Aerobic metabolism
Metabolism that can proceed only in the presence of oxygen.
Agonal gasps
Occasional, gasping breaths that occur after the heart has stopped.
Airway
The upper airway tract or the passage above the larynx, which includes the nose, mouth, and throat.
Alveolar ventilation
The volume of air that reaches the alveoli. it is determined by subtracting the amount of dead space air from the tidal volume.
American Standard System
A safety system for large oxygen cylinders, designed to prevent accidental attachment of a regulator to a cylinder containing the wrong type of gas.
Anaerobic metabolism
The metabolism that take place in the absence of oxygen; the principle product is lactic acid.
Apnea
Absence of spontaneous breathing.
Aspiration
In the context of airway, the introduction of vomitus or other foreign material into the lungs.
Ataxic respirations
Irregular, ineffective respirations that may or may not have an identifiable pattern.
Automatic transport ventilation (ATV)
A ventilation device attached to a control box that allows the variables of ventilation to be set. It frees the EMT to perform other tasks while the patient is being ventilated.
Bag-mask device
A device with a one-way valve and a face mask attached to a ventilation bag; when attached to a reservoir and connected to oxygen, delivers more than 90% supplemental oxygen.
Barrier device
A protective item, such as a pocket mask with a valve, that limits exposure to a patient's body fluids.
Bilateral
A body part or condition that appears on both sides of the midline.
Bronchioles
Subdivision of the smaller bronchi in the lungs; made of smooth muscle and dilate or constrict in response to various stimuli.
Carina
Point at which the trachea bifurcates (divides) into the left and right mainstem bronchi.
Chemoreceptors
Monitor the levels of O2, CO2, and the pH of the cerebrospinal fluid and then provide feedback to the respiratory centers to modify the rate and depth of breathing based on the body's needs at any given time.
Compliance
The ability of the aveoli to expand when air is drawn in during inhalation.
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)
A method of ventilation used primarily in the treatment of critically ill patients with respiratory distress; can prevent the need for endotracheal intubation.
Dead space
The portion of the tidal volume that does not reach the alveoli and thus does not participate in gas exchange.
Diffusion
A process in which molecules move from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration.
Dyspnea
Shortness of breath.
Exhalation
The passive part of the breathing process in which the diaphragm and the intercostal muscles relax, forcing air out of the lungs.
External respiration
The exchange of gases between the lungs and the blood cells in the pulmonary capillaries.
Gag reflex
A normal reflex mechanism that causes retching.
Gastric distention
A condition in which air fills the stomach, often as a result of high volume and pressure during artificial ventilation.
Glottis
The space in between the vocal cords that is the narrowest portion of the adult's airway.
Good air exchange
A term used to distinguish the degree of distress in a patient with a mild airway obstruction. The patient is still conscious and able to cough forcefully, although wheezing may be heard.
Head tilt-chin lift maneuver
A combination of two movements to open the airway by tilting the forehead back and lifting the chin: not used for trauma patients.
Hypercarbia
Increased carbon dioxide level in the bloodstream.
Hypoxia
A dangerous condition in which the body tissues and cells do not have enough oxygen.
Hypoxic drive
A condition in which chronically low levels of oxygen in the blood stimulate the respiratory drive.
Inhalation
The active, muscular part if breathig that draws air into the airway and lungs.
Internal respiration
The exchange of gases between the blood cells and the tissues.
Intrapulmonary shunting
Bypassing of oxygen-poor blood past nonfunctional alveoli to the left side of the heart.
Jaw-thrust maneuver
Technique to open the airway by placing the fingers behind the angle of the jaw and bringing the jaw forward; used for patients who may have a cervical spine injury.
Labored breathing
Breathing that requires greater than normal effort; may be slower or faster than normal and usually requires the use of accesory muscles.
Larynx
A complex structure formed by many independent cartilaginous structures that all work together; where the upper airway ends and the lower airway begins; also called the voice box.
Manually triggered ventilation device
A fixed flow/rate ventilation device that delivers a breath every time its button is pushed.
Mediastinum
Space within the chest that contains the heart, major blood vessels, vague nerves, trachea, major bronchi, and esophagus; loacted between the two lungs.
Metabolism (cellular respiration)
The biochemical processes that result in production of energy from nutrients within cells.
Mild airway obstruction
Occurs when a foreign body partially obstructs the patient's airway.
Minute ventilation
The volume of air moved through the lungs in 1 minute minus the dead space.
