FISDAP AIRWAY COMPREHENSIVE TEST
PAPER QUESTIONS WITH FULLY SOLVED
ANSWERS
●● Upper airway
Answer: 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)
●● Lower airway
Answer: 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
Answer: -Complex structure formed by many independent cartilaginous
structures
-Marks where the upper airway ends and lower airway begins
●● 2. Thyroid cartilage
Answer: -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)
Answer: -Lies inferiorly to the thyroid cartilage
-Forms the lowest portion of the larynx
-More prominent in females
,●● 4. Cricothyroid membrane
Answer: -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
Answer: -Narrowest portion of the adult airway
-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
Answer: -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:
Answer: 1. A constant supply of oxygen and nutrients is delivered to
every cell.
2. Waste products are removed from every cell.
, ●● Ventilation
Answer: -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
Answer: -Process of loading oxygen molecules onto hemoglobin
molecules in the bloodstream
-Requires adequate *FiO2 (Percentage of oxygen in inhaled air)*
●● Respiration
Answer: -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
Answer: -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.
PAPER QUESTIONS WITH FULLY SOLVED
ANSWERS
●● Upper airway
Answer: 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)
●● Lower airway
Answer: 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
Answer: -Complex structure formed by many independent cartilaginous
structures
-Marks where the upper airway ends and lower airway begins
●● 2. Thyroid cartilage
Answer: -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)
Answer: -Lies inferiorly to the thyroid cartilage
-Forms the lowest portion of the larynx
-More prominent in females
,●● 4. Cricothyroid membrane
Answer: -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
Answer: -Narrowest portion of the adult airway
-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
Answer: -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:
Answer: 1. A constant supply of oxygen and nutrients is delivered to
every cell.
2. Waste products are removed from every cell.
, ●● Ventilation
Answer: -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
Answer: -Process of loading oxygen molecules onto hemoglobin
molecules in the bloodstream
-Requires adequate *FiO2 (Percentage of oxygen in inhaled air)*
●● Respiration
Answer: -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
Answer: -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.
