Question 1

The upper airway extends from the glottis to the alveoli.

Accepted Answer

The upper airway extends from the nose and mouth to the trachea, while the lower airway extends from the trachea to the alveoli.

Question 2

For an average-sized adult with normal ventilator function, approximately 100,000 liters (L) of air pass through the nasal fossae each day.

Accepted Answer

For an average-sized adult with normal ventilatory function, approximately 10,000 to 20,000 liters of air pass through the nasal fossae each day, not 100,000 liters.

Question 3

By the time a pediatric patient is in respiratory failure and cardiovascular collapse, it may be very difficult to reverse the process.

Accepted Answer

When a patient is in respiratory failure and cardiovascular collapse, their condition is critical and requires immediate intervention. Delay in treatment can result in irreversible damage or death. Therefore, it can be difficult to reverse the process if the patient has reached this stage.

Question 4

Compared to the adult trachea, the pediatric trachea is angled much more anteriorly as it travels inferiorly.

Accepted Answer

The pediatric trachea is more angled and flexible than the adult trachea, and it is angled more anteriorly as it travels inferiorly. This is due to the smaller size of the pediatric airway and the need to accommodate for growth and development.

Question 5

The abdominal muscles are important for active expiration.

Accepted Answer

The abdominal muscles are involved in active expiration by contracting and pushing the diaphragm up, causing air to be forced out of the lungs.

Question 6

For their size, pediatric patients consume less oxygen.

Accepted Answer

Pediatric patients have a higher metabolic rate and therefore consume more oxygen per body weight compared to adults.

Question 7

The openings of the mouth and nose define the beginning of the airway.

Accepted Answer

The mouth and nose are considered the primary openings of the airway, where air enters the body and begins traveling down the respiratory tract.

Question 8

The rapid differentiation between hypoxia and excessive vagal tone is critical when a pediatric patient in respiratory distress becomes bradycardic.

Accepted Answer

It is important to differentiate between hypoxia and excessive vagal tone in a pediatric patient experiencing respiratory distress and bradycardia because the appropriate treatment for each is different. Hypoxia requires prompt oxygen therapy while excessive vagal tone may respond to interventions such as airway suctioning or administration of atropine. Delay in accurate diagnosis and treatment can have serious consequences for the patient.

Question 9

Pregnancy decreases minute ventilation.

Accepted Answer

Pregnancy actually increases minute ventilation, or the amount of air breathed in and out per minute, due to hormonal and physiological changes in the respiratory system to support the growing fetus.

Question 10

The airway is divided into the upper and lower airway.

Accepted Answer

The airway is commonly divided into two sections: the upper airway consists of the nose, mouth, pharynx, larynx, and upper trachea, while the lower airway is made up of the lower trachea, bronchi, and lungs.

Question 11

There are no known cardiac implications of negative pressure ventilation.

Accepted Answer

Negative pressure ventilation, such as that provided by iron lungs or body suits, can affect cardiac function by increasing venous return to the heart, potentially impacting cardiac output and blood pressure.

Question 12

For their size, pediatric patients have a disproportionately larger functional residual capacity.

Accepted Answer

Pediatric patients, especially infants, have a disproportionately smaller functional residual capacity compared to adults when considering their size, due to their relatively larger lung volume being used for gas exchange and less volume reserved for functional residual capacity.

Question 13

Pediatric patients tend to have copious secretions, increasing the risk for aspiration and difficulty maintaining an airway.

Accepted Answer

Pediatric patients naturally have larger tongues and shorter airways, which can make it difficult to maintain an airway and clear secretions. This increases their risk for aspiration, especially when they are sick or sedated.

Question 14

Respiratory failure is the primary cause of death in pediatric patients, compared to cardiovascular failure in adults.

Accepted Answer

According to multiple studies, respiratory failure is the primary cause of death in pediatric patients, while cardiovascular failure is the primary cause of death in adults.

Question 15

In males, the thyroid cartilage is flatter than in females.

Accepted Answer

In males, the thyroid cartilage is larger and more prominent, often referred to as the "Adam's apple," and not flatter compared to females.

Question 16

A pediatric patient's head, when compared to his body, is disproportionately larger than an adult's head.

Accepted Answer

This is true. A pediatric patient's head is typically about one-fourth of their total body length, while an adult's head is about one-sixth of their total body length. This is because the skull needs to accommodate a rapidly growing brain in a developing child.

Question 17

The diaphragm is the primary bony structure of respiration.

Accepted Answer

The diaphragm is a muscle, not a bone, and it is the primary muscle of respiration.

Question 18

The nasopharynx lies anterior to the turbinates and superior to the soft palate.

Accepted Answer

The nasopharynx actually lies posterior to the nasal cavities (where the turbinates are located) and superior to the soft palate.

Question 19

The muscles that produce phonation can also adduct the glottis and the false cords to provide an impenetrable barrier to foreign material.

Accepted Answer

The muscles involved in phonation, such as the thyroarytenoid muscle, can also adduct the true vocal cords and the false vocal cords to close off the airway and protect against foreign material entering the lungs.

Question 20

A child's tongue is disproportionately smaller compared to the oral cavity than an adult's tongue.

Accepted Answer

A child's tongue is proportionally larger in comparison to the oral cavity than an adult's tongue, which is why children are more prone to airway obstruction.

Quiz 20: Airway Anatomy and Physiology