Course Breakdown: 2 Hour Self-Paced Course
Credit Awarded: 2 Hours
Credit Type: Advanced
Accredited: CAPCE (F3-Distributive), CE Broker (FL & TN), Pennsylvania Bureau of EMS*, and Virginia Office of EMS
Enrollment Period: One year or until completed, whichever comes first
Topics: Airway Anatomy and Physiology – Adult and Pediatric
*PA Bureau of EMS reporting is by Regional Endorsement.
Self-Paced Course Overview
Every airway intervention begins with a thorough understanding of normal anatomy and physiology. This comprehensive course establishes the foundation for airway management by exploring the structures of the respiratory system, the mechanics of ventilation, oxygenation, gas exchange, and the physiologic principles that guide patient assessment and treatment. Participants develop a deeper understanding of how oxygen is delivered to the tissues, how respiratory failure develops, and how airway assessment findings translate into clinical decision-making in the prehospital environment.
Airway Anatomy
Learners examine the complete anatomy of the upper and lower airway, including the nasal cavity, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli, thorax, diaphragm, mediastinum, and supporting airway structures. The course also reviews clinically significant landmarks used during airway management, including the glottis, epiglottis, cricothyroid membrane, arytenoid cartilages, and piriform fossae, while reinforcing their importance during airway assessment and advanced airway procedures.
Respiratory Physiology
This section explores the mechanics of ventilation, oxygenation, and respiration while explaining how pressure gradients, diffusion, surfactant, lung compliance, and alveolar gas exchange support life. Participants learn the physiology behind inhalation, exhalation, ventilation-perfusion relationships, cellular respiration, and the movement of oxygen and carbon dioxide throughout the body.
Control of Breathing
Participants examine how the central nervous system regulates breathing through the medulla oblongata, pons, chemoreceptors, stretch receptors, and the phrenic nerve. The course explains respiratory drive, hypoxic drive, factors affecting respiratory rate, lung volumes, tidal volume, dead space, and the physiologic responses to changing oxygen and carbon dioxide levels.
Recognition of Respiratory Compromise
Building upon normal physiology, learners develop the ability to recognize adequate and inadequate breathing, identify abnormal respiratory patterns including Biot’s, Cheyne-Stokes, and Kussmaul respirations, and understand when positive pressure ventilation becomes necessary. The course emphasizes systematic respiratory assessment and early recognition of respiratory failure before complete decompensation occurs.
Oxygenation & Cellular Metabolism
Participants explore hypoxia, hypoxemia, oxygen transport, oxygen consumption, aerobic and anaerobic metabolism, oxygen debt, pulse oximetry, oxygen toxicity, and arterial blood gas interpretation. The course connects respiratory physiology with cellular metabolism, providing a practical understanding of acid-base balance, oxygen delivery, and the physiologic consequences of inadequate ventilation and oxygenation.
Clinical Integration
Throughout the course, anatomical structures and physiologic principles are directly linked to patient assessment and EMS interventions. Learners gain a deeper appreciation for why airway management remains the highest priority in nearly every medical and traumatic emergency, allowing them to make more informed clinical decisions throughout every stage of patient care.
Who Should Take This Course?
This course is designed for EMTs, AEMTs, and Paramedics seeking a comprehensive understanding of airway anatomy, respiratory physiology, ventilation, oxygenation, and the scientific principles that support airway management. As the foundational course of the Airway Management Series, it provides the knowledge necessary for every subsequent airway intervention encountered in prehospital medicine.