Which statement describes the primary purpose of an oronasal mask in oxygen therapy?

• A. To deliver supplemental oxygen.
• B. To obtain blood samples.
• C. To drain urine.
• D. To immobilize a fracture.

Answer: (A)

An oronasal mask’s primary purpose is to deliver supplemental oxygen. It fits over the nose and mouth, allowing a higher concentration of oxygen to be delivered to the lungs compared with a simple nasal cannula, especially when a patient is mouth-breathing or needs more oxygen support. This device helps improve arterial oxygenation and ease of breathing in hypoxic patients by supplying oxygen-rich air directly to the airways. It isn’t used for collecting blood samples, draining urine, or immobilizing a fracture, which are tasks handled by other medical procedures and devices.