Airway Management - Key Terms (Vocabulary Flashcards)

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering key airway anatomy, nerves, devices, techniques, and assessment concepts from the notes.

Upper airway

The portion of the airway above the trachea, including the nose, mouth, pharynx, larynx, and cricoid cartilage.

Lower airway

The portion of the airway below the cricoid cartilage, including the trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, and alveoli.

Cricoid cartilage

The complete cartilaginous ring that marks the boundary between the upper and lower airways.

Nose

Part of the upper airway that humidifies and warms inspired air.

Mouth

Oral entrance to the airway; separation from the nasal cavity by hard and soft palates.

Pharynx

Shared section of upper airway divided into nasopharynx, oropharynx, and hypopharynx.

Nasal passages

Airways within the nose responsible for warming and humidifying inhaled air; richly vascularized.

Trigeminal nerve (CN V)

Cranial nerve providing sensory innervation to the face; branches V1 (ophthalmic), V2 (maxillary), V3 (mandibular).

Mallampati classification

A visual assessment of the oropharyngeal space used to predict difficulty with laryngoscopy.

Fauces

The opening between the mouth and oropharynx; used in Mallampati assessment.

Oropharynx

Midportion of the pharynx; bounded by soft palate and inferior epiglottis.

Hypopharynx

Lower part of the pharynx, posterior to the larynx, near the upper esophageal sphincter.

Epiglottis

Leaf-shaped cartilage that protects the airway during swallowing.

Vallecula

Space between the base of the tongue and the anterior epiglottis; the MAC blade sits here.

branches of the trigeminal nerve.

Nose and nasal cavity innervation largely from where?

Trachea

Windpipe extending from the inferior border of the cricoid cartilage to the carina; 10–20 cm long with C-shaped rings.

Carina

The cartilaginous ridge at the separation of the right and left main bronchi; highly sensitive to stimulation.

Right mainstem bronchus

Right bronchus branching at the carina; typically at a 25–30 degree angle from the trachea.

Left mainstem bronchus

Left bronchus branching at the carina; typically at a 45 degree angle from the trachea.

Conducting zone

Air-filled passages that conduct air and may include respiratory bronchioles; lack of gas exchange in this zone.

Transitional zone

Region where gas exchange begins; may be defined as alveolar ducts to alveolar sacs depending on textbook.

Respiratory zone

Parts of the airway where gas exchange occurs (alveolar ducts, sacs, and alveoli).

Alveoli

Tiny air sacs in the lungs where gas exchange occurs.

Glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX)

Innervates oropharynx, soft palate, tonsils, and posterior one-third of the tongue; afferent limb of the gag reflex.

Vagus nerve (CN X)

Innervates the larynx; divides into the superior laryngeal nerve (SLN) and recurrent laryngeal nerves (RLN).

Superior Laryngeal Nerve (SLN)

Branch of the vagus with internal (sensory to hypopharynx above cords) and external (motor to cricothyroid) branches.

Internal branch of SLN

Sensory input to hypopharynx above the vocal cords, base of tongue, epiglottis, aryepiglottic folds, and arytenoids.

External branch of SLN

Motor branch that innervates the cricothyroid muscle.

Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve (RLN)

Branch of the vagus that provides motor to all intrinsic laryngeal muscles except cricothyroid; sensory below the vocal cords; right RLN loops around the subclavian artery; left RLN loops around the aortic arch.

Cricothyroid muscle

Muscle that tense the vocal cords; innervated by the external branch of the SLN.

Posterior cricoarytenoid

Intrinsic laryngeal muscle that abducts the vocal cords.

Lateral cricoarytenoid

Intrinsic laryngeal muscle that adducts the vocal cords.

Interarytenoid

Intrinsic muscle that closes the posterior glottis; aids in adduction.

Aryepiglottic folds

Folds that help close the laryngeal inlet; associated with intrinsic laryngeal muscles.

Vocal cords

Ligaments within the larynx that vibrate to produce phonation; movement modulated by intrinsic muscles.

Murphy’s eye

An additional lumen in the endotracheal tube that allows airflow if the main tip is occluded.

Endotracheal tube (ETT)

Tube inserted into the trachea to deliver ventilation; typically high-volume, low-pressure cuffed.

Cuff pressure

Inflation pressure of the ETT cuff; should be kept under 25 cm H2O to prevent tracheal ischemia.

NIMs tube

Special tracheal tube used for thyroid/neck surgery cases.

Laryngeal mask airway (LMA)

Supraglottic airway device that sits over the glottis; can be primary or rescue airway and conduit for intubation.

