Oropharyngeal airway

High school (ages 12+)
Human Body

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/oropharyngeal-airway

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the medical classification?Airway adjunct, a device used to maintain or open a patient's airway
2. What is the primary pathophysiological target?Obstruction of the upper airway by the posterior displacement of the tongue
3. Why do doctors use an oropharyngeal airway?It stops the tongue from falling back and blocking air, so the person can get enough oxygen and avoid brain damage.
4. How does an oropharyngeal airway work?The tube has a curved shape that fits the inside of the mouth and lifts the tongue away from the back of the throat, keeping the airway open.

Patent Airway: An airway that is open and unobstructed, allowing for the free passage of air.
Pharynx: The part of the throat behind the mouth and nasal cavity, and above the esophagus and larynx.
Hypoxic Brain Injury: Brain damage caused by a lack of oxygen to the brain tissue.
Bag-Valve-Mask (BVM): A handheld device used to provide positive pressure ventilation to patients who are not breathing adequately.