COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE NR 507 MIDTERM
EXAM WEEK 1-4 PATHOPHYSIOLOGY 2026
FULL SOLUTIONS
Asthma - VERIFIED ANSWERChronic disease due to bronchoconstriction and an excessive inflammatory
response in the bronchioles
What are 5 s/s of asthma - VERIFIED ANSWERcoughing
wheezing
shortness of breath
rapid breathing
chest tightness
Pathophysiology of asthma (5) - VERIFIED ANSWER-airway inflammation, bronchial hyper-reactivity and
smooth muscle spasm
-excess mucus production and accumulation
-hypertrophy of bronchial smooth muscle
-airflow obstruction
-decreased alveolar ventilation
Bronchioles - VERIFIED ANSWERsmaller passageways that originate from the bronchi that become the
alveoli
3 layers of the bronchioles - VERIFIED ANSWERinnermost layer
,middle layer - lamina propria
outermost layer
lamina propria - VERIFIED ANSWERthe middle layer of the bronchioles
structure of the lamina propria - VERIFIED ANSWERembedded with connective tissue cells and immune
cells
purpose of the lamina propria - VERIFIED ANSWERwhite blood cells are present to help protect the
airways
How does the lamina propria effect the lungs in regards to asthma - VERIFIED ANSWERthe WBCs
protective feature goes into overdrive causing an inflammatory response that damages host tissue
What does the innermost layer of the bronchioles contain - VERIFIED ANSWERcolumnar epithelial ells
and mucus producing goblet cells
What does the outermost layer of the bronchioles contain - VERIFIED ANSWERsmooth muscle cells
what does the outermost layer of the bronchioles do - VERIFIED ANSWERcontrol the airways ability to
constrict and dilate
alveolar hyperinflation - VERIFIED ANSWERWhen air is unable to move out of the alveolar like it should
due to bronchial walls collapsing around possible mucus plug thus trapping air inside
how does hyperinflation occur? - VERIFIED ANSWERthe ongoing inflammatory process of asthma
produces mucus and pus plug that the bronchial walls collapse around
Effect of hyperinflation of the alveolar - VERIFIED ANSWER-expanded thorax and hypercapnia (retention
of CO2)
- respiratory acidosis
,What are two anticholinergic drugs used for asthma - VERIFIED ANSWERtiotropium and ipratropium
What do anticholinergics do in the lungs? - VERIFIED ANSWERThese drugs block the effects of the
parasympathetic nervous system
- increasing bronchodilation
MOA of anticholinergic drugs for asthma - VERIFIED ANSWERthe parasympathetic system is stimulated
by the vagal nerve to release acetylcholine which binds to the cholinergic receptors of the respiratory
tract to cause bronchial constriction = decreased airflow
- blocking the cholinergic receptors prevents acetylcholine binding preventing the bronchial constriction
bronchitis - VERIFIED ANSWERinflammation of the bronchial tubes
3 characteristics of bronchitis - VERIFIED ANSWERbronchial inflammation
hypersecretion of mucus
chronic productive cough for at least 3 consecutive months for at least 2 successive years
Perfusion - VERIFIED ANSWERThe supply of oxygen to and removal of wastes from the cells and tissues
of the body as a result of the flow of blood through the capillaries.
results of chronic bronchitis/ low perfusion - VERIFIED ANSWERcyanosis
right to left shunting
chronic hypoxemia
Why is there cyanosis with chronic bronchitis - VERIFIED ANSWERthere is hypoxia due to unfavorable
conditions for gas exchange
Right to left shunting - VERIFIED ANSWERwhen blood passes from the right ventricle through the lungs
and to the left ventricle without perfusion
, Causes of bronchitis - VERIFIED ANSWER-long term exposure to environmental irritants
-repeated episodes of acute infection (RSV infection in early infancy)
-Factors affecting gestational childhood lung development (preterm birth)
Pathogenesis of bronchitis - VERIFIED ANSWER-Exposure to airborne irritants
- Irritant activates bronchial smooth muscle constriction and mucus secretion
- Triggers release of inflammatory mediators from immune cells located in the lamina propria
most common irritant with bronchitis is? - VERIFIED ANSWERtobacco product smoke
what does long term exposure to irritants promote in bronchitis? (5) - VERIFIED ANSWER- smooth
muscle hypertrophy
- hypertrophy and hyperplasia of goblet cells
- epithelial cell metaplasia
- migration of more WBC to site
- thickening and rigidity of bronchial basement membrane
What does smooth muscle hypertrophy do in lungs? - VERIFIED ANSWERcauses increased
bronchoconstriction
Hypertrophy and hyperplasia of goblet cells do what in the bronchials - VERIFIED ANSWERpromotes
hypersecretion of mucus
What are characteristics of epithelial cell metaplasia? - VERIFIED ANSWERsquamous cells become
nonciliated and are less protective; allow passage of toxins and WBCs
What does the migration of WBCs to the bronchials do? - VERIFIED ANSWERincreases inflammation of
the cite and causes fibrosis in the bronchial wall
How does the thickening and rigidity of bronchial basement membranes effect the lungs? - VERIFIED
