NUR FISDAP Airway Exam Practice
Questions with Answers 2024/2025
From the atmosphere, what structures does air pass through during ventilation? - ANSWER>>>Starts in
atmosphere, then nose, nasopharyngeal space/oropharyngeal space (if mouth breather), then pharynx,
larynx, trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli
What is the purpose of the nasal passages and nasopharynx? - ANSWER>>>To warm/humidify air as it
passes through
What is the difference between respiration and ventilation? - ANSWER>>>Respiration refers to the
exchange of gases in the alveoli, ventilation refers to the movement of air into the lungs. Respiration is
needed to provide O2 to cells and remove waste products. Also regulates pH of blood.
What are the structures of the upper airway? - ANSWER>>>nose, mouth, tongue, jaw, pharynx and
larynx
What structure is considered a landmark that divides the upper airway from lower? - ANSWER>>>The
larynx, anything above is upper. The larynx and below are lower.
What are the structures of the lower airways? - ANSWER>>>larynx (includes adam's apple/thyroid
cartilage, cricothyroid membrane, cricoid cartilage), trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli
Describe the anatomy of the larynx. - ANSWER>>>From superior to inferior. Thyroid cartilage,
cricothyroid membrane, and cricoid membrane. The thyroid cartilage and cricoid cartilage are anterior to
the larynx, and the cricothyroid membrane is posterior to both structures.
True or false: the lungs are completely equal in the midsaggital plane. - ANSWER>>>False, right lungs has
3 lobes, left lung only has 2 lobes. Together they have 5 total. Also, the right bronchi is inferior to the left
bronchi.
What are the structures of the lungs in order of ventilation? - ANSWER>>>bronchioles, and alveoli
True or false: the lungs use muscles found in the lateral lobes to expand and contract? -
ANSWER>>>False: the lungs are hollow organs and contain no muscles. When the diaphragm contracts it
expands the thoracic cavity. The pleural space has a negative pressure and the lungs expand. This results
in a slightly negative pressure (compared to the atmosphere) and air rushes in.
True or false: Air rushes into the lungs because of negative pressure. - ANSWER>>>True, when the lungs
expand, they are creating a vacuum because they are expanding the volume of the container. This
increase in volume causes influx of air into the container until the pressure is equalized with the
atmosphere.
,True or false: The parietal pleura lines the lungs and the visceral pleura lines the lungs. The space
between is called the anterior pleura. - ANSWER>>>False: the visceral pleura lines the lungs, the parietal
pleura lines the body cavity and the pleural space is the space in between both where body fluid allows
for both to smoothly glide.
What muscles are involved in inhalation? - ANSWER>>>The diaphragm, cervical muscles (neck),
intercostals, abdominal muscles, and pectoral muscles.
What muscles are involved in expiration? - ANSWER>>>none, expiration (if done passively) is achieved by
the relaxation of the diaphragm.
What is the primary driver of respiration? (Why would we increase/decrease RR?) - ANSWER>>>The CSF
in the brain has chemoreceptors sensitive to CO2. When there is too much CO2. The pH changes. These
sensors feed back to the medulla oblongata, which stimulates the phrenic nerve which innervates the
diaphragm. They cause an increase in activity of the diaphragm. This increases the RR which causes us to
increase tidal volume. This means more CO2 is exhaled. And brings our pH back to normal.
We also have the less sensitive hypoxic drive
What is hypoxic drive? - ANSWER>>>Backup system to control respiration. Chemoreceptors in brain,
aorta, and carotid arteries. But they are "satisfied" by a small amount of O2, which means it is not as
sensitive as pH control of CO2
What two areas of the brain are involved in respiration? - ANSWER>>>medulla-controls rhythm, initiates
inspiration, sets base pattern for respirations, and stimulates diaphragm to contract.
pons-changes depth of inspiration, expiration or both.
True or false: arteries bring oxygenated blood to organs/capillaries - ANSWER>>>True in most cases with
one exception. Arteries (away) bring blood away from the heart. Usually this is oxygenated blood. But
the pulmonary arteries bring oxygen poor blood away from the heart, to the lungs to be oxygenated.
