CDH Paramedic Entrance Exam Questions and Answers Already Passed Latest Update 2025-
2026
What are the normal respirations of adults? Infants? - Answers 12-20 and 20-40
What is the purpose of surfactant? - Answers Reduces surface tension in alveoli (lubricant)
What is the normal stimulus to breathe in a healthy patient? - Answers Carbonic drive
What is a pink puffer? Blue Bloater? - Answers A COPD Patient with Emphysema. A COPD
Patient with Chronic Bronchitis
What causes inhalation? - Answers Diaphragm and Intercostal muscles contract
Where are the different lung sounds located? (Upper, Lower Airway) What causes them? (Fluid,
Constriction, Rubbing) - Answers ...
What is agonal breathing? - Answers Abnormal breathing pattern characterized by gasping and
or labored breathing.
What is Cheyne-Stokes respirations? - Answers Abnormal Respirations characterized by
progressively deeper and sometimes faster breathing, gradually decreases then stops briefly.
What is the difference between Ventilation and Respiration? - Answers Ventilation - Mechanical
process behind breathing.
Respiration - Cellular process associated with breathing.
What is Diffusion and where does it occur in the lungs? - Answers Diffusion is the movement of
particles from an area of high concentration to an area low concentration. It occurs in the alveoli.
Why does suctioning cause a decrease in HR? - Answers Vagal Nerve Stimulation resulting in
Bradycardia
What physically happens with pulmonary edema? - Answers Pulmonary edema is an abnormal
buildup of fluid in the air sacs of the lungs, which leads to shortness of breath.
What is the pathophysiology of chronic bronchitis? - Answers Air passages become clogged by
debris and irritation increases. As a result a large amount of mucus is developed which cause a
cough.
What is the pathophysiology of Emphysema? - Answers Decreased Pulmonary elastic recoil.
Compression results and limits airflow. Additionally alveolar walls are destroyed resulting in a
lower quality of perfusion.
What role in breathing does the diaphragm have? - Answers The diaphragm controls the
increase or decrease in the pleural cavity. When the diaphragm relaxes air is drawn into the
, lungs, when the diaphragm contracts air is expelled from the lungs.
What is unique about the diaphragm? - Answers It is a unique muscle because it is two muscles
working synchronously together.
What is a late sign of hypoxia? - Answers Cyanosis
What is consolidation in a pneumonia patient? - Answers A region of lung tissue that has filled
with liquid.
How does Carbon Monoxide affect oxygen in the body? - Answers Carbon monoxide attaches to
the blood easier than oxygen, therefore Carbon monoxide "robs" the body of oxygen.
What is inhalation? - Answers Inhalation is the process of CO2 being removed from the body
caused by a decrease in pleural pressure facilitated by the contraction of the diaphragm.
What is exhalation? - Answers Exhalation is the process of O2 being introduced into the body
caused by an increase in pleural pressure facilitated by the relaxation of the diaphragm.
What is automaticity? - Answers The ability to do things without occupying the mind "think force
of habit"
What is diastole? - Answers The period of time when the heart refills with blood. It is the lowest
pressure within the entire arterial blood stream.
What is systole? - Answers The force that drives blood out of the heart. It represents the force
that the heart is producing during a single contraction.
What is the buildup of fluid in the pericardial sac called? - Answers Pericardial effusion
Blood pressure by palpation measures what? - Answers It measures the systolic blood pressure
only.
How is blood pressure by palpation done? - Answers Attach sphygmometer, palpate radial pulse,
inflate sphygmometer until radial pulse is no longer palpable, inflate sphygmometer +30 mmHg,
deflate sphygmometer slowly until radial pulse is palpable again, record as xx/P
What is the blood flow through the heart? - Answers Superior vena cava, inferior vena cava, right
atrium, tricuspid valve, right ventricle, pulmonary valve, pulomonary artery, pulmonary veins, left
atrium, mitral valve, left ventricle, aortic valve, aorta.
Where does the electrical impulse initiate in the heart? - Answers SA Node
What is bradycardia? Tachycardia? - Answers Brady: HR V60BPM Tachy: HR ^ 100BPM
What can cause a V in BP? - Answers Vasovagal response, decrease in volume, decrease in HR
S decrease in venous/arterial tone, adverse reactions to medications.
