FISDAP AIRWAY COMPLETE EXAM |2025 (All
correct) – CHAMBERLAIN
From the atmosphere, what structures does air pass through during
ventilation? Correct ans - Starts in atmosphere, then nose,
nasopharyngeal space/orophargyneal space (if mouth breather), then
pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli
What is the purpose of the nasal passages and nasopharynx? Correct
ans - To warm/humidify air as it passes through
What is the difference between respiration and ventilation? Correct ans
- Respiration refers to the exchange of gases in the alveoli, ventilation refers
to the movement of air into the lungs. Respiration is needed to provide O2 to
cells and remove waste products. Also regulates pH of blood.
What are the structures of the upper airway? Correct ans - nose,
mouth, tongue, jaw, pharynx and larynx
What structure is considered a landmark that divides the upper airway from
lower? Correct ans - The larynx, anything above is upper. The larynx
and below are lower.
What are the structures of the lower airways? Correct ans - larynx
(includes adam's apple/thyroid cartilage, cricothyroid membrane, cricoid
cartilage), trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli
Describe the anatomy of the larynx. Correct ans - From superior to
inferior. Thyroid cartilage, cricothyroid membrane, and cricoid membrane.
The thyroid cartilage and cricoid cartilage are anterior to the larynx, and the
cricothyroid membrane is posterior to both structures.
True or false: the lungs are completely equal in the midsaggital plane.
Correct ans - False, right lungs has 3 lobes, left lung only has 2 lobes.
Together they have 5 total. Also, the right bronchi is inferior to the left
bronchi.
What are the structures of the lungs in order of ventilation? Correct ans
- bronchioles, and alveoli
True or false: the lungs use muscles found in the lateral lobes to expand and
contract? Correct ans - False: the lungs are hollow organs and contain
no muscles. When the diaphragm contracts it expands the thoracic cavity.
The pleural space has a negative pressure and the lungs expand. This results
,in a slightly negative pressure (compared to the atmosphere) and air rushes
in.
True or false: Air rushes into the lungs because of negative pressure.
Correct ans - True, when the lungs expand, they are creating a vacuum
because they are expanding the volume of the container. This increase in
volume causes influx of air into the container until the pressure is equalized
with the atmosphere.
True or false: The parietal pleura lines the lungs and the visceral pleura lines
the lungs. The space between is called the anterior pleura. Correct ans
- False: the visceral pleura lines the lungs, the parietal pleura lines the body
cavity and the pleural space is the space in between both where body fluid
allows for both to smoothly glide.
What muscles are involved in inhalation? Correct ans - The
diaphragm, cervical muscles (neck), intercostals, abdominal muscles, and
pectoral muscles.
What muscles are involved in expiration? Correct ans - none,
expiration (if done passively) is achieved by the relaxation of the diaphragm.
What is the primary driver of respiration? (Why would we increase/decrease
RR?) Correct ans - The CSF in the brain has chemoreceptors sensitive
to CO2. When there is too much CO2. The pH changes. These sensors feed
back to the medulla oblongata, which stimulates the phrenic nerve which
innervates the diaphragm. They cause an increase in activity of the
diaphragm. This increases the RR which causes us to increase tidal volume.
This means more CO2 is exhaled. And brings our pH back to normal.
We also have the less sensitive hypoxic drive
What is hypoxic drive? Correct ans - Backup system to control
respiration. Chemoreceptors in brain, aorta, and carotid arteries. But they are
"satisfied" by a small amount of O2, which means it is not as sensitive as pH
control of CO2
What two areas of the brain are involved in respiration? Correct ans -
medulla-controls rhythm, initiates inspiration, sets base pattern for
respirations, and stimulates diaphragm to contract.
pons-changes depth of inspiration, expiration or both.
True or false: arteries bring oxygenated blood to organs/capillaries
Correct ans - True in most cases with one exception. Arteries (away) bring
blood away from the heart. Usually this is oxygenated blood. But the
, pulmonary arteries bring oxygen poor blood away from the heart, to the
lungs to be oxygenated.
What is the tidal volume? Correct ans - amount of air moved in/out of
lungs in single breath. Usually 500 ml in adult
What is inspiratory reserve volume? Correct ans - Deepest breath you
can take after normal respiration
What is expiratory reserve volume/Vital Capacity? Correct ans -
maximum amount you can breathe out after normal breath.
What is residual volume? Correct ans - Remaining gas in lungs after
exhalation. This is to keep lungs inflated
What is dead space? What structures are considered part of dead space?
Correct ans - Part of respiratory system not involved in active respiration.
Air moves through here but little to no respiration occurs. Mouth, trachea,
bronchi and bronchioles considered dead space
What is minute volume? What does it measure? Correct ans - Minute
volume = RR x tidal volume. Volume of air moving through lungs in 1 minute.
Can be estimated quickly. Count RR rate. If normal check to see chest rise
and fall (tidal volume). If chest rise and fall is weak and/or little air coming
out of nose, then the person has small minute volume.
Alveolar Minute Volume Correct ans - Volume of air moved through
lungs in 1 minute minus the dead space. Alveolar Minute Volume = (tidal
volume - dead space) x RR
Alveolar Ventilation Correct ans - Volume of air that reaches alveoli.
Alveolar ventilation = tidal volume - dead space
Name the characteristics of normal breathing Correct ans - 1. Normal
rate (12-20)
2. regular pattern of inhalation/exhalation
3. clear bilateral lung sounds
4. regular and equal chest rise/fall
5. adequate depth (tidal volume)
What are the characteristics of inadequate breathing (adults)? Correct
ans - Chapter 6
1. labored breathing (activating accessory muscles of respiration)
2. 12< or >20 breaths/minute
3. muscle retractions above clavicles or between ribs and below rib cage