CORRECT WELL DETAILED
Upper Airway - ANSWER Consists of all structures above the level of the vocal cords.
The nose, mouth, jaw, oral cavity and pharynx.
Lower Airway - ANSWER Function is to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide. Starts at
the larynx. Spans from the glottis to the pulmonary capillary membrane.
Turbinates - ANSWER Increase the surface area of the nasal mucosa, thereby
improving the processes of warming, filtering and humidification of inhaled air.
Hyoid Bone - ANSWER Small, horseshoe shaped bone that attaches to the tongue.
Thyroid Cartilage - ANSWER Adams apple. Directly anterior to the glottic opening.
Cricoid Cartilage - ANSWER AKA Cricoid Ring, forms the lowest portion of the larynx,
and the first ring of the trachea.
Cricothyroid Membrane - ANSWER Site for emergency surgical and nonsurgical access
to the airway. Between the thyroid and cricoid cartilage.
Vellecula - ANSWER Anatomic space or "pocket" located between the base of the
tongue and the epiglottis. Where the MAC blade goes.
1
, Laryngospasm - ANSWER When the airway is stimulated (such as during aspiration of
foreign material or submersion incident), defensive reflexes cause a spasmodic closure of
the vocal cords, which seals off the airway.
Trachea - ANSWER AKA Windpipe, is the conduit for air entry into the lungs. Approx
10-12 cm long, & consists of C-Shaped Cartilaginous rings. Begins immediately below the
cricoid cartilage. Divides into the right and left mainstem bronchi at the level of the Carina.
Mediastinum - ANSWER The space between the lungs that contains, in addition to the
trachea, the heart, great vessels, and a portion of the esophagus. Main thing to know- the
heart is housed there.
Carina - ANSWER Where the right and left mainstem bronchi branch off.
Goblet Cells - ANSWER Mucous producing cells, that are lined in the trachea and
bronchi. They trap small particles and other potential contaminants.
Beta-2 Adrenergic Receptors - ANSWER Stimulate bronchodilation.
# of Lobes in each Lung - ANSWER Right lung- 3, Left lung- 2.
Visceral pleura - ANSWER Thin, slippery, outer membrane covering the lungs.
Parietal Pluera - ANSWER Lines the inside of the thoracic cavity.
Bronchioles - ANSWER Made of smooth muscle & lined with beta-2 receptors, which
can dilate and constrict based on stimuli.
2
Upper Airway - ANSWER Consists of all structures above the level of the vocal cords.
The nose, mouth, jaw, oral cavity and pharynx.
Lower Airway - ANSWER Function is to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide. Starts at
the larynx. Spans from the glottis to the pulmonary capillary membrane.
Turbinates - ANSWER Increase the surface area of the nasal mucosa, thereby
improving the processes of warming, filtering and humidification of inhaled air.
Hyoid Bone - ANSWER Small, horseshoe shaped bone that attaches to the tongue.
Thyroid Cartilage - ANSWER Adams apple. Directly anterior to the glottic opening.
Cricoid Cartilage - ANSWER AKA Cricoid Ring, forms the lowest portion of the larynx,
and the first ring of the trachea.
Cricothyroid Membrane - ANSWER Site for emergency surgical and nonsurgical access
to the airway. Between the thyroid and cricoid cartilage.
Vellecula - ANSWER Anatomic space or "pocket" located between the base of the
tongue and the epiglottis. Where the MAC blade goes.
1
, Laryngospasm - ANSWER When the airway is stimulated (such as during aspiration of
foreign material or submersion incident), defensive reflexes cause a spasmodic closure of
the vocal cords, which seals off the airway.
Trachea - ANSWER AKA Windpipe, is the conduit for air entry into the lungs. Approx
10-12 cm long, & consists of C-Shaped Cartilaginous rings. Begins immediately below the
cricoid cartilage. Divides into the right and left mainstem bronchi at the level of the Carina.
Mediastinum - ANSWER The space between the lungs that contains, in addition to the
trachea, the heart, great vessels, and a portion of the esophagus. Main thing to know- the
heart is housed there.
Carina - ANSWER Where the right and left mainstem bronchi branch off.
Goblet Cells - ANSWER Mucous producing cells, that are lined in the trachea and
bronchi. They trap small particles and other potential contaminants.
Beta-2 Adrenergic Receptors - ANSWER Stimulate bronchodilation.
# of Lobes in each Lung - ANSWER Right lung- 3, Left lung- 2.
Visceral pleura - ANSWER Thin, slippery, outer membrane covering the lungs.
Parietal Pluera - ANSWER Lines the inside of the thoracic cavity.
Bronchioles - ANSWER Made of smooth muscle & lined with beta-2 receptors, which
can dilate and constrict based on stimuli.
2