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UCLA EMT - Airway Exam Study Guide
Questions And Answers 100% Pass
Describe the pathway of oxygen as it enters the body and gets to the alveoli. - ANS Air first
enters the body through the nose or mouth and passes into the nasopharynx or oropharynx.
Then it goes to the oropharynx which forms the posterior portion of the oral cavity. It goes into
the larynx which marks the end of the upper airway and the start of the lower airway. The
lower airway functions to deliver oxygen to the alveoli. After getting past the glottis and vocal
cords, the air goes into the trachea (or windpipe) as it is on its way to the lungs. Once in the
thoracic cavity, the trachea divides at the level of the carina (the internal ridge of the trachea)
and into the two mainstream bronchi. The hollow bronchi are supported by cartilage and
distribute air into the right and left lungs. Once the air enters the lungs, each bronchus divides
into increasingly smaller bronchi, which in turn subdivide into bronchioles. The smaller
bronchioles branch into alveolar ducts that end at the alveolar sacs. The alveoli is located at the
end of the airway and there are millions of these thin-walled, balloon-like sacs that serve as the
functional site for the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide.
Define the process of diffusion and where it occurs in the lungs. - ANS Diffusion is when
molecules move from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration. During
inhalation, oxygen moves into the lungs and then crosses the alveolar membrane into
hemoglobin through diffusion. Red blood cells carry the hemoglobin and therefore oxygen
through the body, delivering it to capillaries to oxygenate the body's cells. At the same time,
carbon dioxide that is produced by the cells in the tissues of the body moves from the blood
into the alveoli by diffusion. The carbon dioxide then leaves through exhalation.
List the steps in caring for a patient who is choking, including responsive and unresponsive
patients. - ANS If they are conscious, ask if they are choking and want help. Grabbing of
throat is universal sign of choking. Potential sounds of stridor. Use head tilt chin lift to open the
airway. This should only be done on unresponsive patients with inadequate breathing who are
not suspected of having spinal trauma. If there is possible spinal trauma, use jaw thrust. large
, ©EVERLY 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
pieces of food, mucus, blood clots, and others should be swept forward and out with a gloved
index finger. If available, use a suction to maintain a clear airway. Abdominal thrusts are most
effective for conscious patients. This is when residual air in the lungs are used and compressed
so as to expel the object out of the airway. If you can't reach around their body, or if they are
pregnant, do thrusts on their chest. Use abdominal thrusts until the object dislodges or the
patient becomes unconscious. Begin CPR starting with chest compressions. Follow the 30:2
ratio. Look at the back of the oropharynx for any foreign objects. If you can see it, try to remove
it with a gloved index finger or with suction. Do not blind sweep as it may push the object
farther down in the airway, making the obstruction worse. Once the object is removed or
nothing is seen in the airway yet, attempt to ventilate. Continue CPR. If you cannot clear the
airway with initial attempts, begin rapid transport and continue efforts on the way to the
hospital. If patient has mild or good air exchange, monitor closely for deterioration of their
condition. If patient is conscious, help to keep the airway position that is most efficient and
comfortable. Provide supplemental oxygen.
Describe the indications for suctioning and describe the technique for doing so. - ANS If you
hear gurgling, the patient needs suctioning. Turn on the unit and test the suction on your
gloves. Measure the catheter to the correct depth by measuring it from the corner of the
mouth to the edge of the earlobe or angle of the jaw. Insert the tip of the catheter to the depth
measured and apply suction in a circular motion as you take it out of the mouth. Do not suction
for more than 15 seconds (10 for children and 5 for infants). Do not ventilate until you suction
the secretions as it could lead to aspiration (secretions go into lungs).
Contrast the rigid suction and soft suction catheter including when to use each. - ANS Soft
catheters (French tip) are used to suction the nose, suctioning in the trachea, and in situations
you cannot use a rigid catheter, such as for a patient with a stoma. A rigid catheter (Yankauer)
could also break a patient's tooth, whereas the soft catheter may be inserted along the cheeks
without injury.
List the indications for the head tilt chin-lift and jaw thrust maneuvers. - ANS When doing a
head tilt chin lift, the patient is in a supine position and you are beside the patient's head. Place
the heel of one hand on the patient's forehead and push it back to tilt their head. This
extension of the neck will move the tongue forward and away from the back of the throat, and
keep it from blocking the airway. Place the fingertips of your other hand under the lower jaw
(do not compress the soft tissue under the chin as this may block the airway), and lift the chin
upward to bring the entire jaw up with the rest of the head, helping to tilt the head back. Lift so
that the teeth are nearly brought together but avoid closing the mouth completely. Use the jaw
UCLA EMT - Airway Exam Study Guide
Questions And Answers 100% Pass
Describe the pathway of oxygen as it enters the body and gets to the alveoli. - ANS Air first
enters the body through the nose or mouth and passes into the nasopharynx or oropharynx.
