NURS 5315 Advance Pathophysiology - Exam 3 - UTA EXAM - 2026
(Questions + Answers) with verified Answers (Latest Update 2026) UPDATE!
Mitral Valve Stenosis - (ANSWER)- Characterized by NARROWING of mitral valve
- Normal is 4-6 cm
-Narrowed is less than 2.5 cm
- Caused by RHEUMATIC FEVER
-More common in WOMEN
-Oxygenated blood comes back into heart into the left atrium and down through the mitral valve to the
left ventricle
- Complex: Stenosis leads to volume/pressure in left atrium, which results in atrial hypertrophy/dilation,
which increases pressure/volume in the pulmonary circulation & causes PULMONARY EDEMA
- Simplified: Skinny mitral valve doesn't let blood pass through easily, so blood backs up into the left
atrium and causes it to swell, then backs up into the lung and causes resp. symptoms
-S/sx: dyspnea, hemoptysis, a-fib, dysphagia, pulmonary hypertension
Mitral Valve Regurgitation - (ANSWER)-Characterized by INCOMPLETE CLOSURE of mitral valve
-Caused by MITRAL VALVE PROLAPSE (flaps don't close together properly, leaving valve ajar); more
common in WOMEN; STICKING CHEST PAIN
-Blood in left ventricle backs up to left ventricle during systole (mitral valve should be closed during
systole/contraction of heart)
-Leads to atrial dilation/hypertrophy, increased pulmonary vascular pressure/volume, PULMONARY
EDEMA
-S/sx: Dyspnea, rales, pansystolic murmur, S3 & S4 heart sounds
Aortic Valve Stenosis - (ANSWER)-Most common valvular disease
-Most common causes are aortic valve CALCIFICATION (stiffening) in people over 60; congenital aortic
valve stenosis in people less than 30
-Normal valve 3 cm; symptoms seen when valve less than 1 cm; severe when valve is less than 0.5 cm
-Narrowed valve prevents outflow from left ventricle to aorta. This backs up blood to the left atrium and
ultimately floods the lung causing PULMONARY EDEMA
,NURS 5315 Advance Pathophysiology - Exam 3 - UTA EXAM - 2026
(Questions + Answers) with verified Answers (Latest Update 2026) UPDATE!
S/Sx: Pulmonary hypertension/edema, poor outflow of aorta to body (aorta sends out oxygenated blood
to body), causing fainting or chest pain
Simplified: Aorta is stiff and can't send out oxygenated blood properly to the body, depriving tissues of
oxygen. Blood gets backed up into lungs, causing pulmonary edema.
Aortic Valve Regurgitation - (ANSWER)-Valve is TOO WIDE or TOO NARROW, blood doesn't pass through
effectively, causing back flow of blood into the left ventricle
-Marked by EARLY DIASTOLIC MURMUR (on systole, heart contracts and pushes blood up the aorta, but
on diastole, heart relaxes and ineffective aortic valve is not able to hold blood up in aorta, so blood falls
and makes a swish sound, which is the murmur)
-Most commonly caused by AORTIC ROOT DILATION(starting point of aorta is too wide)
-Other causes: infective endocarditis, rheumatic fever, aortitis from syphilis, coarctation (congenital
narrowing of aorta), aortic dissection (tear), ankylosing spondylitis (inflammatory arthritis)
-Acute: increases left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) (increased blood back down in the left
ventricle increases pressure), decreased stroke volume (not much blood is being pushed from left
ventricle because blood's backed up and overwhelming left ventricle), normal or decreased pulse
pressure, decreased cardiac output (aorta is not effectively pumping blood from heart)
Chronic: Body adjusts; LVEDP normalizes, systolic bp increases (compensation: harder contraction to
push blood out of aorta before it falls back down to left ventricle), diastolic bp decreases (compensation:
decreased relaxation of heart to stop blood from seeping back out of aorta), cardiac output is normal,
pulse pressure is increase. Blood ultimately is backed up into the left atrium and pulmonary circulation.
Atherosclerosis Causes - (ANSWER)-Begins with tissue injury
Sources of injury:
CIGARETTES (toxins)
Hypertension (increased force of the blood hitting the blood vessel can weaken it)
Diabetes
,NURS 5315 Advance Pathophysiology - Exam 3 - UTA EXAM - 2026
(Questions + Answers) with verified Answers (Latest Update 2026) UPDATE!
