1
NREMT PARAMEDIC EXAM FREQUENTLY TESTED
QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
stridor - (answers)Harsh or high-pitched respiratory sound, swelling, fb in upper
airway. Croup is an example
Snoring - (answers)The sound of the soft tissue of the upper airway creating a
partial obstruction of air flow. The tongue blocking the airway is an example.
gurgling - (answers)indicates presence of fluid in the upper airway, need for
suctioning
Decorticate - (answers)elbows and hands flexed, and legs flexed. They are
internally rotated (the lets look bowlegged) (make an O with their arms: corticate)
Decerebrate (worse) - (answers)Stiffened and internally rotated elbows and legs,
teeth clenched, legs stiff and feet extended.
Babinski's response - (answers)dorsiflexion (splaying) of toes
-abnormal plantae reflex response if over 18 months
mydriasis - (answers)dilation of the pupil. Appears in cardiac arrest, shock,
cerebral hypoxia, cocaine, epinephrine, and amphetamines.
, 2
Miosis - (answers)Constricted pupils. Narcotics, CNS disorder, glaucoma
medication, bright light
anisocoria - (answers)unequal pupil size that may indicate serious neurologic
dysfunction
nystagmus - (answers)involuntary rapid eye movements - often reported as
horizontal, vertical, or rotary
subcutaneous emphysema - (answers)Air under the skin; crepitus sound
rales (crackles) - (answers)Fluid in small airways (aveoli). Common in CHF,
pulonary edema, drowning, pneumonia, and COPD
Rhonchi - (answers)Coarse, low-pitched breath sounds heard in patients with
chronic mucus in the upper airways. Found in Bronchitus, COPD, and pneumonia.
Wheezing - (answers)The production of whistling sounds during expiration such as
occurs in asthma and bronchiolitis.
Bronchial lung sounds - (answers)heard over trachea/upper sternum; expiratory
sound predominates; is higher pitched and louder; if heard in other locations it
indicates consolidation -- a space that usually contains air now has fluid
, 3
Bronchovesicular - (answers)Heard over scapula and 2/3rd intercostal space
lateral to sternum.
Apneustic breathing - (answers)Characterized by prolonged inspirations
unrelieved by attempts to exhale, which indicates trauma to the pons. AKA long,
deep breaths that are stopped during inspirations then periods of apnea.
Biot's (Ataxic) Respirations - (answers)Shallow, deep respirations with periods of
apnea
Irregular pattern
Precipitating factors: respiratory depression, brain damage
Cheyne-Stokes respiration - (answers)pattern of breathing characterized by a
gradual increase of depth and sometimes rate to a maximum level, followed by a
decrease, resulting in apnea
Hyperventilation - (answers)rapid, shallow breathing
Kussmaul respirations - (answers)very deep and rapid respirations. Example: DKA
Hyperresonant - (answers)tension pneumothorax, emphysema, asthma
resonant - (answers)echoing normal sound
NREMT PARAMEDIC EXAM FREQUENTLY TESTED
QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
stridor - (answers)Harsh or high-pitched respiratory sound, swelling, fb in upper
airway. Croup is an example
Snoring - (answers)The sound of the soft tissue of the upper airway creating a
partial obstruction of air flow. The tongue blocking the airway is an example.
gurgling - (answers)indicates presence of fluid in the upper airway, need for
suctioning
Decorticate - (answers)elbows and hands flexed, and legs flexed. They are
internally rotated (the lets look bowlegged) (make an O with their arms: corticate)
Decerebrate (worse) - (answers)Stiffened and internally rotated elbows and legs,
teeth clenched, legs stiff and feet extended.
Babinski's response - (answers)dorsiflexion (splaying) of toes
-abnormal plantae reflex response if over 18 months
mydriasis - (answers)dilation of the pupil. Appears in cardiac arrest, shock,
cerebral hypoxia, cocaine, epinephrine, and amphetamines.
, 2
Miosis - (answers)Constricted pupils. Narcotics, CNS disorder, glaucoma
medication, bright light
anisocoria - (answers)unequal pupil size that may indicate serious neurologic
dysfunction
nystagmus - (answers)involuntary rapid eye movements - often reported as
horizontal, vertical, or rotary
subcutaneous emphysema - (answers)Air under the skin; crepitus sound
rales (crackles) - (answers)Fluid in small airways (aveoli). Common in CHF,
pulonary edema, drowning, pneumonia, and COPD
Rhonchi - (answers)Coarse, low-pitched breath sounds heard in patients with
chronic mucus in the upper airways. Found in Bronchitus, COPD, and pneumonia.
Wheezing - (answers)The production of whistling sounds during expiration such as
occurs in asthma and bronchiolitis.
Bronchial lung sounds - (answers)heard over trachea/upper sternum; expiratory
sound predominates; is higher pitched and louder; if heard in other locations it
indicates consolidation -- a space that usually contains air now has fluid
, 3
Bronchovesicular - (answers)Heard over scapula and 2/3rd intercostal space
lateral to sternum.
Apneustic breathing - (answers)Characterized by prolonged inspirations
unrelieved by attempts to exhale, which indicates trauma to the pons. AKA long,
deep breaths that are stopped during inspirations then periods of apnea.
Biot's (Ataxic) Respirations - (answers)Shallow, deep respirations with periods of
apnea
Irregular pattern
Precipitating factors: respiratory depression, brain damage
Cheyne-Stokes respiration - (answers)pattern of breathing characterized by a
gradual increase of depth and sometimes rate to a maximum level, followed by a
decrease, resulting in apnea
Hyperventilation - (answers)rapid, shallow breathing
Kussmaul respirations - (answers)very deep and rapid respirations. Example: DKA
Hyperresonant - (answers)tension pneumothorax, emphysema, asthma
resonant - (answers)echoing normal sound
