Opening the Airway

Question 1

Angle of the Mandible

Answer 1

Angle found where the posterior border of the ramus of the mandible meets the inferior border of the mandible

Question 2

Cervical Spine

Answer 2

Seven vertebrae making up the neck region of the backbone

Question 3

Dislocation

Answer 3

Displacement of bones that meet at a join and leading to complete lack of normal contact at the joint surfaces

Question 4

Hyoid Bone

Answer 4

Small isolated U-shaped bone in neck, below and supporting the tongue. Held in position by muscles and ligaments between it and the styloid process of the temporal bone

Question 5

Patent airway

Answer 5

An airway that isn’t blocked (allowing free passage of air along respiratory tract without obstruction)

Question 6

Pharynx

Answer 6

Muscular tube extending from base of skull to beginning of oesophagus. Lined with mucous membrane and acts as passageway for food and air as well as a resonating chamber for sounds produced in the larynx.

Question 7

Larynx

Answer 7

Organ responsible for production of vocal sounds. Also serves as air passage conveying air from pharynx to lungs. Situated above the trachea. Within it is a pair of vocal folds which function in production of the voice.

Question 8

Oesophagus

Answer 8

Muscular tube about 23 cm long extending from pharynx to the stomach.

Question 9

Oropharynx

Answer 9

Part of the pharynx lying between the level of the junction of the hard and soft palates above, the hyoid bone below and the arch of the soft palate anteriorly; contains the tonsils.

Question 10

Palate

Answer 10

Roof of the mouth. Separate the mouth from nasal cavity and consists of hard palate and soft palate. The hard palate lies anteriorly and is formed from the maxillae and palatine bones. The soft palate lies posteriorly and is a moveable fold of tissue that tapers to a hanging flap of tissue called uvula; surfaces of both palates are of mucous membrane.

Question 11

Styloid Process

Answer 11

Long, slender, downward pointing spine projecting from the lower surface of the temporal bone of the skull; it provides attachment for muscles and ligaments of the tongue and hyoid bone; a bony process on the distal ends of both the radius and the ulna.

Question 12

Radiograph

Answer 12

An X-ray film

Question 13

Suspine

Answer 13

Lying on the back with the face upwards; usually the head supported with one pillow

Question 14

Temporal Bone

Answer 14

Either of a pair of bones of the cranium; they form part of the lateral aspect of the skull

Question 15

Traction

Answer 15

The application of a pulling force

Question 16

Vertex

Answer 16

The highest point on the skull lying on the sagittal suture and usually about halfway between the coronal and lambdoidal sutures; the first part of the foetal skull to emerge through the birth canal in a normal delivery hence the term “normal vertex presentation”

Question 17

Central Cyanosis

Answer 17

Bluish discolouration of the lips, tongue or mucous membranes of the mouth

Question 18

Cyanosis

Answer 18

Bluish discolouration of the skin and mucous membranes resulting from inadequate oxygen in in the blood.

Question 19

Debris

Answer 19

Useless accumulation of miscellaneous particles: waste in the form of fragments.

Question 20

Hypoxia

Answer 20

Shortage of Oxygen in body tissues.

Question 21

Intubation

Answer 21

Introduction of tube into the body, especially the trachea

Question 22

Peripheral Cyanosis

Answer 22

Bluish discolouration of extremities (toes, hands, finger, feet)

Question 23

Recumbent

Answer 23

Lying down, reclining. Similar to supine but not as specific.

Question 24

Suction

Answer 24

Use of reduced P to remove unwanted fluids or other material through tube for disposal. Often used to clear secretion from airways in hospital.

Question 25

Tongue forceps

Answer 25

Instrument used to grasp and move tongue in order to clear airway

Question 26

Ventilation

Answer 26

Passage of air into and out of respiratory tract

Question 27

What is the Resuscitation Council UK ?

Answer 27

Council aiming to promote high quality practice in all aspects of CPR and to improve survival rates.

Question 28

What structures form the airway and provide it with support ?

Answer 28

Two routes: 1) Lips, mouth, teeth, palate, tongue, tonsils, uvula, oropharynx, pharynx 2) Nostrils (nares), nasal passages, nasopharynx, pharynx And then, Epiglottis, (oesophagus), larynx, trachea,L and R bronchi, 5 lobar bronchi, segmental bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli Bones and muscles of the mandible and facial skeleton provide the airway with support.

Question 29

When lifting the chin, what bone are you moving?

Answer 29

Mandible

Question 30

Where should your index finger be when performing jaw thrust ?

Answer 30

Over the angle of the mandible

Question 31

What is the predominant primary tissue type comprising the tongue ?

Answer 31

Muscular

Question 32

What property of this tissue type is lost in the unconscious patient ?

Answer 32

Tone

Question 33

What bone is your left hand placed over in the head tilt chin lift manoeuvre if you are placed at the patient's right side ?

Answer 33

Frontal bone

Question 34

What structural design allows the trachea to maintain an open passage ?

Answer 34

Cartilaginous C shaped rings at regular intervals along its length

Question 35

Why does the frontal sinus appear black ?

Answer 35

It contains air which appears block on a radiograph

Question 36

What is the name of the join between the mandible and the skull ?

Answer 36

The temporomandibular joint

Question 37

Why are the bony details of the hands of the anaesthetist in fig. 6 not seen whilst those of the patients’ skull are?

Answer 37

The anaesthetist is protected from the x rays by special gloves

Question 38

Is suspine a good position for an unconscious patient ?

Answer 38

The recovery position is a good position for an unconscious patient. The unconscious patient in these illustrations is under the constant care of an anaesthetist who is probably about to intubate him. A conscious person lying supine has muscle tone which keeps the airway open. An unconscious person has decreased muscle tone leading to airway collapse. It is therefore necessary to constantly maintain the open airway in an unconscious patient.

Question 39

What is the percentage concentration of oxygen in exhaled air of an average resting adult?

Answer 39

17% (Elam and Greene, in Whittenberger 1962), 16% (Tortora and Grabowski,2000)

Question 40

Anaesthetist

Answer 40

a medically qualified doctor who administers an anaesthetic to induce unconsciousness in a patient before a surgical operation

Question 41

Extrinsic

Answer 41

Situated on the outside of an organ or region

Question 42

Intrinsic

Answer 42

Situated within an organ or region

Question 43

Lateral

Answer 43

Situated at or relating to the side of an organ or organism; relating to the region or parts of the body that are furthest from median plane; the sagittal plane.

Question 44

Posterior

Answer 44

Situated at or near the back of the body or an organ

Question 45

Rescue Breath

Answer 45

Breathing your exhaled air into a casualty/patient who is unable to breath for his/herself