FISDAP Paramedic Airway Exam with Complete Solutions

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. 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. Alveoli - ANSWER-Balloon-like clusters of single-layer air sacs, and serve as the functional site for the exchange of oxygen and CO2. This exchange occurs by simple diffusion over the pulmonary capillaries. Ventilation - ANSWER-Process of moving air in and out of the lungs. Consist of two phases- inhalation and exhalation. Oxygenation - ANSWER-Process of loading O2 molecules onto hemoglobin molecules in the bloodstream. Respiration - ANSWER-Actual exchange of O2 and CO2 in the alveoli and the tissues of the body. Inhalation - ANSWER-Air enters the body, the diaphragm and intercostal muscles contract. When the diaphragm contracts, it descends and enlarges the thoracic cage from top to bottom. When the intercostal muscles contract, they lift the ribs up and out. Diaphragm - ANSWER-Stimulated by the Phrenic Nerve, it is a voluntary and involuntary muscle. Accessory Muscles - ANSWER-Secondary muscles of breathing, and include the sternocleidomastoid and trapezius muscles of the neck. Negative Pressure Ventilation - ANSWER-The air outside the body, is normally higher in pressure than the air within the thorax. During inhalation, the thoracic cage expands and the air within the thorax decreases, creating a slight vacuum. The vacuum pulls the air in through the trachea, causing the lungs to fill. Positive Pressure Ventilation - ANSWER-With ineffective chest movement, or no chest movement, negative intrathoracic pressure cannot be created. When this occurs, the only way to move air into the lungs is by PPV, the forcing of air into the lungs. Tidal Vol/Dead Space/Residual Vol/Total Lung Capacity - ANSWER-Tidal- 500ml Total Lung Capacity- 6,000ml/5-6L Dead Space- 150ml Residual Vol- 1,200ml