Respiratory System Flashcards

Questions and Answers

Inhalation occurs when the:

Diaphragm ascends and the intercostal muscles contract, causing a decrease in intrathoracic pressure.

Diaphragm and intercostal muscles relax and cause an increase in intrathoracic pressure.

Diaphragm and intercostal muscles contract and cause a decrease in intrathoracic pressure. (correct)

Diaphragm and intercostal muscles ascend and cause an increase in intrathoracic pressure.

The leaf-shaped structure located superior to the larynx is called the:

Epiglottis (correct)

Cricoid ring

Thyroid cartilage

Vallecula

A patient who is suspected of being hypoxic and is breathing adequately should be given supplemental oxygen with a:

Nonrebreathing mask (correct)

Bag-valve mask device

Nasal cannula

Pocket facemask device

A 19-year-old female is found unconscious by her roommate. Your initial assessment reveals that her breathing is inadequate. As you insert an oropharyngeal airway, she begins to gag violently. You should:

Remove the airway and be prepared to suction her oropharynx. Signup and view all the answers

Structures of the lower airway include all of the following, EXCEPT the:

Pharynx Signup and view all the answers

The nasopharyngeal airway is MOST beneficial because it:

Can maintain a patent airway in a semiconscious patient with a gag reflex. Signup and view all the answers

The actual exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide occurs in the:

Alveolar sacs Signup and view all the answers

Gas exchange in the lungs is facilitated by:

Adequate amounts of surfactant Signup and view all the answers

While eating dinner, your partner suddenly grabs his throat and has a panicked look on his face. He has a weak cough, faint inspiratory stridor, and cyanosis around the lips. You should:

Stand behind him and administer abdominal thrusts. Signup and view all the answers

The nasal cannula is MOST appropriately used in the prehospital setting:

When the patient cannot tolerate a nonrebreathing mask. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following structures is NOT found in the upper airway?

Bronchus Signup and view all the answers

You are performing mouth-to-mask ventilations with oxygen connected and set at a flow rate of 15 liters per minute. What percentage of oxygen is your patient receiving?

55% Signup and view all the answers

With a good mask-to-face seal and an oxygen flow rate of 15 L/min, the nonrebreathing mask is capable of delivering up to ____% oxygen.

90 Signup and view all the answers

Irregular respirations characterized by an increasing rate and depth of breathing followed by periods of apnea are called:

Cheyne-Stokes respirations Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements regarding the one-person bag-valve mask (BVM) device is correct?

Adequate tidal volume is often difficult to achieve when one EMT-B is operating the BVM device. Signup and view all the answers

All of the following will help minimize the risk of gastric distention when ventilating an apneic patient with a BVM device, EXCEPT:

Increasing the amount of delivered tidal volume. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following factors will MOST likely cause a decreased minute volume in the adult?

Shallow breathing Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements regarding breathing adequacy is correct?

Patients breathing shallowly may require assisted ventilation despite a normal respiratory rate. Signup and view all the answers

In contrast to inhalation, exhalation:

Is a passive process caused by increased intrathoracic pressure. Signup and view all the answers

What occurs when a patient is breathing very rapidly and shallowly?

Air moves primarily in the anatomic dead space and does not participate in pulmonary gas exchange. Signup and view all the answers

A 71-year-old male is semiconscious following a sudden, severe headache. There is vomitus on his face and he is breathing with slow, shallow respirations. The MOST appropriate initial airway management for this patient is to:

Perform oropharyngeal suctioning. Signup and view all the answers

Of the 21% room air oxygen that a person inhales, approximately ___% is exhaled.

16 Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following body systems can survive the longest period of time without oxygen?

Musculoskeletal Signup and view all the answers

A nasopharyngeal airway is inserted:

With the bevel facing the septum if inserted into the right nare. Signup and view all the answers

The diaphragm does NOT function as a voluntary muscle when a person:

Sleeps Signup and view all the answers

The severity of hypoxia depends MOSTLY on the patient's:

Ventilatory quality Signup and view all the answers

Each cell of the body combines nutrients and oxygen and produces energy and waste products through a process called:

Metabolism Signup and view all the answers

A 51-year-old female presents with a sudden onset of difficulty breathing. She is conscious and alert and able to speak in complete sentences. Her respirations are 24 breaths/min and regular. You should:

Administer 100% oxygen via a nonrebreathing mask. Signup and view all the answers

Prior to applying a nonrebreathing mask on a patient, you must ensure that the:

Reservoir bag is fully inflated. Signup and view all the answers

The exchange of air between the lungs and the environment is called:

Ventilation Signup and view all the answers

The MOST common and significant complication of using a flow-restricted oxygen-powered ventilation device is:

Gastric distention Signup and view all the answers

The MOST significant complication associated with oropharyngeal suctioning is:

Hypoxia due to prolonged suction attempts. Signup and view all the answers

On which of the following patients would it be MOST appropriate to use the flow-restricted oxygen-powered ventilation device?

A 21-year-old male with atraumatic cardiac arrest Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following structures is/are contained within the mediastinum?

