1|Page
Advanced pathophyciology success
pack(2026).practice questions and expert
answers. Complete study guide with verified
answers, Exams of Nursing.
Function of Cortisol - --ANS---Primary glucocorticoid
Affects protein metabolism
Promotes appetite and food-seeking behaviors
Has anti-inflammatory effects
Chemical mediator in the inflammation response of the body
Adrenal corticosteroid critical to maintenance of homeostasis
May synergize or antagonize effects of catecholamines
*Chapter 3: Cell Structure and Function* - --ANS---
Endocrine Communication - --ANS---Hormones traveling in the bloodstream
Long range signaling
,2|Page
Neurocrine Communication - --ANS---Neurons firing information through synapses
Signals travel a very small distance between neuron and target cell
Paracrine Communcation - --ANS---Signaling through the extraceullar fluid between cells in a
tissue
Localized areas of communication
Autocrine Communcation - --ANS---Localized signaling in which the secreting cell is also the
target cell
Feedback to self
Describe an Action Potential - --ANS---Rapid, self-propagating electrical excitations of the
membrane
Mediated by voltage-gated ion channels that open (sodium flows into the cell) and close in
response to voltage changes across the membrane
Triggered by membrane depolarization
Propagated by sequential opening of voltage-gated sodium channels in adjacent sections of
membrane.
The action potential is regenerated in adjacent sections of membrane as more sodium channels
open. The initial segment repolarizes as sodium channels close and potassium ions move out.
,3|Page
Cardiac muscles: repolarization is prolonged from calcium influx
*Na+* initiates the action potential
*Only cells with voltage-gated channels have action potentials (not nerve cells)*
Describe a Resting Action Potential - --ANS---Electrical charge when there is no net ion
movement across plasma membrane
Major determinant: Ratio of Internal-to-External [K+]
This is dominated by potassium (K+)
Take Home Message About Action Potentials - --ANS---Resting Membrane Potential Dominated
by K+
Upstroke of Action Potential --> Na+
Repolarization --> K+
In cardiac tissue, plateau --> Ca++
Depolarization - --ANS---As the sodium rushes back into the cell the positive sodium ions raise
the charge inside the cell from negative to positive. Once the interior of the cell becomes
positively charged, depolarization of the cell is complete.
This triggers the action potential
, 4|Page
Repolarization - --ANS---Sodium inflow is stopped and potassium efflux increases
In cardiac muscles repolarization is prolonged from calcium influx
Hyperkalemia on Resting Membrane Potential - --ANS---Depolarizes the cell
Makes the membrane more negative
Hypokalemia on Resting Membrane Potential - --ANS---Hyperpolarizes the cell
Makes the membrane less negative (more positive)
*Chapter 4: Cell Injury, Aging, and Death* - --ANS---
Hyperplasia - --ANS---Increase in functional capacity related to an increase in cell number due
to mitotic division
-Usually in response to increased physiologic demands or hormonal stimulation
-Other causes: persistent cell injury, chronic irritation of epithelial cells
-Usually result from increased functional demand
Hypertrophy - --ANS---Increase in cell mass accompanied by an augmented functional capacity
in response to physiologic and pathophysiologic demands
-General cause:increased cellular protein content
-Usually result from increased functional demand
Advanced pathophyciology success
pack(2026).practice questions and expert
answers. Complete study guide with verified
answers, Exams of Nursing.
Function of Cortisol - --ANS---Primary glucocorticoid
Affects protein metabolism
Promotes appetite and food-seeking behaviors
Has anti-inflammatory effects
Chemical mediator in the inflammation response of the body
Adrenal corticosteroid critical to maintenance of homeostasis
May synergize or antagonize effects of catecholamines
*Chapter 3: Cell Structure and Function* - --ANS---
Endocrine Communication - --ANS---Hormones traveling in the bloodstream
Long range signaling
,2|Page
Neurocrine Communication - --ANS---Neurons firing information through synapses
Signals travel a very small distance between neuron and target cell
Paracrine Communcation - --ANS---Signaling through the extraceullar fluid between cells in a
tissue
Localized areas of communication
Autocrine Communcation - --ANS---Localized signaling in which the secreting cell is also the
target cell
Feedback to self
Describe an Action Potential - --ANS---Rapid, self-propagating electrical excitations of the
membrane
Mediated by voltage-gated ion channels that open (sodium flows into the cell) and close in
response to voltage changes across the membrane
Triggered by membrane depolarization
Propagated by sequential opening of voltage-gated sodium channels in adjacent sections of
membrane.
The action potential is regenerated in adjacent sections of membrane as more sodium channels
open. The initial segment repolarizes as sodium channels close and potassium ions move out.
,3|Page
Cardiac muscles: repolarization is prolonged from calcium influx
*Na+* initiates the action potential
*Only cells with voltage-gated channels have action potentials (not nerve cells)*
Describe a Resting Action Potential - --ANS---Electrical charge when there is no net ion
movement across plasma membrane
Major determinant: Ratio of Internal-to-External [K+]
This is dominated by potassium (K+)
Take Home Message About Action Potentials - --ANS---Resting Membrane Potential Dominated
by K+
Upstroke of Action Potential --> Na+
Repolarization --> K+
In cardiac tissue, plateau --> Ca++
Depolarization - --ANS---As the sodium rushes back into the cell the positive sodium ions raise
the charge inside the cell from negative to positive. Once the interior of the cell becomes
positively charged, depolarization of the cell is complete.
This triggers the action potential
, 4|Page
Repolarization - --ANS---Sodium inflow is stopped and potassium efflux increases
In cardiac muscles repolarization is prolonged from calcium influx
Hyperkalemia on Resting Membrane Potential - --ANS---Depolarizes the cell
Makes the membrane more negative
Hypokalemia on Resting Membrane Potential - --ANS---Hyperpolarizes the cell
Makes the membrane less negative (more positive)
*Chapter 4: Cell Injury, Aging, and Death* - --ANS---
Hyperplasia - --ANS---Increase in functional capacity related to an increase in cell number due
to mitotic division
-Usually in response to increased physiologic demands or hormonal stimulation
-Other causes: persistent cell injury, chronic irritation of epithelial cells
-Usually result from increased functional demand
Hypertrophy - --ANS---Increase in cell mass accompanied by an augmented functional capacity
in response to physiologic and pathophysiologic demands
-General cause:increased cellular protein content
-Usually result from increased functional demand
