FISDAP AIRWAY EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 2026/2027 UPDATED STUDY
GUIDE
◉ 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.
ANSWERS 2026/2027 UPDATED STUDY
GUIDE
◉ 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.