I-GEL

Cuffless supraglottic airway device used in various procedures; lacks an inflatable cuff.

Video-assisted laryngoscopy (VAL)

Laryngoscopy using a video camera (e.g., GlideScope) to visualize the glottis with less cervical movement.

Macintosh blade

Blade used that indirectly exposes the glottis by lifting the epiglottis via the vallecula.

Miller blade

Directly lifts the epiglottis to expose the glottis.

BURP maneuver

Backwards, Upwards, and Rightward Pressure on the thyroid cartilage to improve glottic visualization.

Cormack–Lehane score

Classification of laryngoscopic view from grade 1 (full view) to grade 4 (no glottic view).

Eschmann (bougie)

Flexible intubation stylet used to facilitate intubation of difficult/ anterior glottic views.

Lighted stylet

Blind intubation aid that uses transcutaneous light to guide placement of the endotracheal tube.

Sniffing position

Head and neck posture that aligns airway axes to improve laryngoscopic view.

3-3-2 assessment

Airway assessment: 3 fingerbreadths mouth opening, 3 fingerbreadths thyromental distance, 2 fingerbreadths thyroid notch to hyoid.

Inter-incisor gap

Distance between the incisors; normal is about 2–3 fingerbreadths (4–6 cm).

Thyromental distance

Distance from the thyroid notch to the tip of the chin; <6 cm may indicate difficult airway.

Bulldog (mandibular protrusion) test

Assessment of TMJ function by attempting mandibular protrusion; classes 1–3 indicate increasing difficulty with intubation.

Atlanto-occipital joint mobility

Mobility of the AO joint; sniffing position depends on this; reduced by certain diseases or conditions.

Ramp position

Positioning to align external auditory meatus with sternal notch by elevating the head/torso, often used in obese patients.

Preoxygenation

Administration of high-concentration oxygen to fill FRC with oxygen and delay desaturation during apnea.

Denitrogenation

Removal of nitrogen from FRC by breathing 100% oxygen to increase oxygen reservoir.

Endotracheal tube cuff type

High-volume, low-pressure cuff used to seal the trachea with minimal mucosal compression.

NIM tube use in thyroid surgery

Special airway tube designed for thyroid surgery considerations.

Cricoid pressure (Sellick maneuver)

Application of anterior-posterior pressure to occlude the esophagus during RSI to prevent aspiration.

Rapid sequence intubation (RSI)

Airway technique for rapid unconsciousness and paralysis with minimal ventilation to secure the airway quickly.

Induction agents (RSI)

Propofol or etomidate used for rapid induction prior to paralysis.

Paralytics (RSI)

Succinylcholine or rocuronium used for rapid paralysis during RSI.

Apneic oxygenation

Providing oxygenation during apnea (no ventilation) to prolong safe intubation window.

Percutaneous cricothyroidotomy

Invasive airway access via needle through the cricothyroid membrane with jet ventilation.

Surgical cricothyroidotomy

Emergency procedure creating a direct airway through the cricothyroid membrane into the trachea.

Gag reflex

Protective reflex with afferent limb via glossopharyngeal nerve and efferent via vagus; tested to assess airway response.

Difficult Airway Algorithm

ASA algorithm guiding assessment and management of difficult ventilation, intubation, and airway access with stepwise strategies.

Awake intubation

Intubation performed with the patient maintaining spontaneous ventilation and consciousness when airway difficulty is anticipated.

Face mask ventilation adequate

Situation where mask ventilation provides sufficient oxygenation and ventilation during airway management.

Outcomes of laryngospasm

Involuntary laryngeal muscle contraction leading to airway obstruction; may cause stridor, hypoxemia, or respiratory distress.

Larson’s maneuver

Technique applying pressure to the laryngospasm notch to open the airway and relieve laryngospasm.

Gastric content protection in RSI

Cricoid pressure applied to minimize risk of aspiration during RSI.

Spontaneous ventilation preservation

Maintaining patient’s own breathing during airway management when possible to reduce risk of hypoxia.

Glottic view

Visualization of the vocal cords during laryngoscopy, graded by Cormack–Lehane score.

Direct laryngoscopy (DL)

Traditional method using a laryngoscope blade (Mac or Miller) to visualize the glottis directly.

Indirect view (VL)

View of the glottis obtained with a video laryngoscope rather than a direct line of sight.

Lupus or rhuematoid arthritis can affect movement of what joint

Arytenoids

What is the only muscle the superior laryngeal nerve (SLN) innervates?

Cricothryoid