2026
What are the normal respirations of adults? Infants? - Answers 12-20 and 20-40
What is the purpose of surfactant? - Answers Reduces surface tension in alveoli (lubricant)
What is the normal stimulus to breathe in a healthy patient? - Answers Carbonic drive
What is a pink puffer? Blue Bloater? - Answers A COPD Patient with Emphysema. A COPD
Patient with Chronic Bronchitis
What causes inhalation? - Answers Diaphragm and Intercostal muscles contract
Where are the different lung sounds located? (Upper, Lower Airway) What causes them? (Fluid,
Constriction, Rubbing) - Answers ...
What is agonal breathing? - Answers Abnormal breathing pattern characterized by gasping and
or labored breathing.
What is Cheyne-Stokes respirations? - Answers Abnormal Respirations characterized by
progressively deeper and sometimes faster breathing, gradually decreases then stops briefly.
What is the difference between Ventilation and Respiration? - Answers Ventilation - Mechanical
process behind breathing.
Respiration - Cellular process associated with breathing.
What is Diffusion and where does it occur in the lungs? - Answers Diffusion is the movement of
particles from an area of high concentration to an area low concentration. It occurs in the alveoli.
Why does suctioning cause a decrease in HR? - Answers Vagal Nerve Stimulation resulting in
Bradycardia
What physically happens with pulmonary edema? - Answers Pulmonary edema is an abnormal
buildup of fluid in the air sacs of the lungs, which leads to shortness of breath.
What is the pathophysiology of chronic bronchitis? - Answers Air passages become clogged by
debris and irritation increases. As a result a large amount of mucus is developed which cause a
cough.
What is the pathophysiology of Emphysema? - Answers Decreased Pulmonary elastic recoil.
Compression results and limits airflow. Additionally alveolar walls are destroyed resulting in a
lower quality of perfusion.
What role in breathing does the diaphragm have? - Answers The diaphragm controls the
increase or decrease in the pleural cavity. When the diaphragm relaxes air is drawn into the
, lungs, when the diaphragm contracts air is expelled from the lungs.
What is unique about the diaphragm? - Answers It is a unique muscle because it is two muscles
working synchronously together.
What is a late sign of hypoxia? - Answers Cyanosis
What is consolidation in a pneumonia patient? - Answers A region of lung tissue that has filled
with liquid.
How does Carbon Monoxide affect oxygen in the body? - Answers Carbon monoxide attaches to
the blood easier than oxygen, therefore Carbon monoxide "robs" the body of oxygen.
What is inhalation? - Answers Inhalation is the process of CO2 being removed from the body
caused by a decrease in pleural pressure facilitated by the contraction of the diaphragm.
What is exhalation? - Answers Exhalation is the process of O2 being introduced into the body
caused by an increase in pleural pressure facilitated by the relaxation of the diaphragm.
What is automaticity? - Answers The ability to do things without occupying the mind "think force
of habit"
What is diastole? - Answers The period of time when the heart refills with blood. It is the lowest
pressure within the entire arterial blood stream.
What is systole? - Answers The force that drives blood out of the heart. It represents the force
that the heart is producing during a single contraction.
What is the buildup of fluid in the pericardial sac called? - Answers Pericardial effusion
Blood pressure by palpation measures what? - Answers It measures the systolic blood pressure
only.
How is blood pressure by palpation done? - Answers Attach sphygmometer, palpate radial pulse,
inflate sphygmometer until radial pulse is no longer palpable, inflate sphygmometer +30 mmHg,
deflate sphygmometer slowly until radial pulse is palpable again, record as xx/P
What is the blood flow through the heart? - Answers Superior vena cava, inferior vena cava, right
atrium, tricuspid valve, right ventricle, pulmonary valve, pulomonary artery, pulmonary veins, left
atrium, mitral valve, left ventricle, aortic valve, aorta.
Where does the electrical impulse initiate in the heart? - Answers SA Node
What is bradycardia? Tachycardia? - Answers Brady: HR V60BPM Tachy: HR ^ 100BPM
What can cause a V in BP? - Answers Vasovagal response, decrease in volume, decrease in HR
S decrease in venous/arterial tone, adverse reactions to medications.
