FISDAP Paramedic Airway Exam Review Part 1 2025 – 2026 Page
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1. Appropriate air- *Steps must be performed in order. Bypass steps that do not apply.*
way manage- a. Open and maintain a patent airway.
ment b. Recognize and treat airway obstructions.
c. Assess ventilation and oxygenation status.
d. Administer supplemental oxygen.
e. Provide ventilatory assistance.
2. Upper airway 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)
3. Lower airway 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*
, FISDAP Paramedic Airway Exam Review Part 1 2025 – 2026 Page
Latest Update
4. 1. Larynx -Complex structure formed by many independent cartilaginous structures
-Marks where the upper airway ends and lower airway begins
5. 2. Thyroid carti- -Shield-shaped structure formed by two plates that join in a "V" shape anteriorly to
lage form the laryngeal prominence
i. Known as the Adam's apple
ii. More pronounced in men
iii. Can be diflcult to locate in obese or short-necked patients
-Suspended from the hyoid bone by the thyroid ligament
-Directly anterior to the glottic opening
6. 3. Cricoid carti-
-Lies inferiorly to the thyroid cartilage
lage (cricoid ring) -Forms the lowest portion of the larynx
-More prominent in females
, FISDAP Paramedic Airway Exam Review Part 1 2025 – 2026 Page
Latest Update
7. 4. Cricothyroid -Located between the thyroid and cricoid cartilage
membrane -Site for emergency surgical and nonsurgical access to the airway
-Bordered laterally and inferiorly by the highly vascular thyroid gland
8. 5. Glottis -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.
9. 6. Trachea -Immediately descends into the thoracic cavity
-Not a straight tube, which is key to understand when placing an ET tube
10. The respiratory 1. A constant supply of oxygen and nutrients is delivered to every cell.
and cardiovascu- 2. Waste products are removed from every cell.
, FISDAP Paramedic Airway Exam Review Part 1 2025 – 2026 Page
Latest Update
lar systems work
together to en-
sure that:
11. Ventilation -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 ettort.
12. Oxygenation -Process of loading oxygen molecules onto hemoglobin molecules in the blood-
stream
-Requires adequate *FiO2 (Percentage of oxygen in inhaled air)*
13. Respiration -Process of exchanging O2 and CO2-->
1. *External respiration (Also called pulmonary respiration)*: Process of exchang- ing
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.
14. Pathophysiology -Multiple conditions can inhibit the body's ability to ettectively provide oxygen to cells.
of Respiration 1. Disruption of pulmonary ventilation, oxygenation, and respiration will cause
immediate ettects on the body.
a. Must be recognized and corrected immediately
b. Important to distinguish a primary ventilation problem from a primary oxy-
genation or respiration problem
2. Every cell needs a constant supply of oxygen to survive.
a. Some tissues are more resilient than others.
b. Suflcient levels of external respiration and perfusion are required.
Latest Update
1. Appropriate air- *Steps must be performed in order. Bypass steps that do not apply.*
way manage- a. Open and maintain a patent airway.
ment b. Recognize and treat airway obstructions.
c. Assess ventilation and oxygenation status.
d. Administer supplemental oxygen.
e. Provide ventilatory assistance.
2. Upper airway 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)
3. Lower airway 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*
, FISDAP Paramedic Airway Exam Review Part 1 2025 – 2026 Page
Latest Update
4. 1. Larynx -Complex structure formed by many independent cartilaginous structures
-Marks where the upper airway ends and lower airway begins
5. 2. Thyroid carti- -Shield-shaped structure formed by two plates that join in a "V" shape anteriorly to
lage form the laryngeal prominence
i. Known as the Adam's apple
ii. More pronounced in men
iii. Can be diflcult to locate in obese or short-necked patients
-Suspended from the hyoid bone by the thyroid ligament
-Directly anterior to the glottic opening
6. 3. Cricoid carti-
-Lies inferiorly to the thyroid cartilage
lage (cricoid ring) -Forms the lowest portion of the larynx
-More prominent in females
, FISDAP Paramedic Airway Exam Review Part 1 2025 – 2026 Page
Latest Update
7. 4. Cricothyroid -Located between the thyroid and cricoid cartilage
membrane -Site for emergency surgical and nonsurgical access to the airway
-Bordered laterally and inferiorly by the highly vascular thyroid gland
8. 5. Glottis -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.
9. 6. Trachea -Immediately descends into the thoracic cavity
-Not a straight tube, which is key to understand when placing an ET tube
10. The respiratory 1. A constant supply of oxygen and nutrients is delivered to every cell.
and cardiovascu- 2. Waste products are removed from every cell.
, FISDAP Paramedic Airway Exam Review Part 1 2025 – 2026 Page
Latest Update
lar systems work
together to en-
sure that:
11. Ventilation -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 ettort.
12. Oxygenation -Process of loading oxygen molecules onto hemoglobin molecules in the blood-
stream
-Requires adequate *FiO2 (Percentage of oxygen in inhaled air)*
13. Respiration -Process of exchanging O2 and CO2-->
1. *External respiration (Also called pulmonary respiration)*: Process of exchang- ing
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.
14. Pathophysiology -Multiple conditions can inhibit the body's ability to ettectively provide oxygen to cells.
of Respiration 1. Disruption of pulmonary ventilation, oxygenation, and respiration will cause
immediate ettects on the body.
a. Must be recognized and corrected immediately
b. Important to distinguish a primary ventilation problem from a primary oxy-
genation or respiration problem
2. Every cell needs a constant supply of oxygen to survive.
a. Some tissues are more resilient than others.
b. Suflcient levels of external respiration and perfusion are required.
