Opening the Airway Flashcards
Angle of the Mandible
Angle found where the posterior border of the ramus of the mandible meets the inferior border of the mandible
Cervical Spine
Seven vertebrae making up the neck region of the backbone
Dislocation
Displacement of bones that meet at a join and leading to complete lack of normal contact at the joint surfaces
Hyoid Bone
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
Patent airway
An airway that isn’t blocked (allowing free passage of air along respiratory tract without obstruction)
Pharynx
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.
Larynx
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.
Oesophagus
Muscular tube about 23 cm long extending from pharynx to the stomach.
Oropharynx
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.
Palate
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.
Styloid Process
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.
Radiograph
An X-ray film
Suspine
Lying on the back with the face upwards; usually the head supported with one pillow
Temporal Bone
Either of a pair of bones of the cranium; they form part of the lateral aspect of the skull
Traction
The application of a pulling force
Vertex
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”
Central Cyanosis
Bluish discolouration of the lips, tongue or mucous membranes of the mouth
Cyanosis
Bluish discolouration of the skin and mucous membranes resulting from inadequate oxygen in in the blood.
Debris
Useless accumulation of miscellaneous particles: waste in the form of fragments.
Hypoxia
Shortage of Oxygen in body tissues.
Intubation
Introduction of tube into the body, especially the trachea
Peripheral Cyanosis
Bluish discolouration of extremities (toes, hands, finger, feet)
Recumbent
Lying down, reclining. Similar to supine but not as specific.
Suction
Use of reduced P to remove unwanted fluids or other material through tube for disposal. Often used to clear secretion from airways in hospital.
Tongue forceps
Instrument used to grasp and move tongue in order to clear airway
Ventilation
Passage of air into and out of respiratory tract
What is the Resuscitation Council UK ?
Council aiming to promote high quality practice in all aspects of CPR and to improve survival rates.
What structures form the airway and provide it with support ?
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.
When lifting the chin, what bone are you moving?
Mandible
Where should your index finger be when performing jaw thrust ?
Over the angle of the mandible
What is the predominant primary tissue type comprising the tongue ?
Muscular
What property of this tissue type is lost in the unconscious patient ?
Tone
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 ?
Frontal bone
What structural design allows the trachea to maintain an open passage ?
Cartilaginous C shaped rings at regular intervals along its length
Why does the frontal sinus appear black ?
It contains air which appears block on a radiograph
What is the name of the join between the mandible and the skull ?
The temporomandibular joint
Why are the bony details of the hands of the anaesthetist in fig. 6 not seen whilst those
of the patients’ skull are?
The anaesthetist is protected from the x rays by special gloves
Is suspine a good position for an unconscious patient ?
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.
What is the percentage concentration of oxygen in exhaled air of an average resting
adult?
17% (Elam and Greene, in Whittenberger 1962), 16% (Tortora and Grabowski,2000)
Anaesthetist
a medically qualified doctor who administers an anaesthetic to induce unconsciousness
in a patient before a surgical operation
Extrinsic
Situated on the outside of an organ or region
Intrinsic
Situated within an organ or region
Lateral
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.
Posterior
Situated at or near the back of the body or an organ
Rescue Breath
Breathing your exhaled air into a casualty/patient who is unable to breath for his/herself
