NR 507 ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
MIDTERM EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
2026 | COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE |
CHAMBERLAIN UNIVERSITY
Asthma - ANS✔✔-Chronic disease due to bronchoconstriction and an excessive
inflammatory response in the bronchioles
What are 5 s/s of asthma - ANS✔✔-coughing
wheezing
shortness of breath
rapid breathing
chest tightness
Pathophysiology of asthma (5) - ANS✔✔--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 - ANS✔✔-smaller passageways that originate from the bronchi that
become the alveoli
3 layers of the bronchioles - ANS✔✔-innermost layer
middle layer - lamina propria
outermost layer
lamina propria - ANS✔✔-the middle layer of the bronchioles
structure of the lamina propria - ANS✔✔-embedded with connective tissue cells
and immune cells
purpose of the lamina propria - ANS✔✔-white blood cells are present to help
protect the airways
How does the lamina propria effect the lungs in regards to asthma - ANS✔✔-the
WBCs protective feature goes into overdrive causing an inflammatory response
that damages host tissue
What does the innermost layer of the bronchioles contain - ANS✔✔-columnar
epithelial ells and mucus producing goblet cells
What does the outermost layer of the bronchioles contain - ANS✔✔-smooth
muscle cells
what does the outermost layer of the bronchioles do - ANS✔✔-control the airways
ability to constrict and dilate
, NR 507 ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
MIDTERM EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
2026 | COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE |
CHAMBERLAIN UNIVERSITY
alveolar hyperinflation - ANS✔✔-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? - ANS✔✔-the ongoing inflammatory process of
asthma produces mucus and pus plug that the bronchial walls collapse around
Effect of hyperinflation of the alveolar - ANS✔✔--expanded thorax and
hypercapnia (retention of CO2)
- respiratory acidosis
What are two anticholinergic drugs used for asthma - ANS✔✔-tiotropium and
ipratropium
What do anticholinergics do in the lungs? - ANS✔✔-These drugs block the effects
of the parasympathetic nervous system
- increasing bronchodilation
MOA of anticholinergic drugs for asthma - ANS✔✔-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 - ANS✔✔-inflammation of the bronchial tubes
3 characteristics of bronchitis - ANS✔✔-bronchial inflammation
hypersecretion of mucus
chronic productive cough for at least 3 consecutive months for at least 2 successive
years
Perfusion - ANS✔✔-The 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 - ANS✔✔-cyanosis
right to left shunting
chronic hypoxemia
Why is there cyanosis with chronic bronchitis - ANS✔✔-there is hypoxia due to
unfavorable conditions for gas exchange
, NR 507 ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
MIDTERM EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
2026 | COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE |
CHAMBERLAIN UNIVERSITY
Right to left shunting - ANS✔✔-when blood passes from the right ventricle
through the lungs and to the left ventricle without perfusion
Causes of bronchitis - ANS✔✔--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 - ANS✔✔--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? - ANS✔✔-tobacco product smoke
what does long term exposure to irritants promote in bronchitis? (5) - ANS✔✔--
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? - ANS✔✔-causes increased
bronchoconstriction
Hypertrophy and hyperplasia of goblet cells do what in the bronchials - ANS✔✔-
promotes hypersecretion of mucus
What are characteristics of epithelial cell metaplasia? - ANS✔✔-squamous cells
become nonciliated and are less protective; allow passage of toxins and WBCs
What does the migration of WBCs to the bronchials do? - ANS✔✔-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? - ANS✔✔-leads to further narrowing of the bronchial passageways
What acid-base disorder is seen in chronic bronchitis? - ANS✔✔-respiratory
acidosis
how does chronic bronchitis lead to respiratory acidosis? - ANS✔✔-hyperinflation
of the alveoli causes CO2 retention
Where does air enter the body? - ANS✔✔-naso and oropharynx (mouth and nose)
Where does air go after it passes through the nose and mouth? - ANS✔✔-it passes
