One common method to measure an OPA is to measure from the middle of the mouth to which landmark?

• A. Angle of the jaw
• B. Nasal bridge
• C. Ear lobe
• D. Chin

Answer: (A)

Sizing an oropharyngeal airway relies on placing a length that reliably positions the device in the back of the throat to keep the tongue from blocking the airway. A common method is to measure from the middle of the mouth to the angle of the mandible. This landmark correlates with where the tongue rests and where the device should sit so it props the tongue forward without going too far into the oropharynx. If you measured to the nasal bridge, you’d be sizing a nasopharyngeal airway, which serves a different purpose. The ear lobe or chin aren’t standard reference points for this sizing, because they don’t as accurately indicate the depth needed to clear the airway.