PARAMEDIC SCHOOL ENTRY CORE EXAM 2026
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS RATED A+
✔✔Location/function of small intestine - ✔✔Hollow, both lower quadrants. Food from
stomach is mixed w/ digestive enzymes to digest fat. Most contents are absorbed out of
the small intestine and used/stored by the body.
✔✔Location/function of large intestine - ✔✔Occupies outer boarder of abd. Pulls most
of the remaining liquid to form solid stool.
✔✔Location/function of appendix - ✔✔Hollow, RLQ, can easily become obstructed,
causing inflammation, rupture, possible infection
✔✔Location/function of Kidneys - ✔✔Part of urinary system. Control fluid balance, filter
waste, control pH balance.
✔✔Location/function of gall bladder - ✔✔Beneath liver. Collects and stores bile from the
liver. Releases bile into the intestine and aid in digestion.
✔✔Endocrine system - ✔✔System of glands that secrete hormones into the blood to
help regulate body functions. Responsible for insulin production and regulation of blood
glucose levels.
✔✔Difference between respiratory failure and respiratory distress - ✔✔Pt is still moving
air (distress). Pt is apneic. Pt is unable to maintain airway and ventilation.
✔✔How to tell when pt needs supplemental or artificial ventilation - ✔✔SpO2 <94%
requires supplemental oxygen (goal is at least 94%.
Cardiac arrest w/ rosc.
Ventilatory support: body's supply becomes insufficient or totally fails.
Condition where lungs cannot take in sufficient O2 or expel sufficient CO2 to meet
needs of the body. Body starts to fatigue.
✔✔OPA/NPA - ✔✔OPA: Used to prevent tongue from obstructing the airway.
Unresponsive pt's w/o a gag reflex. Inserted upside down. 180 degrees.
Contraindications: conscious pt w/ intact gag reflex.
NPA: Used to prevent tongue from obstructing the airway in pt's not able to protect their
own. Unresponsive w/o gag reflex. Decreased LOC but w/o intact gag reflex preventing
use of the OPA.
Contraindications: Conscious w/ intact reflex capable of protecting airway. Severe head
injury or facial trauma. Resistance to insertion in both nostrils. NPA's not typically used
for patients <1 year.
✔✔Basics of suctioning - ✔✔Indicated when secretions in the airway that could be
aspirated, obstruct airway, interfere w/ ventilations or insertion of mechanical airways
, adjunct. Increased risk of hypoxia. Do not suction >15 secs in adults. 10 for peds. 5 for
infants.
✔✔Steps for scene size up - ✔✔Scene safety and bsi. Determine # of patients and
need for additional resources. Consider MOI or NOI.
✔✔Contents of initial assessment - ✔✔Assess and manage ABC's (cab if
unresponsive). C-spine if needed. Administer O2. Perform rapid scan, including pt's
posterior. Determine transport. Hx.
✔✔Locations and names of major arteries in the bod - ✔✔Pulmonary: Refers to
circulation that's carrying oxygen poor blood from the right ventricle to the lungs.
Cornonary Arteries: Blood vessels that supply blood carrying oxygen and nutrients to
the myocardium of the heart.
Pulmonary Vein: The vein that carries blood from the lungs to the heart. It is the only
vein that carries oxygenated blood.
Hepatic Vein: The vein that carries blood away (drains) from the liver.
Carotid Artery: Refering to the common carotid artery supplies blood to the head and
face.
Pulmonary Artery: The blood vessel that carries blood from the from the right ventricle
to the lungs. It is the only artery that carries deoxygenated blood.
Cappillaries: The smallest (microscopic) of blood vessels (one cell layer thick) that are
the site of gas, nutirent, and waste exchange between cells and the blood. They also
connect arterioles to venules.
Internal Carotid Artery: Artery that supplies blood to the brain.
Inferior Vena Cava: Carries (drains) blood from the lower limbs of the body and empties
in the right artium.
Vertebral Artery: Supplies blood to the spinal column and brain.
Great Saphenous Vein: The longest vein in the body. Sometimes used in bypass
surgery.
Venules: The smallest of veins that receive blood from capillaries.