through the trachea
MIDTERM EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
2026 | COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE |
CHAMBERLAIN UNIVERSITY
Asthma - ANS✔✔-Chronic disease due to bronchoconstriction and an excessive
inflammatory response in the bronchioles
What are 5 s/s of asthma - ANS✔✔-coughing
wheezing
shortness of breath
rapid breathing
chest tightness
Pathophysiology of asthma (5) - ANS✔✔--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 - ANS✔✔-smaller passageways that originate from the bronchi that
become the alveoli
3 layers of the bronchioles - ANS✔✔-innermost layer
middle layer - lamina propria
outermost layer
lamina propria - ANS✔✔-the middle layer of the bronchioles
structure of the lamina propria - ANS✔✔-embedded with connective tissue cells
and immune cells
purpose of the lamina propria - ANS✔✔-white blood cells are present to help
protect the airways
How does the lamina propria effect the lungs in regards to asthma - ANS✔✔-the
WBCs protective feature goes into overdrive causing an inflammatory response
that damages host tissue
What does the innermost layer of the bronchioles contain - ANS✔✔-columnar
epithelial ells and mucus producing goblet cells
What does the outermost layer of the bronchioles contain - ANS✔✔-smooth
muscle cells
what does the outermost layer of the bronchioles do - ANS✔✔-control the airways
ability to constrict and dilate
, NR 507 ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
MIDTERM EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
2026 | COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE |
CHAMBERLAIN UNIVERSITY
alveolar hyperinflation - ANS✔✔-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? - ANS✔✔-the ongoing inflammatory process of
asthma produces mucus and pus plug that the bronchial walls collapse around
Effect of hyperinflation of the alveolar - ANS✔✔--expanded thorax and
hypercapnia (retention of CO2)
- respiratory acidosis
What are two anticholinergic drugs used for asthma - ANS✔✔-tiotropium and
ipratropium
What do anticholinergics do in the lungs? - ANS✔✔-These drugs block the effects
of the parasympathetic nervous system
- increasing bronchodilation
MOA of anticholinergic drugs for asthma - ANS✔✔-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 - ANS✔✔-inflammation of the bronchial tubes
3 characteristics of bronchitis - ANS✔✔-bronchial inflammation
hypersecretion of mucus
chronic productive cough for at least 3 consecutive months for at least 2 successive
years
Perfusion - ANS✔✔-The 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 - ANS✔✔-cyanosis
right to left shunting
chronic hypoxemia
Why is there cyanosis with chronic bronchitis - ANS✔✔-there is hypoxia due to
unfavorable conditions for gas exchange
, NR 507 ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
MIDTERM EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
2026 | COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE |
CHAMBERLAIN UNIVERSITY
Right to left shunting - ANS✔✔-when blood passes from the right ventricle
through the lungs and to the left ventricle without perfusion
Causes of bronchitis - ANS✔✔--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 - ANS✔✔--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? - ANS✔✔-tobacco product smoke
what does long term exposure to irritants promote in bronchitis? (5) - ANS✔✔--
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? - ANS✔✔-causes increased
bronchoconstriction
Hypertrophy and hyperplasia of goblet cells do what in the bronchials - ANS✔✔-
promotes hypersecretion of mucus
What are characteristics of epithelial cell metaplasia? - ANS✔✔-squamous cells
become nonciliated and are less protective; allow passage of toxins and WBCs
What does the migration of WBCs to the bronchials do? - ANS✔✔-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? - ANS✔✔-leads to further narrowing of the bronchial passageways
What acid-base disorder is seen in chronic bronchitis? - ANS✔✔-respiratory
acidosis
how does chronic bronchitis lead to respiratory acidosis? - ANS✔✔-hyperinflation
of the alveoli causes CO2 retention
Where does air enter the body? - ANS✔✔-naso and oropharynx (mouth and nose)
Where does air go after it passes through the nose and mouth? - ANS✔✔-it passes
through the trachea
