NU551 Unit 7 Exam Questions and Answers
with Verified Solutions | Latest Updated 2026
What causes cyanosis and how Bluish-purple discoloration due to ~5 g/dL
much of
hemoglobin must be desaturated? desaturated hemoglobin
Where is cyanosis most visible? Lips, nail beds, earlobes (thin-skin areas)
What is clubbing and what is it Bulbous enlargement of fingertips/toes
associated with? from
chronic low oxygen; linked to COPD, cystic
fibrosis,
congenital heart disease, smokers, vapers
What is the pleura? Two-layer membrane around lungs with a
fluid-
filled cavity between
What is pleurisy and its main Inflammation of pleura (usually viral) →
cause? sharp chest
pain worse with breathing/coughing
Key clinical signs of pleurisy? Left-sided chest pain, shallow breathing,
increased
HR/RR, normal breath sounds, no
cyanosis
, What is hypercapnia? Excess CO■ in the blood (common in
COPD)
What is hypoxia? Low oxygen in tissues; requires ABG
interpretation
(pH, CO■, HCO■■)
What are the 5 causes of hypoxia? High altitude, diffusion problems, V/Q
mismatch,
hypoventilation, shunt
What is flail chest? Rib/sternal fractures causing paradoxical
chest wall
movement
What is pneumothorax? Air in pleural space → lung collapse
What are key signs of Increased RR, asymmetrical chest
pneumothorax? movement,
decreased breath sounds
Types of pneumothorax? Spontaneous, tension, open, catamenial
What is pleural effusion? Excess fluid in pleural cavity
Types of pleural effusion? Hydrothorax (serous), hemothorax (blood),
pyothorax/empyema (pus), chylothorax
(lymph),
urinothorax (urine)
with Verified Solutions | Latest Updated 2026
What causes cyanosis and how Bluish-purple discoloration due to ~5 g/dL
much of
hemoglobin must be desaturated? desaturated hemoglobin
Where is cyanosis most visible? Lips, nail beds, earlobes (thin-skin areas)
What is clubbing and what is it Bulbous enlargement of fingertips/toes
associated with? from
chronic low oxygen; linked to COPD, cystic
fibrosis,
congenital heart disease, smokers, vapers
What is the pleura? Two-layer membrane around lungs with a
fluid-
filled cavity between
What is pleurisy and its main Inflammation of pleura (usually viral) →
cause? sharp chest
pain worse with breathing/coughing
Key clinical signs of pleurisy? Left-sided chest pain, shallow breathing,
increased
HR/RR, normal breath sounds, no
cyanosis
, What is hypercapnia? Excess CO■ in the blood (common in
COPD)
What is hypoxia? Low oxygen in tissues; requires ABG
interpretation
(pH, CO■, HCO■■)
What are the 5 causes of hypoxia? High altitude, diffusion problems, V/Q
mismatch,
hypoventilation, shunt
What is flail chest? Rib/sternal fractures causing paradoxical
chest wall
movement
What is pneumothorax? Air in pleural space → lung collapse
What are key signs of Increased RR, asymmetrical chest
pneumothorax? movement,
decreased breath sounds
Types of pneumothorax? Spontaneous, tension, open, catamenial
What is pleural effusion? Excess fluid in pleural cavity
Types of pleural effusion? Hydrothorax (serous), hemothorax (blood),
pyothorax/empyema (pus), chylothorax
(lymph),
urinothorax (urine)
