Paramedic FISDAP Airway Exam/FISDAP-
AIRWAY EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS |
UPDATED 2024.
Upper Airway
Consists of all structures above the level of the vocal cords. The nose, mouth, jaw, oral
cavity and pharynx.
Lower Airway
Function is to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide. Starts at the larynx. Spans from
the glottis to the pulmonary capillary membrane.
Turbinates
Increase the surface area of the nasal mucosa, thereby improving the processes of
warming, filtering and humidification of inhaled air.
Hyoid Bone
Small, horseshoe shaped bone that attaches to the tongue.
Thyroid Cartilage
Adams apple. Directly anterior to the glottic opening.
Cricoid Cartilage
AKA Cricoid Ring, forms the lowest portion of the larynx, and the first ring of the
trachea.
Cricothyroid Membrane
Site for emergency surgical and nonsurgical access to the airway. Between the thyroid
and cricoid cartilage.
Vellecula
Anatomic space or "pocket" located between the base of the tongue and the epiglottis.
Where the MAC blade goes.
Laryngospasm
When the airway is stimulated (such as during aspiration of foreign material or
submersion incident), defensive reflexes cause a spasmodic closure of the vocal cords,
which seals off the airway.
Trachea
AKA Windpipe, is the conduit for air entry into the lungs. Approx 10-12 cm long, &
consists of C-Shaped Cartilaginous rings. Begins immediately below the cricoid
cartilage. Divides into the right and left mainstem bronchi at the level of the Carina.
Mediastinum
The space between the lungs that contains, in addition to the trachea, the heart, great
vessels, and a portion of the esophagus. Main thing to know- the heart is housed there.
Carina
Where the right and left mainstem bronchi branch off.
Goblet Cells
Mucous producing cells, that are lined in the trachea and bronchi. They trap small
particles and other potential contaminants.
Beta-2 Adrenergic Receptors
Stimulate bronchodilation.
, # of Lobes in each Lung
Right lung- 3, Left lung- 2.
Visceral pleura
Thin, slippery, outer membrane covering the lungs.
Parietal Pluera
Lines the inside of the thoracic cavity.
Bronchioles
Made of smooth muscle & lined with beta-2 receptors, which can dilate and constrict
based on stimuli.
Alveoli
Balloon-like clusters of single-layer air sacs, and serve as the functional site for the
exchange of oxygen and CO2. This exchange occurs by simple diffusion over the
pulmonary capillaries.
Ventilation
Process of moving air in and out of the lungs. Consist of two phases- inhalation and
exhalation.
Oxygenation
Process of loading O2 molecules onto hemoglobin molecules in the bloodstream.
Respiration
Actual exchange of O2 and CO2 in the alveoli and the tissues of the body.
Inhalation
Air enters the body, the diaphragm and intercostal muscles contract. When the
diaphragm contracts, it descends and enlarges the thoracic cage from top to bottom.
When the intercostal muscles contract, they lift the ribs up and out.
Diaphragm
Stimulated by the Phrenic Nerve, it is a voluntary and involuntary muscle.
Accessory Muscles
Secondary muscles of breathing, and include the sternocleidomastoid and trapezius
muscles of the neck.
Negative Pressure Ventilation
The air outside the body, is normally higher in pressure than the air within the thorax.
During inhalation, the thoracic cage expands and the air within the thorax decreases,
creating a slight vacuum. The vacuum pulls the air in through the trachea, causing the
lungs to fill.
Positive Pressure Ventilation
With ineffective chest movement, or no chest movement, negative intrathoracic
pressure cannot be created. When this occurs, the only way to move air into the lungs is
by PPV, the forcing of air into the lungs.
Tidal Vol/Dead Space/Residual Vol/Total Lung Capacity
Tidal- 500ml
Total Lung Capacity- 6,000ml/5-6L
Dead Space- 150ml
Residual Vol- 1,200ml
Hering- Breuer Reflex
Terminates inhalation to prevent over-expansion of the lungs.