Right Atrium Receives: deoxygenated blood from the body via the superior and inferior
vena cava.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS RATED A+
✔✔Location/function of small intestine - ✔✔Hollow, both lower quadrants. Food from
stomach is mixed w/ digestive enzymes to digest fat. Most contents are absorbed out of
the small intestine and used/stored by the body.
✔✔Location/function of large intestine - ✔✔Occupies outer boarder of abd. Pulls most
of the remaining liquid to form solid stool.
✔✔Location/function of appendix - ✔✔Hollow, RLQ, can easily become obstructed,
causing inflammation, rupture, possible infection
✔✔Location/function of Kidneys - ✔✔Part of urinary system. Control fluid balance, filter
waste, control pH balance.
✔✔Location/function of gall bladder - ✔✔Beneath liver. Collects and stores bile from the
liver. Releases bile into the intestine and aid in digestion.
✔✔Endocrine system - ✔✔System of glands that secrete hormones into the blood to
help regulate body functions. Responsible for insulin production and regulation of blood
glucose levels.
✔✔Difference between respiratory failure and respiratory distress - ✔✔Pt is still moving
air (distress). Pt is apneic. Pt is unable to maintain airway and ventilation.
✔✔How to tell when pt needs supplemental or artificial ventilation - ✔✔SpO2 <94%
requires supplemental oxygen (goal is at least 94%.
Cardiac arrest w/ rosc.
Ventilatory support: body's supply becomes insufficient or totally fails.
Condition where lungs cannot take in sufficient O2 or expel sufficient CO2 to meet
needs of the body. Body starts to fatigue.
✔✔OPA/NPA - ✔✔OPA: Used to prevent tongue from obstructing the airway.
Unresponsive pt's w/o a gag reflex. Inserted upside down. 180 degrees.
Contraindications: conscious pt w/ intact gag reflex.
NPA: Used to prevent tongue from obstructing the airway in pt's not able to protect their
own. Unresponsive w/o gag reflex. Decreased LOC but w/o intact gag reflex preventing
use of the OPA.
Contraindications: Conscious w/ intact reflex capable of protecting airway. Severe head
injury or facial trauma. Resistance to insertion in both nostrils. NPA's not typically used
for patients <1 year.
✔✔Basics of suctioning - ✔✔Indicated when secretions in the airway that could be
aspirated, obstruct airway, interfere w/ ventilations or insertion of mechanical airways
, adjunct. Increased risk of hypoxia. Do not suction >15 secs in adults. 10 for peds. 5 for
infants.
✔✔Steps for scene size up - ✔✔Scene safety and bsi. Determine # of patients and
need for additional resources. Consider MOI or NOI.
✔✔Contents of initial assessment - ✔✔Assess and manage ABC's (cab if
unresponsive). C-spine if needed. Administer O2. Perform rapid scan, including pt's
posterior. Determine transport. Hx.
✔✔Locations and names of major arteries in the bod - ✔✔Pulmonary: Refers to
circulation that's carrying oxygen poor blood from the right ventricle to the lungs.
Cornonary Arteries: Blood vessels that supply blood carrying oxygen and nutrients to
the myocardium of the heart.
Pulmonary Vein: The vein that carries blood from the lungs to the heart. It is the only
vein that carries oxygenated blood.
Hepatic Vein: The vein that carries blood away (drains) from the liver.
Carotid Artery: Refering to the common carotid artery supplies blood to the head and
face.
Pulmonary Artery: The blood vessel that carries blood from the from the right ventricle
to the lungs. It is the only artery that carries deoxygenated blood.
Cappillaries: The smallest (microscopic) of blood vessels (one cell layer thick) that are
the site of gas, nutirent, and waste exchange between cells and the blood. They also
connect arterioles to venules.
Internal Carotid Artery: Artery that supplies blood to the brain.
Inferior Vena Cava: Carries (drains) blood from the lower limbs of the body and empties
in the right artium.
Vertebral Artery: Supplies blood to the spinal column and brain.
Great Saphenous Vein: The longest vein in the body. Sometimes used in bypass
surgery.
Venules: The smallest of veins that receive blood from capillaries.
Right Atrium Receives: deoxygenated blood from the body via the superior and inferior
vena cava.