Hyperlipidemia (lipids take place of endothelial cells lining the blood vessel, initiating an inflammatory
response)
Patho of Atherosclerosis r/t Hyperlipidemia - Inflammatory Response - (ANSWER)1. Tissue injury to
endothelial cells lining the blood vessel.
2. Endothelial cells become inflammed and unable to produce sufficient antithrombotic and vasodilating
cytokines, increasing risk for clot formation and creating a tighter space for plaques and clots to grow.
3. Macrophages and platelets are called to the area of injury, further congesting the growing plaque
area.
4. LDL replaces endothelial cells in the lining of the blood vessel.
5. Macrophages engulf the LDL particles.
6. Macrophages eat too much LDL, causing them to burst and become foam cells (under a microscope
they look like sea foam)
7. Accumulation of foam cells causes a fatty streak. Fatting streak further triggers inflammatory
responses, repeating the whole cycle, and growing the fatty streak.
8. Smooth muscle hyperplasia from all the inflammation grows, produces collagen, and covers the fatty
streak to create a fibrous plaque.
9. The plaque may calcify, protrude into the vessel, and occlude blood flow, resulting in ischemia or
infarction.
Hyperlipidemia - (ANSWER)Leading cause of coronary artery disease
Most commonly affects promximal portions of coronary arteries, larger branches of carotid arteries,
circle of Willis (base of brain), large vessels of lower extremities, renal arteries, mesenteric (intestinal)
arteries
Consequences of Atherosclerosis - (ANSWER)Reduced blood flow
Coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, carotid artery disease, cerebral vascular disease, stroke,
mesenteric ischemia, peripheral vascular disease, renal artery stenosis
, NURS 5315 Advance Pathophysiology - Exam 3 - UTA EXAM - 2026
(Questions + Answers) with verified Answers (Latest Update 2026) UPDATE!
Congenital Heart Disease - (ANSWER)-Most common heart disease affecting children
-Etiology is unknown in 90% of cases
Causes:
Genetic/environmental factors (multifactorial factors)
Primary genetic factors (single gene disorders, chromosome disorders)
Sole environmental factors (Accutane/isotretinoin for acne, alcohol, maternal rubella infection)
Maternal Risk Factors:
Age over 45, prior child with heart defect, poorly controlled diabetes during pregnancy, alcohol,
congenital infection during pregnancy (rubella), aspirin, lupus, Dilantin/phenytoin/diphenylhydantoin for
seizures
LEFT to RIGHT shunt (Congenital heart defect) - (ANSWER)-Oxygenated blood from the left side of the
heart mixes with unoxygenated blood in the right side of the heart.
-Oxygen saturation on left side is usually 95%, whereas right side is 75%
- As blood mixes, right side's oxygen saturation increases to 80% or more
-VOLUME OVERLOAD occurs on RIGHT side of heart occurs, leading to PULMONARY HYPERTENSION,
which causes RIGHT VENTRICULAR HYPERTROPHY, (secondary to pulm. hptn.), and LEFT VENTRICULAR
HYPERTROPHY(secondary to blood being returned to left ventricle)
Eisenmenger Syndrome: Reversal of left to right shunt to a right to left shunt.
Eisenmenger Syndrome - (ANSWER)1. Increased blood flow returns to lungs rather than to the rest of
the body.
2. Blood vessels become stiff and narrow - permanent damage.
3. Increased pressure of the blood flow in the lung becomes so great that the direction of blood flow
through the shunt reverses.
(Questions + Answers) with verified Answers (Latest Update 2026) UPDATE!
