Anatomy of the Airway
The leaf-shaped cartilaginous structure that covers the larynx during swallowing to prevent food and liquid from entering the trachea.
What is the epiglottis?
High-pitched, whistling sounds heard primarily on exhalation, commonly associated with the lower airway constriction of asthma.
What is wheezing?
To ensure proper sizing, an OPA (Oropharyngeal Airway) is measured from the corner of the patient's mouth to this anatomical landmark.
What is the earlobe (or the angle of the jaw)?
A nasal cannula is intended for mild hypoxia and should be set to a flow rate within this range.
What is 1 to 6 Liters per minute?
A chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) characterized by the destruction of the alveolar walls and loss of lung elasticity, mostly caused by smoking.
What is emphysema?
The anatomical point where the trachea bifurcates (splits) into the right and left mainstem bronchi.
What is the carina?
A harsh, high-pitched sound heard on inspiration that indicates a severe upper airway obstruction, such as croup or a foreign body.
What is stridor?
You must strictly avoid inserting an NPA (Nasopharyngeal Airway) if you suspect a patient has this specific type of head trauma.
What is a basilar skull fracture (or severe mid-face trauma)?
Before placing a non-rebreather (NRB) mask on a patient's face, you must use your finger to completely fill this attached component with oxygen.
What is the reservoir bag?
A sudden blockage of a pulmonary artery, rapidly causing sharp chest pain and sudden shortness of breath, typically resulting from a blood clot that traveled from the leg.
What is a Pulmonary Embolism (PE)?
The active, muscular part of breathing that requires the contraction of the diaphragm and intercostal muscles.
What is inhalation (or inspiration)?
Bubbling or popping sounds heard primarily on inspiration, typically indicating fluid in the lower airways (pulmonary edema).
What are crackles (or rales)?
The maximum amount of time you should continuously suction the airway of an adult patient before resuming ventilations.
What is 15 seconds?
According to current AHA guidelines, the proper ventilation rate for an adult in respiratory arrest (who has a pulse) using a Bag-Valve Mask.
What is 1 breath every 6 seconds (10 breaths per minute)?
A respiratory pattern characterized by progressively deeper and faster breathing followed by a period of complete apnea, often seen in stroke or head injury patients.
What are Cheyne-Stokes respirations?
The millions of microscopic, grape-like air sacs in the lungs where the actual exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place.
What are the alveoli?
Lower-pitched, rattling or snoring sounds caused by thick secretions or mucus in the larger airways, common in pneumonia.
What are rhonchi?
When suctioning a patient, you should only apply negative pressure (suction) while moving the catheter in this direction.
What is outward (while withdrawing the catheter)?
Pumping air too rapidly or too forcefully with a Bag-Valve Mask will force air down the esophagus, leading to this dangerous complication.
What is gastric distention?
The primary chemical drive that forces a healthy person to take a breath is an increase in the blood level of this gas.
What is carbon dioxide (CO2)?
The space in between the vocal cords that serves as the narrowest part of the adult airway.
What is the glottis (or glottic opening)?
The complete absence of lung sounds on one side of a trauma patient's chest, often combined with a mechanism for a collapsed lung.
What is decreased/absent breath sounds (indicating a pneumothorax or hemothorax)?
To manually open the airway of a patient with suspected cervical spine trauma, you must use this specific maneuver instead of the head tilt-chin lift.
What is the jaw-thrust maneuver?
This noninvasive airway device provides continuous positive pressure to keep alveoli open and push fluid out, but the patient must be conscious and able to follow commands to use it.
What is CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure)?
A condition where air fills the pleural space, completely collapsing the lung and putting pressure on the heart, which can present as tracheal deviation in extreme cases.
What is a tension pneumothorax?