What is the tidal volume? - ANSWER>>>amount of air moved in/out of lungs in single breath. Usually
500 ml in adult
What is inspiratory reserve volume? - ANSWER>>>Deepest breath you can take after normal respiration
What is expiratory reserve volume/Vital Capacity? - ANSWER>>>maximum amount you can breathe out
after normal breath.
What is residual volume? - ANSWER>>>Remaining gas in lungs after exhalation. This is to keep lungs
inflated
What is dead space? What structures are considered part of dead space? - ANSWER>>>Part of
respiratory system not involved in active respiration. Air moves through here but little to no respiration
occurs. Mouth, trachea, bronchi and bronchioles considered dead space
, What is minute volume? What does it measure? - ANSWER>>>Minute volume = RR x tidal volume.
Volume of air moving through lungs in 1 minute. Can be estimated quickly. Count RR rate. If normal
check to see chest rise and fall (tidal volume). If chest rise and fall is weak and/or little air coming out of
nose, then the person has small minute volume.
Alveolar Minute Volume - ANSWER>>>Volume of air moved through lungs in 1 minute minus the dead
space. Alveolar Minute Volume = (tidal volume - dead space) x RR
Alveolar Ventilation - ANSWER>>>Volume of air that reaches alveoli.
Alveolar ventilation = tidal volume - dead space
Name the characteristics of normal breathing - ANSWER>>>1. Normal rate (12-20)
2. regular pattern of inhalation/exhalation
3. clear bilateral lung sounds
4. regular and equal chest rise/fall
5. adequate depth (tidal volume)
What are the characteristics of inadequate breathing (adults)? - ANSWER>>>Chapter 6
1. labored breathing (activating accessory muscles of respiration)
2. 12< or >20 breaths/minute
3. muscle retractions above clavicles or between ribs and below rib cage
4. pale/cyanotic skin
5. cool, damp, clammy skin
6. tripod position
Chapter 10
1. 12< or 20>
2. irregular rhythm
3. diminished, absent or noisy auscultated breath sounds
4. reduced flow of expired air at nose/mouth
5. unequal or inadequate chest expansion
6. labored breathing
7. shallow depth
Questions with Answers 2024/2025
From the atmosphere, what structures does air pass through during ventilation? - ANSWER>>>Starts in
atmosphere, then nose, nasopharyngeal space/oropharyngeal space (if mouth breather), then pharynx,
larynx, trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli
What is the purpose of the nasal passages and nasopharynx? - ANSWER>>>To warm/humidify air as it
passes through
What is the difference between respiration and ventilation? - ANSWER>>>Respiration refers to the
exchange of gases in the alveoli, ventilation refers to the movement of air into the lungs. Respiration is
needed to provide O2 to cells and remove waste products. Also regulates pH of blood.
What are the structures of the upper airway? - ANSWER>>>nose, mouth, tongue, jaw, pharynx and
larynx
What structure is considered a landmark that divides the upper airway from lower? - ANSWER>>>The
larynx, anything above is upper. The larynx and below are lower.
What are the structures of the lower airways? - ANSWER>>>larynx (includes adam's apple/thyroid
cartilage, cricothyroid membrane, cricoid cartilage), trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli
Describe the anatomy of the larynx. - ANSWER>>>From superior to inferior. Thyroid cartilage,
cricothyroid membrane, and cricoid membrane. The thyroid cartilage and cricoid cartilage are anterior to
the larynx, and the cricothyroid membrane is posterior to both structures.
True or false: the lungs are completely equal in the midsaggital plane. - ANSWER>>>False, right lungs has
3 lobes, left lung only has 2 lobes. Together they have 5 total. Also, the right bronchi is inferior to the left
bronchi.
What are the structures of the lungs in order of ventilation? - ANSWER>>>bronchioles, and alveoli
True or false: the lungs use muscles found in the lateral lobes to expand and contract? -
ANSWER>>>False: the lungs are hollow organs and contain no muscles. When the diaphragm contracts it
expands the thoracic cavity. The pleural space has a negative pressure and the lungs expand. This results
in a slightly negative pressure (compared to the atmosphere) and air rushes in.
