NR507 Advanced Pathophysiology
MidTerm REVIEW/ REVISION
2025/2026
Asthma - ANSWER Chronic disease due to
bronchoconstriction and an excessive inflammatory response in the bronchioles
What are 5 s/s of asthma - ANSWER coughing
wheezing
shortness of breath
rapid breathing
chest tightness
Pathophysiology of asthma (5) - 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 - ANSWER smaller passageways that originate
from the bronchi that become the alveoli
,3 layers of the bronchioles - ANSWER innermost layer
middle layer - lamina propria
outermost layer
lamina propria - ANSWER the middle layer of the bronchioles
structure of the lamina propria - ANSWER embedded with
connective tissue cells and immune cells
purpose of the lamina propria - ANSWER white blood cells are
present to help protect the airways
How does the lamina propria effect the lungs in regards to asthma -
ANSWER the WBCs protective feature goes into overdrive causing
an inflammatory response that damages host tissue
,What does the innermost layer of the bronchioles contain - ANSWER
columnar epithelial ells and mucus producing goblet cells
What does the outermost layer of the bronchioles contain - ANSWER
smooth muscle cells
what does the outermost layer of the bronchioles do - ANSWER
control the airways ability to constrict and dilate
alveolar hyperinflation - ANSWER When 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? - ANSWER the ongoing
inflammatory process of asthma produces mucus and pus plug that the bronchial
walls collapse around
Effect of hyperinflation of the alveolar - ANSWER -expanded
thorax and hypercapnia (retention of CO2)
- respiratory acidosis
, What are two anticholinergic drugs used for asthma - ANSWER
tiotropium and ipratropium
What do anticholinergics do in the lungs? - ANSWER These
drugs block the effects of the parasympathetic nervous system
- increasing bronchodilation
MOA of anticholinergic drugs for asthma - ANSWER the
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 - ANSWER inflammation of the bronchial tubes
3 characteristics of bronchitis - ANSWER bronchial
inflammation
MidTerm REVIEW/ REVISION
2025/2026
Asthma - ANSWER Chronic disease due to
bronchoconstriction and an excessive inflammatory response in the bronchioles
What are 5 s/s of asthma - ANSWER coughing
wheezing
shortness of breath
rapid breathing
chest tightness
Pathophysiology of asthma (5) - 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 - ANSWER smaller passageways that originate
from the bronchi that become the alveoli
,3 layers of the bronchioles - ANSWER innermost layer
middle layer - lamina propria
outermost layer
lamina propria - ANSWER the middle layer of the bronchioles
structure of the lamina propria - ANSWER embedded with
connective tissue cells and immune cells
purpose of the lamina propria - ANSWER white blood cells are
present to help protect the airways
How does the lamina propria effect the lungs in regards to asthma -
ANSWER the WBCs protective feature goes into overdrive causing
an inflammatory response that damages host tissue
,What does the innermost layer of the bronchioles contain - ANSWER
columnar epithelial ells and mucus producing goblet cells
What does the outermost layer of the bronchioles contain - ANSWER
smooth muscle cells
what does the outermost layer of the bronchioles do - ANSWER
control the airways ability to constrict and dilate
alveolar hyperinflation - ANSWER When 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? - ANSWER the ongoing
inflammatory process of asthma produces mucus and pus plug that the bronchial
walls collapse around
Effect of hyperinflation of the alveolar - ANSWER -expanded
thorax and hypercapnia (retention of CO2)
- respiratory acidosis
, What are two anticholinergic drugs used for asthma - ANSWER
tiotropium and ipratropium
What do anticholinergics do in the lungs? - ANSWER These
drugs block the effects of the parasympathetic nervous system
- increasing bronchodilation
MOA of anticholinergic drugs for asthma - ANSWER the
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 - ANSWER inflammation of the bronchial tubes
3 characteristics of bronchitis - ANSWER bronchial
inflammation
