EMT Chapter 30 Quiz - Chest Injuries

The thoracic cavity is separated from the abdominal cavity by the: A. diaphragm. B. costovertebral angle. C. anterior rib cage. D. intercostal margin.

A. diaphragm.

When a person is lying supine at the end of exhalation, the diaphragm: A. might rise as high as the nipple line. B. contracts and flattens inferiorly. C. descends below the level of the navel. D. is less prone to penetrating trauma.

A. might rise as high as the nipple line.

If a person's tidal volume decreases, but his or her respiratory rate remains unchanged: A. minute volume will decrease. B. excess carbon dioxide will be eliminated. C. minute volume will increase. D. minute volume will remain unchanged.

A. minute volume will decrease.

The _____ nerves supply the diaphragm. A. phrenic B. costal C. intercostal D. vagus

A. phrenic

Irritation or damage to the pleural surfaces that causes sharp chest pain during inhalation is called: A. pleurisy. B. pneumothorax. C. dyspnea. D. pneumonitis.

A. pleurisy.

Which of the following organs or structures does NOT reside within the mediastinum? A. Trachea B. Lungs C. Esophagus D. Vena cavae

B. Lungs

Hemoptysis is defined as: A. vomiting blood. B. coughing up blood. C. abnormal blood clotting. D. blood in the pleural space.

B. coughing up blood.

A rapid, irregular pulse following blunt trauma to the chest is most suggestive of a: A. ruptured aorta. B. myocardial contusion. C. pericardial tamponade. D. tension pneumothorax.

B. myocardial contusion.

Pneumothorax is defined as: A. blood collection within the lung tissue. B. blood collection within the pleural space. C. accumulation of air in the pleural space. D. accumulation of air between the lungs.

C. accumulation of air in the pleural space.

Subcutaneous emphysema is an indication that: A. at least half of one lung has completely collapsed. B. blood is slowly accumulating within the tissue of the lung. C. air is escaping into the chest wall from the damaged wall. D. your patient is experiencing a pericardial tamponade.

C. air is escaping into the chest wall from the damaged wall.

An open pneumothorax is: A. a fractured rib that perforates the tissue of the lung surface. B. extreme pleural pressure that causes the lung to rupture. C. an open chest wound through which air moves during breathing. D. the entry of air into the pleural space from a perforated lung.

C. an open chest wound through which air moves during breathing.

A patient who presents with profound cyanosis following a chest injury: A. should be placed in Trendelenburg's position. B. is most likely experiencing severe blood loss. C. requires prompt ventilations and oxygenation. D. has most likely experienced a ruptured aorta.

C. requires prompt ventilations and oxygenation.

When assessing a patient with a hemothorax, you will MOST likely find: A. ipsilateral tracheal deviation. B. jugular venous engorgement. C. signs and symptoms of shock. D. distant or muffled heart tones.

C. signs and symptoms of shock.

The phrenic nerves control the diaphragm and exit the spinal cord at: A. C3 and C4 B. C1 and C2 C. C1, C2, and C3 D. C3, C4, and C5

D. C3, C4, and C5

A flail chest occurs when: A. a segment of fractured ribs bulges during the inhalation phase. B. more than three ribs are fractured on the same side of the chest. C. multiple ribs are fractured on both sides of the thoracic cage. D. a segment of the chest wall is detached from the thoracic cage.

D. a segment of the chest wall is detached from the thoracic cage.

Patients with rib fractures will commonly: A. develop a sucking chest wound. B. take a series of deep breaths. C. prefer to lie in a supine position. D. breathe rapidly and shallowly.

D. breathe rapidly and shallowly.

Signs and symptoms of a tension pneumothorax include all of the following EXCEPT: A. altered mental status. B. unilaterally absent breath sounds. C. profound cyanosis. D. collapsed jugular veins.

D. collapsed jugular veins.

A simple pneumothorax: A. is caused by penetrating chest trauma. B. often has a nontraumatic cause. C. heals on its own without any treatment. D. is commonly caused by blunt chest trauma.

D. is commonly caused by blunt chest trauma.

If a patient with a chest injury is only able to inhale small amounts of air per breath, he or she: A. will eliminate more carbon dioxide than if he or she were breathing deeply. B. will maintain adequate minute volume if his or her respiratory rate stays the same. C. often breathes at a slower rate because of lung damage caused by the injury. D. must increase his or her respiratory rate to maintain adequate minute volume.

D. must increase his or her respiratory rate to maintain adequate minute volume.

Elevation of the rib cage during inhalation occurs when: A. the diaphragm descends. B. abdominal contents descend. C. intrathoracic pressure decreases. D. the intercostal muscles contract.

D. the intercostal muscles contract.