FISDAP AIRWAY FINAL EXAM 2025-2026
REAL EXAM QUESTIONS BANK WITH
RATIONALES 3 VERSIONS CURRENTLY
VERIFIED FOR GUARANTEED PASS LATEST
UPDATE
1. From the atmosphere, what structures does air pass through during ventilation?
A. Nose → larynx → alveoli
B. Nose/mouth → pharynx → larynx → trachea → bronchi → bronchioles → alveoli
C. Atmosphere → esophagus → stomach
D. Mouth only → lungs directly
Correct Answer: B. Nose/mouth → pharynx → larynx → trachea → bronchi → bronchioles
→ alveoli
Rationale: Air follows a defined path, starting at the atmosphere, through the upper airway, and
finally reaching the alveoli where gas exchange occurs.
2. What is the purpose of the nasal passages and nasopharynx?
A. Trap CO₂ for exhalation
B. Warm and humidify inspired air
C. Store oxygen
D. Produce mucus only
Correct Answer: B. Warm and humidify inspired air
Rationale: The nasal passages prepare air for the lower airway by filtering, warming, and
humidifying, which protects delicate alveoli.
,3. What is the difference between respiration and ventilation?
A. Respiration is moving air, ventilation is gas exchange
B. Respiration is gas exchange, ventilation is moving air
C. They are the same process
D. Respiration refers only to exhalation
Correct Answer: B. Respiration is gas exchange, ventilation is moving air
Rationale: Ventilation = mechanical movement of air. Respiration = alveolar and cellular gas
exchange. Both are necessary for oxygen delivery and CO₂ removal.
4. Which of the following are structures of the upper airway?
A. Nose, mouth, tongue, pharynx, larynx
B. Larynx, trachea, bronchi, alveoli
C. Bronchioles and alveoli only
D. Pharynx, esophagus, stomach
Correct Answer: A. Nose, mouth, tongue, pharynx, larynx
Rationale: The upper airway consists of anatomical structures above the larynx.
5. Which structure divides the upper airway from the lower airway?
A. Trachea
B. Epiglottis
C. Larynx
D. Carina
Correct Answer: C. Larynx
Rationale: The larynx marks the transition; above = upper airway, larynx and below = lower
airway.
6. What are the structures of the lower airway?
A. Larynx, trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli
Dr Medina Reed
, B. Nose, mouth, tongue, pharynx
C. Esophagus, stomach
D. Sinuses, adenoids
Correct Answer: A. Larynx, trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli
Rationale: The lower airway includes structures responsible for conducting air and gas
exchange.
7. Which cartilage is the largest and forms the “Adam’s apple”?
A. Cricoid cartilage
B. Thyroid cartilage
C. Arytenoid cartilage
D. Epiglottis
Correct Answer: B. Thyroid cartilage
Rationale: The thyroid cartilage, part of the larynx, is prominent anteriorly and serves as a key
airway landmark.
8. True or False: The lungs are equal in the midsagittal plane.
Correct Answer: False
Rationale: The right lung has 3 lobes, the left lung has 2. The right mainstem bronchus is also
more vertical and inferior.
9. Which statement about the lungs is TRUE?
A. They have muscles to expand/contract
B. They are hollow organs and expand due to diaphragm and negative pressure
C. They pump air actively with intrinsic contractions
D. They function without chest wall movement
Correct Answer: B. They are hollow organs and expand due to diaphragm and negative
pressure
Dr Medina Reed
Document shared on https://www.docsity.com/en/docs/fisdap-airway-final-exam-20252026-or-accurate-real-exam-questions-bank-with-rationales-or/14108782/
, Rationale: Lungs themselves lack muscle; breathing is driven by diaphragm/intercostals creating
negative pressure.
10. What causes air to rush into the lungs?
A. Positive intrapulmonary pressure
B. Negative pressure in pleural space
C. Gravity pulling oxygen downward
D. Muscles inside alveoli contracting
Correct Answer: B. Negative pressure in pleural space
Rationale: When thoracic volume increases, intrathoracic pressure falls below atmospheric,
causing air inflow.
11. True or False: The visceral pleura lines the lungs, while the parietal pleura lines the
body cavity, and the pleural space is between them.
Correct Answer: True
Rationale: The visceral pleura covers the lungs, parietal pleura lines the thoracic cavity, and the
pleural space contains fluid that allows smooth gliding during respiration.
12. What muscles are primarily involved in inhalation?
A. Diaphragm, cervical muscles, intercostals, abdominal, pectorals
B. Only diaphragm
C. Only abdominal muscles
D. No muscles are involved
Correct Answer: A. Diaphragm, cervical muscles, intercostals, abdominal, pectorals
Rationale: Normal inspiration is driven by the diaphragm and intercostals; accessory muscles
(cervical, abdominal, pectorals) are recruited during labored breathing.
