NUR 417 EXAM 1 2026 QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS GRADED A+
◉ How does a smaller airway (Infants airway is 4cm in length, ¼ the
diameter of an adult) affect peds respiratory function? Answer:
More vulnerable to consequences of upper resp. tract infection,
enlarged tonsils/adenoids, allergic reaction, head positioning during
sleep, small object aspiration
◉ How does the airway having large amounts of soft tissue &
mucous membranes that are loosely anchored affect peds
respiratory function? Answer: Increases likelihood of airway edema
& obstruction
◉ How does fewer functional muscles in the airway affect peds
respiratory function? Answer: Less able to compensate for edema,
spasm & trauma
◉ How does nose breathing (infants <4mo.) affect peds respiratory
function? Answer: Can develop resp. Distress from nasal congestion
◉ How does Soft ribs & poorly developed intercostal muscles (until
the age of 7) affect peds respiratory function? Answer: Cannot use
the ribs/intercostal muscles to help breathe, must use diaphragm.
Any pressure on the diaphragm can impede the respiratory effort
,(this is how retractions are seen), which can lead to paradoxal
breathing = hypercapnia, fatigue, resp failure
◉ How does horizontal ribs affect peds respiratory function?
Answer: -thorax is already maximally expanded in anterior &
posterior
-Intercostal muscles aren't helpful in expanding lung volumes
◉ How does having fewer alveoli affect peds respiratory function?
Answer: Less surface area for gas exchange & increase vulnerability
during resp illness
◉ How does having a small oral cavity & large tongue relative to
oropharynx affect peds respiratory function? Answer: Can easily
cause airway obstruction
◉ How does having a Short neck & trachea affect peds respiratory
function? Answer: Intubation can be easily dislodged with head
movement. Increased risk for right mainstem intubation (tube
placed in right bronchus during intubation)
◉ How does the larynx & glottis being higher in the neck affect peds
respiratory function? Answer: Increased risk for infection
,◉ How does the tonsils & adenoids (lymph tissue) growing rapidly
during early childhood affect peds respiratory function? Answer:
Can swell during infection, causing upper airway obstruction to the
already small pharyngeal structure
◉ How does the Larynx (upper trachea) where vocal cords are,
being made of immature cartilage affect peds respiratory function?
Answer: Can be easily compressed & obstruct the airway. Ex. if neck
is flexed, this area can easily collapse, causing further narrowing
◉ How does a long and floppy epiglottis affect peds respiratory
function? Answer: More vulnerable to swelling from obstruction or
aspiration
◉ How does short, open, and horizontal eustachian tubes affect peds
respiratory function? Answer: Increased potential for ear infections
◉ How does premature cilia affect peds respiratory function?
Answer: Waste products cannot be moved easily
◉ Why are peds subject to atelectasis and obstruction especially as a
result of repeated infection? Answer: •Infants and young children
have less alveolar surface area for gas exchange
•The narrowly branching peripheral airways become easily
obstructed
, •Lack of collateral pathways inhibits ventilation beyond the
obstructed units
◉ What are the cardinal signs of respiratory failure? Answer:
•Restlessness
•Tachypnea/Tachycardia
•Diaphoresis
◉ What are earlier/less obvious signs of respiratory failure?
Answer: •Mood changes/anxiety/irritability
•Decreased LOC
•Headache
•Change in respirations
•Hypertension
•DOE
•Anorexia
•Nasal flaring and/or grunting
•Retractions
•Wheezing or prolonged expiration
◉ What are signs of more severe hypoxia? Answer: •Hyper or
hypotension
•Dimness of vision
ANSWERS GRADED A+
◉ How does a smaller airway (Infants airway is 4cm in length, ¼ the
diameter of an adult) affect peds respiratory function? Answer:
More vulnerable to consequences of upper resp. tract infection,
enlarged tonsils/adenoids, allergic reaction, head positioning during
sleep, small object aspiration
◉ How does the airway having large amounts of soft tissue &
mucous membranes that are loosely anchored affect peds
respiratory function? Answer: Increases likelihood of airway edema
& obstruction
◉ How does fewer functional muscles in the airway affect peds
respiratory function? Answer: Less able to compensate for edema,
spasm & trauma
◉ How does nose breathing (infants <4mo.) affect peds respiratory
function? Answer: Can develop resp. Distress from nasal congestion
◉ How does Soft ribs & poorly developed intercostal muscles (until
the age of 7) affect peds respiratory function? Answer: Cannot use
the ribs/intercostal muscles to help breathe, must use diaphragm.
Any pressure on the diaphragm can impede the respiratory effort
,(this is how retractions are seen), which can lead to paradoxal
breathing = hypercapnia, fatigue, resp failure
◉ How does horizontal ribs affect peds respiratory function?
Answer: -thorax is already maximally expanded in anterior &
posterior
-Intercostal muscles aren't helpful in expanding lung volumes
◉ How does having fewer alveoli affect peds respiratory function?
Answer: Less surface area for gas exchange & increase vulnerability
during resp illness
◉ How does having a small oral cavity & large tongue relative to
oropharynx affect peds respiratory function? Answer: Can easily
cause airway obstruction
◉ How does having a Short neck & trachea affect peds respiratory
function? Answer: Intubation can be easily dislodged with head
movement. Increased risk for right mainstem intubation (tube
placed in right bronchus during intubation)
◉ How does the larynx & glottis being higher in the neck affect peds
respiratory function? Answer: Increased risk for infection
,◉ How does the tonsils & adenoids (lymph tissue) growing rapidly
during early childhood affect peds respiratory function? Answer:
Can swell during infection, causing upper airway obstruction to the
already small pharyngeal structure
◉ How does the Larynx (upper trachea) where vocal cords are,
being made of immature cartilage affect peds respiratory function?
Answer: Can be easily compressed & obstruct the airway. Ex. if neck
is flexed, this area can easily collapse, causing further narrowing
◉ How does a long and floppy epiglottis affect peds respiratory
function? Answer: More vulnerable to swelling from obstruction or
aspiration
◉ How does short, open, and horizontal eustachian tubes affect peds
respiratory function? Answer: Increased potential for ear infections
◉ How does premature cilia affect peds respiratory function?
Answer: Waste products cannot be moved easily
◉ Why are peds subject to atelectasis and obstruction especially as a
result of repeated infection? Answer: •Infants and young children
have less alveolar surface area for gas exchange
•The narrowly branching peripheral airways become easily
obstructed
, •Lack of collateral pathways inhibits ventilation beyond the
obstructed units
◉ What are the cardinal signs of respiratory failure? Answer:
•Restlessness
•Tachypnea/Tachycardia
•Diaphoresis
◉ What are earlier/less obvious signs of respiratory failure?
Answer: •Mood changes/anxiety/irritability
•Decreased LOC
•Headache
•Change in respirations
•Hypertension
•DOE
•Anorexia
•Nasal flaring and/or grunting
•Retractions
•Wheezing or prolonged expiration
◉ What are signs of more severe hypoxia? Answer: •Hyper or
hypotension
•Dimness of vision