Esophagus Signup and view all the answers

You are ventilating a patient with a stoma; however, air is escaping from the mouth and nose. To prevent this, you should:

Seal the mouth and nose. Signup and view all the answers

A 23-year-old male experienced severe head trauma after his motorcycle collided with an oncoming truck. He is unconscious, has rapid and shallow breathing, and is producing copious bloody secretions from his mouth. How should you manage his airway?

Alternate 15 seconds of oral suctioning with 2 minutes of assisted ventilation. Signup and view all the answers

You are dispatched to a residence where a middle-aged man was found unconscious in his front yard. There are no witnesses that can tell you what happened. You find him in a prone position; his eyes are closed and he is not moving. Your FIRST action should be:

Log roll him as a unit to a supine position. Signup and view all the answers

The purpose of the pin-indexing system that has been established for compressed gas cylinders is to:

Ensure that the correct regulator is used for the cylinder. Signup and view all the answers

The hypoxic drive, the primary stimulus to breathe for patients with certain chronic respiratory diseases, is influenced by:

Low blood oxygen levels. Signup and view all the answers

When testing a mechanical suctioning unit, you should turn on the device, clamp the tubing, and ensure that it generates a vacuum pressure of more than:

300 mm Hg. Signup and view all the answers

As the single EMT-B managing an apneic patient's airway, the preferred initial method of providing ventilations is the:

Mouth-to-mask with one-way valve. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following patients should you place in the recovery position?

A 31-year-old semiconscious male with low blood sugar and adequate breathing. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following oxygen flowmeters is NOT affected by gravity and can be used in any position when attached to an oxygen cylinder?

Bourdon-gauge flowmeter. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following patients would MOST likely require insertion of an oropharyngeal airway?

A 40-year-old unconscious patient with slow, shallow respirations. Signup and view all the answers

To select the proper size oropharyngeal airway, you should measure from the:

Corner of the mouth to the earlobe. Signup and view all the answers

The ________ cartilage is a firm ring that forms the inferior part of the larynx.

Cricoid Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following will MOST likely occur if the body is deprived of oxygen for less than 2 minutes?

Cardiac irritability Signup and view all the answers

An oxygen cylinder should be taken out of service and refilled when the pressure inside it is less than:

500 psi. Signup and view all the answers

Proper technique for suctioning the oropharynx of an adult patient includes:

Suctioning while withdrawing the catheter from the oropharynx. Signup and view all the answers

What is the minute volume of a patient with a tidal volume of 350 mL and a respiratory rate of 22 breaths/min?

7,700 mL Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Inhalation and Exhalation

Inhalation involves diaphragm and intercostal muscles contracting, creating negative pressure in the thoracic cavity to draw air in.
Exhalation is primarily passive, reliant on elastic recoil of the lungs and increased intrathoracic pressure.

Airway Structures

The epiglottis is a crucial structure that prevents food from entering the airway during swallowing.
The lower airway consists of the larynx, trachea, and alveoli, excluding the pharynx.

Oxygen Delivery Methods

A nonrebreathing mask is the most effective for delivering supplemental oxygen to hypoxic patients, providing high oxygen concentration.
Nasal cannulas are better suited for patients who cannot tolerate masks or require long-term oxygen.

Airway Management Techniques

Inserting an oropharyngeal airway may trigger a gag reflex in unconscious patients; suctioning may be needed to clear secretions.
Nasopharyngeal airways are more tolerated in conscious patients with intact gag reflexes, useful for those with potential airway obstruction.

Gas Exchange

Actual gas exchange occurs in the alveolar sacs, where oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged.
Surfactant in the alveoli is essential for efficient gas exchange, reducing surface tension and preventing lung collapse.

Emergency Situations

In cases of choking, abdominal thrusts are recommended for conscious patients; back blows can be delivered to infants.
A patient with slow, shallow breathing may require airway suctioning and ventilation support.

Respiratory Parameters

Minute volume, the product of tidal volume and respiratory rate, indicates the amount of air exchanged per minute.
A patient with increasing respiratory rate but shallow breathing will primarily ventilate dead space, limiting effective gas exchange.

Ventilation Devices

The bag-valve mask (BVM) provides effective tidal volume and oxygen concentration but may require a proper face seal to minimize gastric distention.
Oropharyngeal suctioning should be done cautiously to avoid hypoxia; suctioning while withdrawing from the airway is recommended.

Measurements and Techniques

Proper sizing for oropharyngeal airways involves measuring from the corner of the mouth to the earlobe.
A pressure of less than 500 psi indicates that an oxygen cylinder should be refilled.

Risk and Complications

Gastric distention is a common complication of positive pressure ventilation; techniques should be employed to minimize this.
The duration of oxygen deprivation leads to varied outcomes; less than 2 minutes can lead to cardiac irritability, while longer durations risk irreversible brain damage.

Special Considerations

Patients with altered mental status and reduced tidal volume, such as those overdosing, may need specific positioning for airway protection.
Gravity-affected flowmeters must be selected appropriately based on the positioning of an oxygen cylinder in use.

These notes cover critical aspects and management of respiratory scenarios, focusing on both anatomical and clinical considerations.

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Description

This quiz consists of flashcards designed to test your understanding of key concepts related to the respiratory system. Each card presents a question about inhalation and other fundamental processes, helping you reinforce your knowledge and prepare for examinations.