1 / 22
NREMT Paramedic Exam Review (Verified)
1. Stridor: harsh, high-pitched sound, swelling, FB in upper airway
2. Snoring: tongue blocking airway
- Gurgling: indicates presence of fluid in the upper airway, need for suctioning
- Decorticate posturing: characterized by upper extremities flexed at the elbows
and held closely to the body and lower extremities that are externally rotated and extended. occurs when the brainstem is not inhibited by the motor function of the cerebral cortex.
5. Decerebrate posturing: (worse) extended and internally rotated elbows and
legs, teeth clenched, legs stiff and feet extended
6. Babinski response: big toe moves upward and other toes fan out when stroking
bottom of foot, means CNS problem
7. Dilated pupils: Mydriasis
cardiac arrest, shock, cereal hypoxia, cocaine, epinephrine, amphetamines 1 / 4
2 / 22
8. Small/constricted pupils: -Miosis
narcotics, central nervous system disorder, glaucoma medication, bright light
9. Unequal pupils: -Anisocoria
brain injury, brain tumor, stroke, artificial eye, some eye medications, eye injury or disease, ICP
10. Nystagmus: rapid involuntary movements of the eyes
11. Causes of distended neck veins (JVD): -Tension penumothorax
-Cardiac tamponade -Right heart failure -Traumatic asphyxia -Pulmonary embolus -Emphysema -Chronic bronchitis
-best seen at a 45 degree angle
12. Flat neck viens: -Hemothorax
-Dehydration -Shock 2 / 4
3 / 22
-best seen with patient supine
- Apenustic: long, deep breaths that are stopped during inspirations then periods
- Causes of apneustic breath sounds: CNS injury or stroke 3 / 4
of apnea
4 / 22
- Biot (ataxic) respirations: Irregular pattern, rate, and depth of respirations with
intermittent periods of apnea; result from increased intracranial pressure.
16. Cheyne-Stokes respiration: Increasing in rate and depth, decreasing in rate
and depth with period of apnea, results from a neurological condition
17. Hyperventilation: Rapid and shallow
- Kussmaul respirations: Deep, rapid breathing; usually the result of an accumu-
lation of certain acids when insulin is not available in the body.Fruity breath
19. Rales/Crackles: Fluid in small airways/alveoli
20. Causes of Rales/Crackles: CHF, pulmonary edema, drowning, pneumonia,
COPD
21. Rhonchi: Mucus or fluid in larger airways/bronchi
22. Causes of rhonchi: Bronchitis, COPD, penumonia
23. Wheezing: Whistling sound due to bronchoconstriction or narrowing of the
terminal bronchioes due to edema
24. Causes of wheezing: Asthma and allergic reactions
25. Right upper quadrant: -Liver
-Gallbladder -Stomach
- / 4