Nasal cannula
An oxygen-delivery device in which oxygen flows through two small, tubelike prongs that fit into the patient's nostrils; delivers 24% to 44% supplemental oxygen, depending on flow rate.
Nasopharyngeal (nasal) airway
Airway adjunct inserted into the nostril of an unresponsive patient, or a patient with an altered level of consciousness who is unable to maintain airway patency independently.
Nasopharynx
The nasal cavity.
Nonrebreathing mask
A combination mask and reservoir bag system that is the preferred way to give oxygen in the prehospital setting; delivers up to 90% inspired oxygen and prevents inhaling the exhaled gases (carbon dioxide).
Oropharyngeal (oral) airway
Airway adjunct inserted into the mouth of an unresponsive patient to keep the tongue from blocking the upper airway and to facilitate suctioning the airway, if necessary.
Oropharynx
Forms the posterior portion of the oral cavity.
Oxygenation
The process of delivering oxygen to the blood by diffusion from the alveoli following inhalation into the lungs.
Parietal pleura
Thin membrane that lines the chest cavity.
Partial pressure
PospoThe term used to describe the amount of gas in air or dissolved in fluid, such as blood.
Patent
Open, clear of obstruction.
Phrenic nerve
Nerve that innervates the diaphragm; necessary for adequate breathing to occur.
Pin-indexing system
A system established for portable cylinders to ensure that a regulator is not connected to a cylinder containing the wrong type of gas.
Pneumothorax
A partial or complete accumulation of air in the pleural space.
Poor air exchange
A term used to describe the degree of distress in a patient with a mild airway obstruction. The patient often has a weak, ineffective cough, increased difficulty breathing, or possible cyanosis and may produce a high-pithed noise during inhalation (strido
Positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP)
Mechanical maintenance of pressure in the airway at the end of expiration to increase the volume of gas remaining in the lungs.
Pulse oximetry
An assessment tool that measures oxygen saturation of hemoglobin in the capillary beds.
Recovery position
A side-lying postition used to maintain a clear airway in unconscious patients without injuries who are breathing adequately.
Residual volume
The air that remains in the lungs after maximal expiration.
Respiration
The process of exchanging oxygen and carbon dioxide.
Retractions
Movements in which the skin pulls in around the ribs during inspiration.
Severe airway obstruction
Occurs when a foreign body completely obstructs the patient's airway. Patients cannot breathe, talk, or cough.
Stoma
An opening through the skin and into an organ or other structure.
Stridor
A high-pitched noise heard primarily on inspiration.
Suction catheter
A hollow, cylindrical device used to remove fluid from the patient's airway.
Surfactant
A liquid protein substance that coats the alveoli in the lungs, decreases alveolar surface tension, and keeps the alveoli expanded.
Tension pneumothorax
A life-threatening collection of air within the pleural space.
Tidal volume
The amount of air (in mL) that is moved in or out of the lungs during one breath.
Tonsil tips
Large, semirigid suction tips recommended for suctioning the pharynx.
Tracheostomy
Surgical opening into the trachea.
Ventilation
Exchange of air between the lungs and the environment.
Visceral pleura
Thin membrane that covers the lungs.
Vital capacity
The amount of air that can be forcibly expelled from the lungs after breathing in as deeply as possible.
Vocal cords
Thin white bands of tough muscular tissue that are lateral borders of the glottis and serve as the primary center for speech production.
Wheezing
The production of whistling sounds during expiration such as occurs in asthma and bronchiolitis.
Which of the following structures in NOT found in the upper airway?
Bronchus.
Structures of the lower airway include all of the following, EXCEPT the:
Epiglottis.
The actual exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide occurs in the:
Alveolar sacs.
The physical act of moving air into and out of the lungs is called:
Ventilation.
Tidal volume is defined as the volume of air that:
Moves into or out of the lungs in a single breath.
Hypoxia is MOST accurately defined as:
Inadequate oxygen to the tissues and cells.
The hypoxic drive -- the primary stimulus to breathe for patients with certain chronic respiratory diseases -- is influenced by:
Low blood oxygen levels.
The process of exchanging oxygen and carbon dioxide between the alveoli and the blood of the capillaries is called:
External respiration.
Without adequate oxygen, the body's cells:
Incompletely convert glucose into energy, and lactic acid accumulates in the blood.
An adult at rest should have a respiratory rate that ranges between:
12 and 20 breaths/min.
Which of the following patients is breathing adequately?
