration.
Air moves through here but little to no respiration occurs. Mouth,
trachea, bronchi and bronchioles considered dead space
What is minute volume? What does it measure? - CORRECT
ANSWER>>Minute volume = RR x tidal volume. Volume of air moving
through lungs in 1 minute. Can be estimated quickly. Count RR rate. If
normal check to see chest rise and fall (tidal volume). If chest rise and
fall is weak and/or little air coming out of nose, then the person has
small minute volume.
, 4
Alveolar Minute Volume - CORRECT ANSWER>>Volume of air moved
through lungs in 1 minute minus the dead space. Alveolar Minute
Volume = (tidal volume - dead space) x RR
Alveolar Ventilation - CORRECT ANSWER>>Volume of air that reaches
alveoli.
Alveolar ventilation = tidal volume - dead space
Name the characteristics of normal breathing - CORRECT ANSWER>>1.
Normal rate (12-20)
2. regular pattern of inhalation/exhalation
3. clear bilateral lung sounds
4. regular and equal chest rise/fall
5. adequate depth (tidal volume)
What are the characteristics of inadequate breathing (adults)? -
CORRECT ANSWER>>Chapter 6
1. labored breathing (activating accessory muscles of respiration)
2. 12< or >20 breaths/minute
3. muscle retractions above clavicles or between ribs and below rib cage
4. pale/cyanotic skin
5. cool, damp, clammy skin
6. tripod position
EMT FISDAP (AIRWAY) EXAM 2025/2026
ACTUAL EXAM 150 QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS WITH
RATIONALES|ALREADY GRADED A+ BRAND NEW!!
What muscles are involved in inhalation? - CORRECT ANSWER>>The
diaphragm, cervical muscles (neck), intercostals, abdominal muscles,
and pectoral muscles.
What muscles are involved in expiration? - CORRECT ANSWER>>none,
expiration (if done passively) is achieved by the relaxation of the
diaphragm.
What is the primary driver of respiration? (Why would we
increase/decrease RR?) - CORRECT
ANSWER>>The CSF in the brain has chemoreceptors sensitive to CO2.
When there is too much CO2. The pH changes. These sensors feed back
to the medulla oblongata, which stimulates the phrenic nerve which
innervates the diaphragm. They cause an increase in activity of the
diaphragm. This increases the RR which causes us to increase tidal
volume. This means more CO2 is exhaled. And brings our pH back to
normal.
,2
We also have the less sensitive hypoxic drive
What is hypoxic drive? - CORRECT ANSWER>>Backup system to control
respiration.
Chemoreceptors in brain, aorta, and carotid arteries. But they are
"satisfied" by a small amount of O2, which means it is not as sensitive
as pH control of CO2
What two areas of the brain are involved in respiration? - CORRECT
ANSWER>>medullacontrols rhythm, initiates inspiration, sets base
pattern for respirations, and stimulates diaphragm to contract.
pons-changes depth of inspiration, expiration or both.
True or false: arteries bring oxygenated blood to organs/capillaries -
CORRECT ANSWER>>True in most cases with one exception. Arteries
(away) bring blood away from the heart. Usually this is oxygenated
blood. But the pulmonary arteries bring oxygen poor blood away from
the heart, to the lungs to be oxygenated.
What is the tidal volume? - CORRECT ANSWER>>amount of air moved
in/out of lungs in single breath. Usually 500 ml in adult
,3
What is inspiratory reserve volume? - CORRECT ANSWER>>Deepest
breath you can take after normal respiration
What is expiratory reserve volume/Vital Capacity? - CORRECT
ANSWER>>maximum amount you can breathe out after normal breath.
What is residual volume? - CORRECT ANSWER>>Remaining gas in lungs
after exhalation. This is to keep lungs inflated
What is dead space? What structures are considered part of dead
space? - CORRECT
ANSWER>>Part of respiratory system not involved in active respiration.
Air moves through here but little to no respiration occurs. Mouth,
trachea, bronchi and bronchioles considered dead space
What is minute volume? What does it measure? - CORRECT
ANSWER>>Minute volume = RR x tidal volume. Volume of air moving
through lungs in 1 minute. Can be estimated quickly. Count RR rate. If
normal check to see chest rise and fall (tidal volume). If chest rise and
fall is weak and/or little air coming out of nose, then the person has
small minute volume.
, 4
Alveolar Minute Volume - CORRECT ANSWER>>Volume of air moved
through lungs in 1 minute minus the dead space. Alveolar Minute
Volume = (tidal volume - dead space) x RR
Alveolar Ventilation - CORRECT ANSWER>>Volume of air that reaches
alveoli.
Alveolar ventilation = tidal volume - dead space
Name the characteristics of normal breathing - CORRECT ANSWER>>1.
Normal rate (12-20)
2. regular pattern of inhalation/exhalation
3. clear bilateral lung sounds
4. regular and equal chest rise/fall
5. adequate depth (tidal volume)
What are the characteristics of inadequate breathing (adults)? -
CORRECT ANSWER>>Chapter 6
1. labored breathing (activating accessory muscles of respiration)
2. 12< or >20 breaths/minute
3. muscle retractions above clavicles or between ribs and below rib cage
4. pale/cyanotic skin
5. cool, damp, clammy skin
6. tripod position