Then it goes to the oropharynx which forms the posterior portion of the oral cavity. It goes into
the larynx which marks the end of the upper airway and the start of the lower airway. The
lower airway functions to deliver oxygen to the alveoli. After getting past the glottis and vocal
cords, the air goes into the trachea (or windpipe) as it is on its way to the lungs. Once in the
thoracic cavity, the trachea divides at the level of the carina (the internal ridge of the trachea)
and into the two mainstream bronchi. The hollow bronchi are supported by cartilage and
distribute air into the right and left lungs. Once the air enters the lungs, each bronchus divides
into increasingly smaller bronchi, which in turn subdivide into bronchioles. The smaller
bronchioles branch into alveolar ducts that end at the alveolar sacs. The alveoli is located at the
end of the airway and there are millions of these thin-walled, balloon-like sacs that serve as the
functional site for the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide.
Define the process of diffusion and where it occurs in the lungs. - ANS Diffusion is when
molecules move from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration. During
inhalation, oxygen moves into the lungs and then crosses the alveolar membrane into
hemoglobin through diffusion. Red blood cells carry the hemoglobin and therefore oxygen
through the body, delivering it to capillaries to oxygenate the body's cells. At the same time,
carbon dioxide that is produced by the cells in the tissues of the body moves from the blood
into the alveoli by diffusion. The carbon dioxide then leaves through exhalation.
List the steps in caring for a patient who is choking, including responsive and unresponsive
patients. - ANS If they are conscious, ask if they are choking and want help. Grabbing of
throat is universal sign of choking. Potential sounds of stridor. Use head tilt chin lift to open the
airway. This should only be done on unresponsive patients with inadequate breathing who are
not suspected of having spinal trauma. If there is possible spinal trauma, use jaw thrust. large
, ©EVERLY 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
pieces of food, mucus, blood clots, and others should be swept forward and out with a gloved
index finger. If available, use a suction to maintain a clear airway. Abdominal thrusts are most
effective for conscious patients. This is when residual air in the lungs are used and compressed
so as to expel the object out of the airway. If you can't reach around their body, or if they are
pregnant, do thrusts on their chest. Use abdominal thrusts until the object dislodges or the
patient becomes unconscious. Begin CPR starting with chest compressions. Follow the 30:2
ratio. Look at the back of the oropharynx for any foreign objects. If you can see it, try to remove
it with a gloved index finger or with suction. Do not blind sweep as it may push the object
farther down in the airway, making the obstruction worse. Once the object is removed or
nothing is seen in the airway yet, attempt to ventilate. Continue CPR. If you cannot clear the
airway with initial attempts, begin rapid transport and continue efforts on the way to the
hospital. If patient has mild or good air exchange, monitor closely for deterioration of their
condition. If patient is conscious, help to keep the airway position that is most efficient and
comfortable. Provide supplemental oxygen.
Describe the indications for suctioning and describe the technique for doing so. - ANS If you
hear gurgling, the patient needs suctioning. Turn on the unit and test the suction on your
gloves. Measure the catheter to the correct depth by measuring it from the corner of the
mouth to the edge of the earlobe or angle of the jaw. Insert the tip of the catheter to the depth
measured and apply suction in a circular motion as you take it out of the mouth. Do not suction
for more than 15 seconds (10 for children and 5 for infants). Do not ventilate until you suction
the secretions as it could lead to aspiration (secretions go into lungs).
Contrast the rigid suction and soft suction catheter including when to use each. - ANS Soft
catheters (French tip) are used to suction the nose, suctioning in the trachea, and in situations
you cannot use a rigid catheter, such as for a patient with a stoma. A rigid catheter (Yankauer)
could also break a patient's tooth, whereas the soft catheter may be inserted along the cheeks
without injury.
List the indications for the head tilt chin-lift and jaw thrust maneuvers. - ANS When doing a
head tilt chin lift, the patient is in a supine position and you are beside the patient's head. Place
the heel of one hand on the patient's forehead and push it back to tilt their head. This
extension of the neck will move the tongue forward and away from the back of the throat, and
keep it from blocking the airway. Place the fingertips of your other hand under the lower jaw
(do not compress the soft tissue under the chin as this may block the airway), and lift the chin
upward to bring the entire jaw up with the rest of the head, helping to tilt the head back. Lift so
that the teeth are nearly brought together but avoid closing the mouth completely. Use the jaw