A. a conscious male with respirations of 19 breaths/min and pink skin
B. an unconscious 52-year-old female with snoring respirations and cool, pale skin
C. a conscious female with facial cyanosis an
A conscious male with respirations of 19 breaths/min and pink skin.
Irregular respirations characterized by an increasing rate and depth of breathing followed by periods of apnea are called:
Cheyne-Stokes respirations.
What is the MOST common cause of airway obstruction in an unconscious patient?
The tongue.
In which of the following patients would the head tilt-chin lift maneuver be the MOST appropriate method of opening the airway?
A 37 year old female who is found unconscious in her bed.
The jaw-thrust maneuver is used to open the airway of patients with suspected:
Cervical spine injuries.
To select the proper size oropharyngeal airway, you should measure from the:
Corner of the mouth to the earlobe.
The MOST serious complication associated with using a nasopharyngeal airway in a patient with trauma to the head or face is:
Penetrating the cranium.
Proper technique for suctioning the oropharynx of an adult patient includes:
Suctioning while withdrawing the catheter from the oropharynx.
You have inserted an oral airway and are ventilating an apneic woman with a bag-mask device. She suddenly begins regurgitating large amounts of vomit. You should:
Roll her onto her side and remove the oral airway.
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 has copious bloody secretions in his mouth. How should you manage his airway?
Alternate 15 seconds of oral suctioning with 2 minutes of assisted ventilation.
Prior to applying a nonrebreathing mask on a patient, you must ensure that the:
Reservoir bag is fully inflated.
Which of the following is the MOST reliable indicator of adequately performed bag-mask ventilations in an apneic adult with a pulse?
Adequate rise of the chest when squeezing the bag.
CPAP is indicated for patients who:
Have pulmonary edema and can follow verbal commands.
A 37 year old male has an apparent foreign body airway obstruction. He is conscious and alert and is coughing forcefully. His skin is pink, warm, and moist. The MOST appropriate treatment for this patient includes:
Encouraging him to cough and transporting.
Active part of breathing?
Inhalation.
Thorax size decreases on?
Exhalation.
Site of oxygen diffusion?
Alveoli.
Space between the lungs?
Mediastinum.
Backup system to control respiration?
Hypoxic drive.
Amount of air moved during one breath?
Tidal volume.
What moves down slightly when it contracts?
Diaphragm.
What raises ribs when it contracts?
Intercostal muscle.
Exhange of air between lungs and the environment?
Ventilation.
Voice box?
Larynx.
Insufficient oxygen for cells and tissues?
Hypoxia.
Irregular breathing pattern with increased rate and depth followed by apnea?
Cheyne-Stokes.
What percentage of the air we breathe is made up of oxygen?
21%
The normal respiratory rate for an adult is:
12 to 20 breaths/min.
The brain stem normally triggers breathing by increasing respirations when:
Carbon dioxide levels increase.
The proper technique for sizing an oropharyngeal airway before insertion is to measure the device from:
The corner of the mouth to the earlobe.
What is the most common problem you may encounter when using a bag-mask device?
Maintaining an airtight seal.
When ventilating a patient with a bag-mask device, you should:
Look for rise and fall of the chest.
Suctioning the oral cavity of an adult should be accomplished within:
15 seconds.
What is the preferred method of assisting ventilations?
Mouth-to-mask with one-way valve.
When a person goes ____ minutes without oxygen, brain damage is very likely.
6 to 10.
If your partner, while examining a patient, states that the patient's lungs are equal and bilateral, you would understand your partner to mean that:
There are clear and equal lung sounds on both sides.
What are agonal gasps?
Occasional gasping breaths, unable to maintain life.
You come upon an unresponsive patient who is not injured and is breathing on her own with a normal rate and an adequate tidal volume. What would be the advantage of placing her in the recovery position?
It helps to maintain a clear airway.
Air enters the body through the?
Mouth and nose.
Absence of spontaneous breathing?
Apnea.
What is the space in between the vocal cords that is the narrowest portion of the adult's airway?
Glottis.
What is the process of delivering oxygen to the blood by diffusion from the alveoli following inhalation into the lungs?
Oxygenation.
Which of the following structures is NOT found in the upper airway?
A. bronchus
B. oropharynx
C. larynx
D. pharynx
Bronchus.
Structures of the lower airway include all of the following, EXCEPT the:
A. alveoli
B. epiglottis
C. bronchioles
D. trachea
Epiglottis.
The hypoxic drive--the primary stimulus to breath for patients with certain chronic respiratory diseases--is influenced by:
Low blood oxygen levels.