AEMCA Prep: ALS Precourse Questions
All Solved Solutions.
Components of the upper respiratory tract - Answer Nasal cavity and sinuses
Pharynx
Larynx
Trachea
Components of the lower respiratory tract - Answer R & L mainstem bronchi
Secondary bronchi
Tertiary bronchi
Bronchioles
Alveolar ducts
Alveoli
Significance of the nasal cavity to EMS - Answer NPA placement
NTT placement
Site of epistaxis
Common # site
Pharyngeal key points - Answer -Common site of FBAO
-Abscesses here may lead to obstruction.
-Swelling due to burns can occur here leading to obstruction.
-Trauma/bleeding here can lead to obstruction.
Cartilages that form the larynx - Answer -Thyroid cartilage
-Arytnoid cartilage
-Cricoid cartilage
-Epiglottis
Cricothyroid membrane - Answer Common surgical access site
Trachea - Answer 10 cm long tube, connecting the larynx to the lungs. Is anterior to the
esophagus.
,Carina - Answer Point at which the trachea bifurcates (divides) into the left and right mainstem
bronchi.
Associated structures of the lower respiratory tract - Answer Pleura
pleural cavity
thorax
muscles of respiration
Right mainstream bronchus - Answer larger in diameter, shorter, more in a direct line with the
lungs. it contains 3 lobes
Left mainstream bronchus - Answer contains 2 lobes, longer, and smaller in diameter, it is not
in a direct route (straight line) from the trachea
Bronchial tree - Answer branched airways that lead from the trachea to the microscopic air
sacs called alveoli.
Upon entering the lungs, divides into tertiary bronchi, which each lead to a bronchiopulmonary
segment. There are 10 segments in the right lung and 9 in the left.
Alveolus - Answer Composed of a membrane that separates air in the lungs from blood in
capillaries. Provide a total gas exchange surface area of 70 M^2. Anything that thickens this
membrane will impair gas exchange.
Pleural recesses - Answer costodiaphragmatic and costomediastinal
Cough - Answer Forced exhalation against a partially closed glottis.
Sneeze - Answer Defence mechanism against irritants in the upper respiratory tract.
Pulmonary compliance - Answer the ease with which the lungs can expand (the amount of
pressure that must be generated to expand the lungs at a given volume). Decrease usually
indicates pulmonary disease.
surface tension - Answer the force that acts on the surface of a liquid and that tends to
minimize the area of the surface. In the lungs, surfactant is produced to reduce this and prevent
alveolar collapse.
Tidal vol - Answer The amount of air in and out of the lungs during a single breath, under
resting conditions.
, residual volume - Answer Amount of air in the lungs following maximal exhalation.
Functional residual volume - Answer is the amount of air left in the lungs after tidal expiration
(combined inspiratory and expiratory volumes)
Total lung capacity - Answer Maximum vol of air the lungs can contain
forced vital capacity - Answer the maximum amount of air that can be removed from the lungs
during forced expiration, following maximal inspiration.
Forced expiratory volume in one second (FeV1) - Answer Amount of air expelled in a single
second.
CNS control of ventilation - Answer Primary control occurs in the respiratory centres in the
brainstem. Elevated CO2 in the blood triggers increase in ventilation, and decrease in CO2
triggers reduced respiratory rate. Chemoreceptors constantly measure blood pH.
V:Q Ratio - Answer Ratio of ventilation to perfusion. In normal function V=Q, which is to say
V/Q = 1. In the lungs this means 6L of air is inhaled, and 6L of blood is oxygenated.
Anything that alters V:Q results in a shunt.
Vol of O2 dissolved in the plasma in 100cc of blood - Answer 0.3cc
Vol of O2 bound to Hgb in 100cc of blood - Answer 20cc
Factors affecting perfusion - Answer 1) Adequate perfusion
2)Concentration of Hgb
Factors that affect the affinity of Hgb for O2 - Answer pH
PCO2
Temperature
Carbon dioxide transport in the blood is accomplished in the following 3 ways: - Answer 1) In
the form of HCO3
2) Combined with Hgb (Carbaminohemaglobin)
3) Dissolved in plasma
All Solved Solutions.
