Paramedic FISDAP Airway Exam
Upper Airway - (correct Answer) - Consists of all structures above the level of the vocal cords. The nose,
mouth, jaw, oral cavity and pharynx.
Lower Airway - (correct Answer) - Function is to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide. Starts at the
larynx. Spans from the glottis to the pulmonary capillary membrane.
Turbinates - (correct Answer) - Increase the surface area of the nasal mucosa, thereby improving the
processes of warming, filtering and humidification of inhaled air.
Hyoid Bone - (correct Answer) - Small, horseshoe shaped bone that attaches to the tongue.
Thyroid Cartilage - (correct Answer) - Adams apple. Directly anterior to the glottic opening.
Cricoid Cartilage - (correct Answer) - AKA Cricoid Ring, forms the lowest portion of the larynx, and the
first ring of the trachea.
Cricothyroid Membrane - (correct Answer) - Site for emergency surgical and nonsurgical access to the
airway. Between the thyroid and cricoid cartilage.
Vellecula - (correct Answer) - Anatomic space or "pocket" located between the base of the tongue and
the epiglottis. Where the MAC blade goes.
Laryngospasm - (correct Answer) - 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 - (correct Answer) - 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 - (correct Answer) - 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 - (correct Answer) - Where the right and left mainstem bronchi branch off.
Goblet Cells - (correct Answer) - Mucous producing cells, that are lined in the trachea and bronchi. They
trap small particles and other potential contaminants.
Beta-2 Adrenergic Receptors - (correct Answer) - Stimulate bronchodilation.
# of Lobes in each Lung - (correct Answer) - Right lung- 3, Left lung- 2.
Visceral pleura - (correct Answer) - Thin, slippery, outer membrane covering the lungs.
Parietal Pluera - (correct Answer) - Lines the inside of the thoracic cavity.
, Bronchioles - (correct Answer) - Made of smooth muscle & lined with beta-2 receptors, which can dilate
and constrict based on stimuli.
Alveoli - (correct Answer) - 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 - (correct Answer) - Process of moving air in and out of the lungs. Consist of two phases-
inhalation and exhalation.
Oxygenation - (correct Answer) - Process of loading O2 molecules onto hemoglobin molecules in the
bloodstream.
Respiration - (correct Answer) - Actual exchange of O2 and CO2 in the alveoli and the tissues of the body.
Inhalation - (correct Answer) - 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 - (correct Answer) - Stimulated by the Phrenic Nerve, it is a voluntary and involuntary muscle.
Accessory Muscles - (correct Answer) - Secondary muscles of breathing, and include the
sternocleidomastoid and trapezius muscles of the neck.
Negative Pressure Ventilation - (correct Answer) - 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 - (correct Answer) - 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 - (correct Answer) - Tidal- 500ml
Total Lung Capacity- 6,000ml/5-6L
Dead Space- 150ml
Residual Vol- 1,200ml
Hering- Breuer Reflex - (correct Answer) - Terminates inhalation to prevent over-expansion of the lungs.
Medulla - (correct Answer) - Primary involuntary (autonomic) respiratory center. Connected to the
respiratory muscles by the vagus nerve. The medullary respiratory center controls the rate, depth, and
rhythm of breathing.
Chemoreceptors - (correct Answer) - Receptors that monitor the chemical composition (pH, CO2,) of
body fluids that are located throughout the body. They measure the amount of CO2 in arterial blood and
pH in CSF, and if sensed any changes will send signals to the respiratory center.
Upper Airway - (correct Answer) - Consists of all structures above the level of the vocal cords. The nose,
mouth, jaw, oral cavity and pharynx.
Lower Airway - (correct Answer) - Function is to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide. Starts at the
larynx. Spans from the glottis to the pulmonary capillary membrane.
Turbinates - (correct Answer) - Increase the surface area of the nasal mucosa, thereby improving the
processes of warming, filtering and humidification of inhaled air.
Hyoid Bone - (correct Answer) - Small, horseshoe shaped bone that attaches to the tongue.
Thyroid Cartilage - (correct Answer) - Adams apple. Directly anterior to the glottic opening.
Cricoid Cartilage - (correct Answer) - AKA Cricoid Ring, forms the lowest portion of the larynx, and the
first ring of the trachea.
Cricothyroid Membrane - (correct Answer) - Site for emergency surgical and nonsurgical access to the
airway. Between the thyroid and cricoid cartilage.
Vellecula - (correct Answer) - Anatomic space or "pocket" located between the base of the tongue and
the epiglottis. Where the MAC blade goes.
Laryngospasm - (correct Answer) - 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 - (correct Answer) - 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 - (correct Answer) - 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 - (correct Answer) - Where the right and left mainstem bronchi branch off.
Goblet Cells - (correct Answer) - Mucous producing cells, that are lined in the trachea and bronchi. They
trap small particles and other potential contaminants.
Beta-2 Adrenergic Receptors - (correct Answer) - Stimulate bronchodilation.
# of Lobes in each Lung - (correct Answer) - Right lung- 3, Left lung- 2.
Visceral pleura - (correct Answer) - Thin, slippery, outer membrane covering the lungs.
Parietal Pluera - (correct Answer) - Lines the inside of the thoracic cavity.
, Bronchioles - (correct Answer) - Made of smooth muscle & lined with beta-2 receptors, which can dilate
and constrict based on stimuli.
Alveoli - (correct Answer) - 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 - (correct Answer) - Process of moving air in and out of the lungs. Consist of two phases-
inhalation and exhalation.
Oxygenation - (correct Answer) - Process of loading O2 molecules onto hemoglobin molecules in the
bloodstream.
Respiration - (correct Answer) - Actual exchange of O2 and CO2 in the alveoli and the tissues of the body.
Inhalation - (correct Answer) - 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 - (correct Answer) - Stimulated by the Phrenic Nerve, it is a voluntary and involuntary muscle.
Accessory Muscles - (correct Answer) - Secondary muscles of breathing, and include the
sternocleidomastoid and trapezius muscles of the neck.
Negative Pressure Ventilation - (correct Answer) - 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 - (correct Answer) - 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 - (correct Answer) - Tidal- 500ml
Total Lung Capacity- 6,000ml/5-6L
Dead Space- 150ml
Residual Vol- 1,200ml
Hering- Breuer Reflex - (correct Answer) - Terminates inhalation to prevent over-expansion of the lungs.
Medulla - (correct Answer) - Primary involuntary (autonomic) respiratory center. Connected to the
respiratory muscles by the vagus nerve. The medullary respiratory center controls the rate, depth, and
rhythm of breathing.
Chemoreceptors - (correct Answer) - Receptors that monitor the chemical composition (pH, CO2,) of
body fluids that are located throughout the body. They measure the amount of CO2 in arterial blood and
pH in CSF, and if sensed any changes will send signals to the respiratory center.