True or false: Air rushes into the lungs because of negative pressure. - ANSWER>>>True, when the lungs
expand, they are creating a vacuum because they are expanding the volume of the container. This
increase in volume causes influx of air into the container until the pressure is equalized with the
atmosphere.
,True or false: The parietal pleura lines the lungs and the visceral pleura lines the lungs. The space
between is called the anterior pleura. - ANSWER>>>False: the visceral pleura lines the lungs, the parietal
pleura lines the body cavity and the pleural space is the space in between both where body fluid allows
for both to smoothly glide.
What muscles are involved in inhalation? - ANSWER>>>The diaphragm, cervical muscles (neck),
intercostals, abdominal muscles, and pectoral muscles.
What muscles are involved in expiration? - ANSWER>>>none, expiration (if done passively) is achieved by
the relaxation of the diaphragm.
What is the primary driver of respiration? (Why would we increase/decrease RR?) - ANSWER>>>The CSF
in the brain has chemoreceptors sensitive to CO2. When there is too much CO2. The pH changes. These
sensors feed back to the medulla oblongata, which stimulates the phrenic nerve which innervates the
diaphragm. They cause an increase in activity of the diaphragm. This increases the RR which causes us to
increase tidal volume. This means more CO2 is exhaled. And brings our pH back to normal.
We also have the less sensitive hypoxic drive
What is hypoxic drive? - ANSWER>>>Backup system to control respiration. Chemoreceptors in brain,
aorta, and carotid arteries. But they are "satisfied" by a small amount of O2, which means it is not as
sensitive as pH control of CO2
What two areas of the brain are involved in respiration? - ANSWER>>>medulla-controls rhythm, initiates
inspiration, sets base pattern for respirations, and stimulates diaphragm to contract.
pons-changes depth of inspiration, expiration or both.
True or false: arteries bring oxygenated blood to organs/capillaries - ANSWER>>>True in most cases with
one exception. Arteries (away) bring blood away from the heart. Usually this is oxygenated blood. But
the pulmonary arteries bring oxygen poor blood away from the heart, to the lungs to be oxygenated.
What is the tidal volume? - ANSWER>>>amount of air moved in/out of lungs in single breath. Usually
500 ml in adult
What is inspiratory reserve volume? - ANSWER>>>Deepest breath you can take after normal respiration
What is expiratory reserve volume/Vital Capacity? - ANSWER>>>maximum amount you can breathe out
after normal breath.
What is residual volume? - ANSWER>>>Remaining gas in lungs after exhalation. This is to keep lungs
inflated
What is dead space? What structures are considered part of dead space? - ANSWER>>>Part of
respiratory system not involved in active respiration. Air moves through here but little to no respiration
occurs. Mouth, trachea, bronchi and bronchioles considered dead space
, What is minute volume? What does it measure? - ANSWER>>>Minute volume = RR x tidal volume.
Volume of air moving through lungs in 1 minute. Can be estimated quickly. Count RR rate. If normal
check to see chest rise and fall (tidal volume). If chest rise and fall is weak and/or little air coming out of
nose, then the person has small minute volume.
Alveolar Minute Volume - ANSWER>>>Volume of air moved through lungs in 1 minute minus the dead
space. Alveolar Minute Volume = (tidal volume - dead space) x RR
Alveolar Ventilation - ANSWER>>>Volume of air that reaches alveoli.
Alveolar ventilation = tidal volume - dead space
Name the characteristics of normal breathing - ANSWER>>>1. Normal rate (12-20)
2. regular pattern of inhalation/exhalation
3. clear bilateral lung sounds
4. regular and equal chest rise/fall
5. adequate depth (tidal volume)
What are the characteristics of inadequate breathing (adults)? - ANSWER>>>Chapter 6
1. labored breathing (activating accessory muscles of respiration)
2. 12< or >20 breaths/minute
3. muscle retractions above clavicles or between ribs and below rib cage
4. pale/cyanotic skin
5. cool, damp, clammy skin
6. tripod position
Chapter 10
1. 12< or 20>
2. irregular rhythm
3. diminished, absent or noisy auscultated breath sounds
4. reduced flow of expired air at nose/mouth
5. unequal or inadequate chest expansion
6. labored breathing
7. shallow depth