ANSWERleads to further narrowing of the bronchial passageways
EXAM WEEK 1-4 PATHOPHYSIOLOGY 2026
FULL SOLUTIONS
Asthma - VERIFIED ANSWERChronic disease due to bronchoconstriction and an excessive inflammatory
response in the bronchioles
What are 5 s/s of asthma - VERIFIED ANSWERcoughing
wheezing
shortness of breath
rapid breathing
chest tightness
Pathophysiology of asthma (5) - VERIFIED ANSWER-airway inflammation, bronchial hyper-reactivity and
smooth muscle spasm
-excess mucus production and accumulation
-hypertrophy of bronchial smooth muscle
-airflow obstruction
-decreased alveolar ventilation
Bronchioles - VERIFIED ANSWERsmaller passageways that originate from the bronchi that become the
alveoli
3 layers of the bronchioles - VERIFIED ANSWERinnermost layer
,middle layer - lamina propria
outermost layer
lamina propria - VERIFIED ANSWERthe middle layer of the bronchioles
structure of the lamina propria - VERIFIED ANSWERembedded with connective tissue cells and immune
cells
purpose of the lamina propria - VERIFIED ANSWERwhite blood cells are present to help protect the
airways
How does the lamina propria effect the lungs in regards to asthma - VERIFIED ANSWERthe WBCs
protective feature goes into overdrive causing an inflammatory response that damages host tissue
What does the innermost layer of the bronchioles contain - VERIFIED ANSWERcolumnar epithelial ells
and mucus producing goblet cells
What does the outermost layer of the bronchioles contain - VERIFIED ANSWERsmooth muscle cells
what does the outermost layer of the bronchioles do - VERIFIED ANSWERcontrol the airways ability to
constrict and dilate
alveolar hyperinflation - VERIFIED ANSWERWhen air is unable to move out of the alveolar like it should
due to bronchial walls collapsing around possible mucus plug thus trapping air inside
how does hyperinflation occur? - VERIFIED ANSWERthe ongoing inflammatory process of asthma
produces mucus and pus plug that the bronchial walls collapse around
Effect of hyperinflation of the alveolar - VERIFIED ANSWER-expanded thorax and hypercapnia (retention
of CO2)
- respiratory acidosis
,What are two anticholinergic drugs used for asthma - VERIFIED ANSWERtiotropium and ipratropium
What do anticholinergics do in the lungs? - VERIFIED ANSWERThese drugs block the effects of the
parasympathetic nervous system
- increasing bronchodilation
MOA of anticholinergic drugs for asthma - VERIFIED ANSWERthe parasympathetic system is stimulated
by the vagal nerve to release acetylcholine which binds to the cholinergic receptors of the respiratory
tract to cause bronchial constriction = decreased airflow
- blocking the cholinergic receptors prevents acetylcholine binding preventing the bronchial constriction
bronchitis - VERIFIED ANSWERinflammation of the bronchial tubes
3 characteristics of bronchitis - VERIFIED ANSWERbronchial inflammation
hypersecretion of mucus
chronic productive cough for at least 3 consecutive months for at least 2 successive years
Perfusion - VERIFIED ANSWERThe supply of oxygen to and removal of wastes from the cells and tissues
of the body as a result of the flow of blood through the capillaries.
results of chronic bronchitis/ low perfusion - VERIFIED ANSWERcyanosis
right to left shunting
chronic hypoxemia
Why is there cyanosis with chronic bronchitis - VERIFIED ANSWERthere is hypoxia due to unfavorable
conditions for gas exchange
Right to left shunting - VERIFIED ANSWERwhen blood passes from the right ventricle through the lungs
and to the left ventricle without perfusion
, Causes of bronchitis - VERIFIED ANSWER-long term exposure to environmental irritants
-repeated episodes of acute infection (RSV infection in early infancy)
-Factors affecting gestational childhood lung development (preterm birth)
Pathogenesis of bronchitis - VERIFIED ANSWER-Exposure to airborne irritants
- Irritant activates bronchial smooth muscle constriction and mucus secretion
- Triggers release of inflammatory mediators from immune cells located in the lamina propria
most common irritant with bronchitis is? - VERIFIED ANSWERtobacco product smoke
what does long term exposure to irritants promote in bronchitis? (5) - VERIFIED ANSWER- smooth
muscle hypertrophy
- hypertrophy and hyperplasia of goblet cells
- epithelial cell metaplasia
- migration of more WBC to site
- thickening and rigidity of bronchial basement membrane
What does smooth muscle hypertrophy do in lungs? - VERIFIED ANSWERcauses increased
bronchoconstriction
Hypertrophy and hyperplasia of goblet cells do what in the bronchials - VERIFIED ANSWERpromotes
hypersecretion of mucus
What are characteristics of epithelial cell metaplasia? - VERIFIED ANSWERsquamous cells become
nonciliated and are less protective; allow passage of toxins and WBCs
What does the migration of WBCs to the bronchials do? - VERIFIED ANSWERincreases inflammation of
the cite and causes fibrosis in the bronchial wall
How does the thickening and rigidity of bronchial basement membranes effect the lungs? - VERIFIED
ANSWERleads to further narrowing of the bronchial passageways
