PATHOPHYSIOLOGY 2026 EXAM SCRIPT
COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
◉ What does the migration of WBCs to the bronchials do. Answer:
increases inflammation of the cite and causes fibrosis in the
bronchial wall
◉ How does the thickening and rigidity of bronchial basement
membranes effect the lungs. Answer: leads to further narrowing of
the bronchial passageways
◉ What acid-base disorder is seen in chronic bronchitis. Answer:
respiratory acidosis
◉ how does chronic bronchitis lead to respiratory acidosis?.
Answer: hyperinflation of the alveoli causes CO2 retention
◉ Where does air enter the body?. Answer: naso and oropharynx
(mouth and nose)
◉ Where does air go after it passes through the nose and mouth?.
Answer: it passes through the trachea
,◉ After air passes through the trachea where does it go?. Answer:
goes into the left or right bronchi
◉ Where does air flow after the bronchi?. Answer: into the smaller
bronchioles
◉ Where does air flow after the bronchioles?. Answer: into the
alveoli
◉ Describe how blood flows to become oxygenated. Answer: -
deoxygenated systemic blood flows from the vena cava to R atrium
- Tricuspid valve opens to flow to R ventricle
-Pulmonary semilunar valve opens and blood flows to the alveolar
capillaries for gas exchange from the pulmonary trunk and L & R
pulmonary arteries
- blood goes from alveolar capillaries to pulmonary veins to return
oxygenated blood to the left atrium
- bicuspid valve opens to allow blood to go to left ventricle
- aortic semilunar valve opens and blood goes to the aorta
- aorta pushes oxygenated blood out to the body
◉ What is the formula for cardiac output. Answer: CO = HR x SV
, ◉ cardiac reserve. Answer: difference between resting and maximal
CO; should be about 4-5x as high but does decrease 1% per year
after age 30
◉ What type of relationship does heart rate and stroke volume
have?. Answer: inverse
low HR = longer fill time = increase stroke volume
high HR = lower fill time = lower stroke volume
◉ What is preload?. Answer: the degree of stretch on the heart
before it contracts/ amount of blood entering the ventricles during
diastole
◉ average amount of preload?. Answer: 120-130 mls
◉ When fibers stretch during diastole how does that effect
contraction?. Answer: contraction is stronger
◉ What happens when cardiac fibers overstretch during diastole?.
Answer: decreased contraction due to fibers being unable to snap
back
◉ What can cause increased preload. Answer: CHF and
hypervolemia