A 4-week-old infant is admitted to the emergency room in respiratory distress. Which of the following statements indicates the nurse’s knowledge of the anatomy of the respiratory system in pediatric clients?
A.
The diameter of the trachea is much smaller in children than in adults.
B.
The tongue is proportionally smaller in children than in adults.
C.
The pediatric airway is more rigid than that of the adults.
D.
The length of the pediatric airway is longer in children than in adults.
(A) The airway in children is much smaller than it is in adults. The diameter of the trachea in the newborn is 4 mm and that of the adult is 20 mm. A small change in the diameter of the airway can make a major difference in the pediatric client. (B) The tongue is proportionally larger in children and fills most of the oral cavity, thereby decreasing air space. (C) The entire pediatric airway is elastic. Elasticity diminishes with age, however. (D) The distances between respiratory structures are shorter than that of adults, and therefore organisms are able to move more rapidly down the throat, leading to more extensive respiratory involvement.
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