Medulla
AIRWAY EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS |
UPDATED 2024.
Upper Airway
Consists of all structures above the level of the vocal cords. The nose, mouth, jaw, oral
cavity and pharynx.
Lower Airway
Function is to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide. Starts at the larynx. Spans from
the glottis to the pulmonary capillary membrane.
Turbinates
Increase the surface area of the nasal mucosa, thereby improving the processes of
warming, filtering and humidification of inhaled air.
Hyoid Bone
Small, horseshoe shaped bone that attaches to the tongue.
Thyroid Cartilage
Adams apple. Directly anterior to the glottic opening.
Cricoid Cartilage
AKA Cricoid Ring, forms the lowest portion of the larynx, and the first ring of the
trachea.
Cricothyroid Membrane
Site for emergency surgical and nonsurgical access to the airway. Between the thyroid
and cricoid cartilage.
Vellecula
Anatomic space or "pocket" located between the base of the tongue and the epiglottis.
Where the MAC blade goes.
Laryngospasm
When the airway is stimulated (such as during aspiration of foreign material or
submersion incident), defensive reflexes cause a spasmodic closure of the vocal cords,
which seals off the airway.
Trachea
AKA Windpipe, is the conduit for air entry into the lungs. Approx 10-12 cm long, &
consists of C-Shaped Cartilaginous rings. Begins immediately below the cricoid
cartilage. Divides into the right and left mainstem bronchi at the level of the Carina.
Mediastinum
The space between the lungs that contains, in addition to the trachea, the heart, great
vessels, and a portion of the esophagus. Main thing to know- the heart is housed there.
Carina
Where the right and left mainstem bronchi branch off.
Goblet Cells
Mucous producing cells, that are lined in the trachea and bronchi. They trap small
particles and other potential contaminants.
Beta-2 Adrenergic Receptors
Stimulate bronchodilation.
, # of Lobes in each Lung
Right lung- 3, Left lung- 2.
Visceral pleura
Thin, slippery, outer membrane covering the lungs.
Parietal Pluera
Lines the inside of the thoracic cavity.
Bronchioles
Made of smooth muscle & lined with beta-2 receptors, which can dilate and constrict
based on stimuli.
Alveoli
Balloon-like clusters of single-layer air sacs, and serve as the functional site for the
exchange of oxygen and CO2. This exchange occurs by simple diffusion over the
pulmonary capillaries.
Ventilation
Process of moving air in and out of the lungs. Consist of two phases- inhalation and
exhalation.
Oxygenation
Process of loading O2 molecules onto hemoglobin molecules in the bloodstream.
Respiration
Actual exchange of O2 and CO2 in the alveoli and the tissues of the body.
Inhalation
Air enters the body, the diaphragm and intercostal muscles contract. When the
diaphragm contracts, it descends and enlarges the thoracic cage from top to bottom.
When the intercostal muscles contract, they lift the ribs up and out.
Diaphragm
Stimulated by the Phrenic Nerve, it is a voluntary and involuntary muscle.
Accessory Muscles
Secondary muscles of breathing, and include the sternocleidomastoid and trapezius
muscles of the neck.
Negative Pressure Ventilation
The air outside the body, is normally higher in pressure than the air within the thorax.
During inhalation, the thoracic cage expands and the air within the thorax decreases,
creating a slight vacuum. The vacuum pulls the air in through the trachea, causing the
lungs to fill.
Positive Pressure Ventilation
With ineffective chest movement, or no chest movement, negative intrathoracic
pressure cannot be created. When this occurs, the only way to move air into the lungs is
by PPV, the forcing of air into the lungs.
Tidal Vol/Dead Space/Residual Vol/Total Lung Capacity
Tidal- 500ml
Total Lung Capacity- 6,000ml/5-6L
Dead Space- 150ml
Residual Vol- 1,200ml
Hering- Breuer Reflex
Terminates inhalation to prevent over-expansion of the lungs.
Medulla