Components of the upper respiratory tract - Answer Nasal cavity and sinuses
Pharynx
Larynx
Trachea
Components of the lower respiratory tract - Answer R & L mainstem bronchi
Secondary bronchi
Tertiary bronchi
Bronchioles
Alveolar ducts
Alveoli
Significance of the nasal cavity to EMS - Answer NPA placement
NTT placement
Site of epistaxis
Common # site
Pharyngeal key points - Answer -Common site of FBAO
-Abscesses here may lead to obstruction.
-Swelling due to burns can occur here leading to obstruction.
-Trauma/bleeding here can lead to obstruction.
Cartilages that form the larynx - Answer -Thyroid cartilage
-Arytnoid cartilage
-Cricoid cartilage
-Epiglottis
Cricothyroid membrane - Answer Common surgical access site
Trachea - Answer 10 cm long tube, connecting the larynx to the lungs. Is anterior to the
esophagus.
,Carina - Answer Point at which the trachea bifurcates (divides) into the left and right mainstem
bronchi.
Associated structures of the lower respiratory tract - Answer Pleura
pleural cavity
thorax
muscles of respiration
Right mainstream bronchus - Answer larger in diameter, shorter, more in a direct line with the
lungs. it contains 3 lobes
Left mainstream bronchus - Answer contains 2 lobes, longer, and smaller in diameter, it is not
in a direct route (straight line) from the trachea
Bronchial tree - Answer branched airways that lead from the trachea to the microscopic air
sacs called alveoli.
Upon entering the lungs, divides into tertiary bronchi, which each lead to a bronchiopulmonary
segment. There are 10 segments in the right lung and 9 in the left.
Alveolus - Answer Composed of a membrane that separates air in the lungs from blood in
capillaries. Provide a total gas exchange surface area of 70 M^2. Anything that thickens this
membrane will impair gas exchange.
Pleural recesses - Answer costodiaphragmatic and costomediastinal
Cough - Answer Forced exhalation against a partially closed glottis.
Sneeze - Answer Defence mechanism against irritants in the upper respiratory tract.
Pulmonary compliance - Answer the ease with which the lungs can expand (the amount of
pressure that must be generated to expand the lungs at a given volume). Decrease usually
indicates pulmonary disease.
surface tension - Answer the force that acts on the surface of a liquid and that tends to
minimize the area of the surface. In the lungs, surfactant is produced to reduce this and prevent
alveolar collapse.
Tidal vol - Answer The amount of air in and out of the lungs during a single breath, under
resting conditions.
, residual volume - Answer Amount of air in the lungs following maximal exhalation.
Functional residual volume - Answer is the amount of air left in the lungs after tidal expiration
(combined inspiratory and expiratory volumes)
Total lung capacity - Answer Maximum vol of air the lungs can contain
forced vital capacity - Answer the maximum amount of air that can be removed from the lungs
during forced expiration, following maximal inspiration.
Forced expiratory volume in one second (FeV1) - Answer Amount of air expelled in a single
second.
CNS control of ventilation - Answer Primary control occurs in the respiratory centres in the
brainstem. Elevated CO2 in the blood triggers increase in ventilation, and decrease in CO2
triggers reduced respiratory rate. Chemoreceptors constantly measure blood pH.
V:Q Ratio - Answer Ratio of ventilation to perfusion. In normal function V=Q, which is to say
V/Q = 1. In the lungs this means 6L of air is inhaled, and 6L of blood is oxygenated.
Anything that alters V:Q results in a shunt.
Vol of O2 dissolved in the plasma in 100cc of blood - Answer 0.3cc
Vol of O2 bound to Hgb in 100cc of blood - Answer 20cc
Factors affecting perfusion - Answer 1) Adequate perfusion
2)Concentration of Hgb
Factors that affect the affinity of Hgb for O2 - Answer pH
PCO2
Temperature
Carbon dioxide transport in the blood is accomplished in the following 3 ways: - Answer 1) In
the form of HCO3
2) Combined with Hgb (Carbaminohemaglobin)
3) Dissolved in plasma