Dr Medina Reed
Document shared on https://www.docsity.com/en/docs/fisdap-airway-final-exam-20252026-or-accurate-real-exam-questions-bank-with-rationales-or/14108782/
REAL EXAM QUESTIONS BANK WITH
RATIONALES 3 VERSIONS CURRENTLY
VERIFIED FOR GUARANTEED PASS LATEST
UPDATE
1. From the atmosphere, what structures does air pass through during ventilation?
A. Nose → larynx → alveoli
B. Nose/mouth → pharynx → larynx → trachea → bronchi → bronchioles → alveoli
C. Atmosphere → esophagus → stomach
D. Mouth only → lungs directly
Correct Answer: B. Nose/mouth → pharynx → larynx → trachea → bronchi → bronchioles
→ alveoli
Rationale: Air follows a defined path, starting at the atmosphere, through the upper airway, and
finally reaching the alveoli where gas exchange occurs.
2. What is the purpose of the nasal passages and nasopharynx?
A. Trap CO₂ for exhalation
B. Warm and humidify inspired air
C. Store oxygen
D. Produce mucus only
Correct Answer: B. Warm and humidify inspired air
Rationale: The nasal passages prepare air for the lower airway by filtering, warming, and
humidifying, which protects delicate alveoli.
,3. What is the difference between respiration and ventilation?
A. Respiration is moving air, ventilation is gas exchange
B. Respiration is gas exchange, ventilation is moving air
C. They are the same process
D. Respiration refers only to exhalation
Correct Answer: B. Respiration is gas exchange, ventilation is moving air
Rationale: Ventilation = mechanical movement of air. Respiration = alveolar and cellular gas
exchange. Both are necessary for oxygen delivery and CO₂ removal.
4. Which of the following are structures of the upper airway?
A. Nose, mouth, tongue, pharynx, larynx
B. Larynx, trachea, bronchi, alveoli
C. Bronchioles and alveoli only
D. Pharynx, esophagus, stomach
Correct Answer: A. Nose, mouth, tongue, pharynx, larynx
Rationale: The upper airway consists of anatomical structures above the larynx.
5. Which structure divides the upper airway from the lower airway?
A. Trachea
B. Epiglottis
C. Larynx
D. Carina
Correct Answer: C. Larynx
Rationale: The larynx marks the transition; above = upper airway, larynx and below = lower
airway.
6. What are the structures of the lower airway?
A. Larynx, trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli
Dr Medina Reed
, B. Nose, mouth, tongue, pharynx
C. Esophagus, stomach
D. Sinuses, adenoids
Correct Answer: A. Larynx, trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli
Rationale: The lower airway includes structures responsible for conducting air and gas
exchange.
7. Which cartilage is the largest and forms the “Adam’s apple”?
A. Cricoid cartilage
B. Thyroid cartilage
C. Arytenoid cartilage
D. Epiglottis
Correct Answer: B. Thyroid cartilage
Rationale: The thyroid cartilage, part of the larynx, is prominent anteriorly and serves as a key
airway landmark.
8. True or False: The lungs are equal in the midsagittal plane.
Correct Answer: False
Rationale: The right lung has 3 lobes, the left lung has 2. The right mainstem bronchus is also
more vertical and inferior.
9. Which statement about the lungs is TRUE?
A. They have muscles to expand/contract
B. They are hollow organs and expand due to diaphragm and negative pressure
C. They pump air actively with intrinsic contractions
D. They function without chest wall movement
Correct Answer: B. They are hollow organs and expand due to diaphragm and negative
pressure
Dr Medina Reed
Document shared on https://www.docsity.com/en/docs/fisdap-airway-final-exam-20252026-or-accurate-real-exam-questions-bank-with-rationales-or/14108782/
, Rationale: Lungs themselves lack muscle; breathing is driven by diaphragm/intercostals creating
negative pressure.
10. What causes air to rush into the lungs?
A. Positive intrapulmonary pressure
B. Negative pressure in pleural space
C. Gravity pulling oxygen downward
D. Muscles inside alveoli contracting
Correct Answer: B. Negative pressure in pleural space
Rationale: When thoracic volume increases, intrathoracic pressure falls below atmospheric,
causing air inflow.
11. True or False: The visceral pleura lines the lungs, while the parietal pleura lines the
body cavity, and the pleural space is between them.
Correct Answer: True
Rationale: The visceral pleura covers the lungs, parietal pleura lines the thoracic cavity, and the
pleural space contains fluid that allows smooth gliding during respiration.
12. What muscles are primarily involved in inhalation?
A. Diaphragm, cervical muscles, intercostals, abdominal, pectorals
B. Only diaphragm
C. Only abdominal muscles
D. No muscles are involved
Correct Answer: A. Diaphragm, cervical muscles, intercostals, abdominal, pectorals
Rationale: Normal inspiration is driven by the diaphragm and intercostals; accessory muscles
(cervical, abdominal, pectorals) are recruited during labored breathing.
Dr Medina Reed
Document shared on https://www.docsity.com/en/docs/fisdap-airway-final-exam-20252026-or-accurate-real-exam-questions-bank-with-rationales-or/14108782/
