EMT FISDAP (AIRWAY) EXAM 2023-2024 ACTUAL EXAM 150
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS WITH
RATIONALES|ALREADY GRADED A+
A 42 year old male complains of shortness of breath after being sprayed with
super-heated steam. He has burns to his face, neck and upper chest. Vitals signs are
BP 112/66, P 124, R 26 shallow and labored. What should you do? – ANSWERAssists his ventilations
RATIONALE: He is in respiratory failure. His breathing is ineffective because his
respirations are fast and shallow. Shallow respirations do not allow for adequate
oxygen exchange because the air is not drawn down far enough into the lungs.
Assisting his breathing with positive pressure ventilations will help reduce any
developing pulmonary edema from the lower airway burns.
What is the term for abnormal breath sounds that result from an obstructed upper
airway? – ANSWER- Stridor
How should you insert a nasopharyngeal airway? – ANSWER- Face the bevel
toward the septum
RATIONALE: Also know to only use water-soluble lubricants when inserting a
NPA, no oil-based lubricants
The use of accessory muscles and nasal flaring are signs of what type of breathing?
- ANSWER- Labored breathing
RATIONALE: Expect to initially see an increases respiratory rate ad heart rate
with labored breathing. As the patient begins to tire, the respiratory rate and the
quality will begin to decrease, which worsens the problem.
What are the small air sacs at the end of the airway that are responsible for gas
exchange? – ANSWER- Alveoli
A 53 year old male is sleepy, diaphoretic, difficult to arouse and breathing 8 times
a minute. What do you suspect? – ANSWER- Respiratory failure
What is directly posterior to the nose? – ANSWER- Nasopharynx
RATIONALE: The nasopharynx connects the opening of the nostrils to the soft
palate, which is located at the back of the mouth. This passage is designed to warm
up inhaled air and filters out fine particulate matter
What is the name of the muscular structure the divides the chest cavity from the
abdominal cavity? – ANSWER- Diaphragm
What is the most common location for an airway obstruction? – ANSWERPharynx
RATIONALE: This passageway is shared by air and food, so it is a common site
for a partial of complete obstruction, which could be food or a flaccid tongue.
What part of the respiratory system contains the vocal cords? – ANSWER- Larynx
RATIONALE: This structure is directly above the trachea.
What is the normal respiratory rate for an adult? – ANSWER- 12-20
What is the name of the cartilaginous ridge in the trachea at which the right and
left lungs split? – ANSWER- Carina
How many lobes are in the lungs? – ANSWER- 5
RATIONALE: 3 lobes on the right and 2 lobes on the left
What is the name of the passageway shared by the digestive system and the
respiratory system for air and food? – ANSWER- Pharynx
RATIONALE: The nasal cavity and mouth share this passageway. Air travels
down the larynx and food travels into the esophagus
What ring-shaped structure forms the lower portion of the larynx? – ANSWERCricoid cartilage
RATIONALE: This is located directly inferior of the thyroid cartilage
What structure is at the terminal portion of the respiratory tree? – ANSWERAlveloi
An inadequate amount of oxygen being delivered to the cells is called: –
ANSWER- Hypoxia
What is the name of the only complete cartilaginous ring of the trachea? –
ANSWER- Cricoid Cartilage
The two main branches of the trachea form the: – ANSWER- Bronchi
You are managing a patient with damage to the brainstem due to a stroke. How can
this have a detrimental effect on the patient’s breathing status? – ANSWER- There
can be a change in both the breathing rate and regularity
Of the following influences on breathing, which one has the MOST significant
impact on the moment-to-moment regulation of breathing? – ANSWER- Carbon
dioxide levels
External respiration is best described as the: – ANSWER- Exchange of gases
between the alveoli and the surrounding capillary bed
During cellular respiration and metabolism, there is constant production of acidic
waste products such as hydrogen. How does the body initially manage this acid? –
ANSWER- Hydrogen is converted into carbonic acid and later into CO2 and H2O
While you are transporting a young teenager with a cold and cough, he asks you
what his respiratory system does. How would you respond? – ANSWER- It takes
oxygen from the air and supplies it to the blood
Which muscle of the body is the primary one that allows normal inhalation to
occur? – ANSWER- Diaphragm
When your patient inhales, the diaphragm and what other muscle group contracts
in order for air to flow into the lungs? – ANSWER- External intercostal muscles
You are caring for a patient with respiratory distress. The patient is found in a
tripod position with nasal flaring, the pulse oximetry is 94 percent, and you note
absent alveolar breath sounds and cyanosis around the mouth and nail beds. Given