Chapter 9

Question 1

Abdominal Thrusts

Answer 1

Manual thrusts delivered to create pressure that can help expel an airway obstruction in an adult or child. Also known as the Heimlich maneuver.

Question 2

Accessory Muscles

Answer 2

Muscles of the neck, chest, and abdomen that can assist during respiratory difficulty.

Question 3

Agonal Respirations

Answer 3

An abnormal breathing pattern characterized by slow, shallow, gasping breaths that typically occur following cardiac arrest.

Question 4

Apnea

Answer 4

The absence of breaths (respiratory arrest).

Question 5

Bag-mask Device

Answer 5

A device made up of a face mask, self-refilling bag, and one-way valve that is used to provide manual ventilations. Also referred to as a bag-valve mask or BVM.

Question 6

Biological Death

Answer 6

Occurs approximately four to six minutes after onset of clinical death and results when there is an excessive amount of brain cell death.

Question 7

Cardiac Arrest

Answer 7

The absence of a heartbeat.

Question 8

Chest Thrust

Answer 8

Manual thrusts delivered to create pressure that can help expel an airway obstruction in an infant or in pregnant or obese patients.

Question 9

Clinical Death

Answer 9

The moment when breathing and heart actions stop.

Question 10

Cyanosis

Answer 10

Bluish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes; a sign that body tissues are not receiving enough oxygen.

Question 11

Diaphragm

Answer 11

The dome-shaped muscle that separates the chest and abdominal cavities. It is the primary muscle used in breathing.

Question 12

Dyspnea

Answer 12

Difficult or labored breathing.

Question 13

Epiglottis

Answer 13

A flap of cartilage and other tissues located above the larynx. It helps close off the airway when a person swallows.

Question 14

Exhalation

Answer 14

The process of breathing out.

Question 15

Gag Reflex

Answer 15

A reflex spasm at the back of the throat caused by stimulation of the back of the tongue or the soft tissue near or around the oropharynx.

Question 16

Gastric Distention

Answer 16

Inflation of the stomach.

Question 17

Head-tilt/chin-lift Maneuver

Answer 17

A technique used to open the airway of a patient with no suspected neck or spine injury.

Question 18

Hypoxia

Answer 18

A condition in which there is an insufficient supply of oxygen in the blood and tissues.

Question 19

Inhalation

Answer 19

The process of breathing in.

Question 20

Inspiration

Answer 20

Refers to the process of breathing in, or inhaling. Opposite: expiration.

Question 21

Jaw-thrust Maneuver

Answer 21

A technique used to open the airway of a trauma patient with possible neck or spine injury.

Question 22

Laryngectomy

Answer 22

The total or partial removal of the larynx.

Question 23

Larynx

Answer 23

The section of the airway between the throat and the trachea that contains the vocal cords. Also called voice box.

Question 24

Nasopharyngeal Airway (NPA)

Answer 24

A flexible tube that is inserted into a patient’s nose to provide an open airway. Also called nasal airway or NPA.

Question 25

Oropharyngeal Airway (OPA)

Answer 25

A curved plastic device inserted into the patient’s mouth to minimize obstruction of the airway caused by the tongue. Also called an oral airway or OPA.

Question 26

Patent Airway

Answer 26

An airway that is open and clear.

Question 27

Pharynx

Answer 27

The throat.

Question 28

Pocket Face Mask

Answer 28

A device used to help provide ventilations. Most have a one-way valve and HEPA filter. Some have an inlet for supplemental oxygen.

Question 29

Positive Pressure Ventilation

Answer 29

The process of using external pressure to force air into a patient’s lungs, such as with mouth-to-mask or bag-mask ventilations.

Question 30

Pulmonary Resuscitation

Answer 30

The act of breathing for a patient who is unable to breathe for himself. Also called rescue breathing or artificial ventilation.

Question 31

Rescue Breathing

Answer 31

The act of providing manual ventilations for a patient who is not breathing or is unable to breathe adequately on his own.

Question 32

Respiration

Answer 32

The exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide within the tissues and cells. Sometimes used to describe the act of breathing.

Question 33

Respiratory Arrest

Answer 33

The absence of breathing (apnea).

Question 34

Respiratory Compromise

Answer 34

A general term used to describe when a patient is not breathing adequately.

Question 35

Respiratory Distress

Answer 35

Refers to breathing that becomes difficult or labored.

Question 36

Stoma

Answer 36

A surgical opening in the skin. A stoma is created on the anterior neck when a patient has a tracheostomy.

Question 37

Tidal Volume

Answer 37

The amount of air being moved in to and out of the lungs with each breath.

Question 38

Trachea

Answer 38

The tubelike structure that carries air into and out of the lungs.

Question 39

Tracheostomy

Answer 39

A surgical opening placed on the anterior neck into the trachea.

Question 40

Ventilation

Answer 40

The process of breathing in and out.

Question 41

Work of breathing

Answer 41

An increase in the effort it takes to breathe.

Question 42

Respiratory Failure

Answer 42

Inadequate respiratory rate and volume secondary to poor oxygenation.