Basic Airway Anatomy

Question 1

the upper airway extends from the ___ to the ___

Answer 1

nose to the glottis

Question 2

upper airway functions

Answer 2

humidification and filtration
olfaction
deglutition (swallowing)
phonation

Question 3

reduction in intrathoracic pressure draws air through the ___

Answer 3

nose

Question 4

what are the 3 nasal turbinates?

Answer 4

superior, middle, and inferior nasal turbinates

Question 5

what do the turbinates do?

Answer 5

warm, humidify, filter

Question 6

where does the blood supply come from to the nose?

Answer 6

the opthalmic, maxillary, and facial arteries

Question 7

why do we use the oral cavity for intubation?

Answer 7

easy access and less trauma when used

Question 8

what is the mouth opening dependent on?

Answer 8

the temporomandibular joint

Question 9

what structures does the oral cavity consist of?

Answer 9

buccal mucosa, lips, tongue, hard and soft palate, teeth, and salivary glands

Question 10

relaxation of the ___ muscle allows the tongue to fall in to the ____

Answer 10

genioglossus muscle; oropharynx

Question 11

relaxation of the ____ muscle results in obstruction of the soft palate in the ____ segment of the upper airway

Answer 11

tensor palatine muscle; velopharyngeal segment

Question 12

what does the pharynx do structurally?

Answer 12

connect the oral and nasal cavities with the larynx and esophagus

Question 13

what are the 3 subcategories of the pharynx?

Answer 13

nasopharynx, oropharynx, and hypopharynx

Question 14

contraction of the ____ muscles helps maintain airway patency

Answer 14

pharyngeal dilator mucles

Question 15

functions of the larynx

Answer 15

airway protection, ventilation, phonation

Question 16

how many cartilages are there?

Answer 16

9

there are unpaired and paired

Question 17

which cartilage is the only fully circular ring and at what cervical level is it located?

Answer 17

cricoid cartilage at C6

Question 18

which cartilage is the largest?

Answer 18

thyroid cartilage (aka adam’s apple)

Question 19

vocal cord movement is impacted by which 3 sets of paired cartilages?

Answer 19

arytenoid, corniculate, and cuneiform

Question 20

which paired cartilage controls vocal cord movement?

Answer 20

arytenoid

Question 21

vocal cord opening/going away

Answer 21

abduction

Question 22

vocal cord closure

Answer 22

adduction

Question 23

what structures are near the larynx

Answer 23

carotid arteries and jugular veins, vagus nerve, superior and inferior thyroid arteries, superior and recurrent laryngeal nerves

Question 24

what is included in the lower airway

Answer 24

trachea, bronchi, lower divisions

Question 25

which side are you more likely to have an endobronchial intubation?

Answer 25

right mainstem bronchus

Question 26

3 big neural pathways

Answer 26

trigeminal nerve (CN V)
glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX)
vagus nerve (CN X)

Question 27

what are the 3 divisions of the trigeminal nerve?

Answer 27

ophthalmic (V1)
maxillary (V2)
mandibular (V3)

Question 28

which nerve provides sensory innervation to the face?

Answer 28

trigeminal nerve

Question 29

which nerve provides sensory innervation to the posterior 1/3 of the tongue, oropharynx, vallecula, and anterior epiglottis?

Answer 29

glossopharyngeal nerve

Question 30

internal branch of the superior laryngeal nerve

Answer 30

sensory innervation to posterior epiglottis to vocal cord folds

Question 31

external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve

Answer 31

motor innervation below the vocal cords

Question 32

if you have injury to the superior laryngeal nerve and the external branch what happens?

Answer 32

the patient will have hoarseness but not usually lose motor function

Question 33

which processes can affect the adductors resulting in cord closure?

Answer 33

patent ductus, atrial enlargement, aortic arch aneurysm