Mitral Valve Stenosis - (ANSWER)- Characterized by NARROWING of mitral valve
- Normal is 4-6 cm
-Narrowed is less than 2.5 cm
- Caused by RHEUMATIC FEVER
-More common in WOMEN
-Oxygenated blood comes back into heart into the left atrium and down through the mitral valve to the
left ventricle
- Complex: Stenosis leads to volume/pressure in left atrium, which results in atrial hypertrophy/dilation,
which increases pressure/volume in the pulmonary circulation & causes PULMONARY EDEMA
- Simplified: Skinny mitral valve doesn't let blood pass through easily, so blood backs up into the left
atrium and causes it to swell, then backs up into the lung and causes resp. symptoms
-S/sx: dyspnea, hemoptysis, a-fib, dysphagia, pulmonary hypertension
Mitral Valve Regurgitation - (ANSWER)-Characterized by INCOMPLETE CLOSURE of mitral valve
-Caused by MITRAL VALVE PROLAPSE (flaps don't close together properly, leaving valve ajar); more
common in WOMEN; STICKING CHEST PAIN
-Blood in left ventricle backs up to left ventricle during systole (mitral valve should be closed during
systole/contraction of heart)
-Leads to atrial dilation/hypertrophy, increased pulmonary vascular pressure/volume, PULMONARY
EDEMA
-S/sx: Dyspnea, rales, pansystolic murmur, S3 & S4 heart sounds
Aortic Valve Stenosis - (ANSWER)-Most common valvular disease
-Most common causes are aortic valve CALCIFICATION (stiffening) in people over 60; congenital aortic
valve stenosis in people less than 30
-Normal valve 3 cm; symptoms seen when valve less than 1 cm; severe when valve is less than 0.5 cm
-Narrowed valve prevents outflow from left ventricle to aorta. This backs up blood to the left atrium and
ultimately floods the lung causing PULMONARY EDEMA
,NURS 5315 Advance Pathophysiology - Exam 3 - UTA EXAM - 2026
(Questions + Answers) with verified Answers (Latest Update 2026) UPDATE!
S/Sx: Pulmonary hypertension/edema, poor outflow of aorta to body (aorta sends out oxygenated blood
to body), causing fainting or chest pain
Simplified: Aorta is stiff and can't send out oxygenated blood properly to the body, depriving tissues of
oxygen. Blood gets backed up into lungs, causing pulmonary edema.
Aortic Valve Regurgitation - (ANSWER)-Valve is TOO WIDE or TOO NARROW, blood doesn't pass through
effectively, causing back flow of blood into the left ventricle
-Marked by EARLY DIASTOLIC MURMUR (on systole, heart contracts and pushes blood up the aorta, but
on diastole, heart relaxes and ineffective aortic valve is not able to hold blood up in aorta, so blood falls
and makes a swish sound, which is the murmur)
-Most commonly caused by AORTIC ROOT DILATION(starting point of aorta is too wide)
-Other causes: infective endocarditis, rheumatic fever, aortitis from syphilis, coarctation (congenital
narrowing of aorta), aortic dissection (tear), ankylosing spondylitis (inflammatory arthritis)
-Acute: increases left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) (increased blood back down in the left
ventricle increases pressure), decreased stroke volume (not much blood is being pushed from left
ventricle because blood's backed up and overwhelming left ventricle), normal or decreased pulse
pressure, decreased cardiac output (aorta is not effectively pumping blood from heart)
Chronic: Body adjusts; LVEDP normalizes, systolic bp increases (compensation: harder contraction to
push blood out of aorta before it falls back down to left ventricle), diastolic bp decreases (compensation:
decreased relaxation of heart to stop blood from seeping back out of aorta), cardiac output is normal,
pulse pressure is increase. Blood ultimately is backed up into the left atrium and pulmonary circulation.
Atherosclerosis Causes - (ANSWER)-Begins with tissue injury
Sources of injury:
CIGARETTES (toxins)
Hypertension (increased force of the blood hitting the blood vessel can weaken it)
Diabetes
,NURS 5315 Advance Pathophysiology - Exam 3 - UTA EXAM - 2026
(Questions + Answers) with verified Answers (Latest Update 2026) UPDATE!
Hyperlipidemia (lipids take place of endothelial cells lining the blood vessel, initiating an inflammatory
response)
Patho of Atherosclerosis r/t Hyperlipidemia - Inflammatory Response - (ANSWER)1. Tissue injury to
endothelial cells lining the blood vessel.
2. Endothelial cells become inflammed and unable to produce sufficient antithrombotic and vasodilating
cytokines, increasing risk for clot formation and creating a tighter space for plaques and clots to grow.
3. Macrophages and platelets are called to the area of injury, further congesting the growing plaque
area.
4. LDL replaces endothelial cells in the lining of the blood vessel.
5. Macrophages engulf the LDL particles.
6. Macrophages eat too much LDL, causing them to burst and become foam cells (under a microscope
they look like sea foam)
7. Accumulation of foam cells causes a fatty streak. Fatting streak further triggers inflammatory
responses, repeating the whole cycle, and growing the fatty streak.
8. Smooth muscle hyperplasia from all the inflammation grows, produces collagen, and covers the fatty
streak to create a fibrous plaque.
9. The plaque may calcify, protrude into the vessel, and occlude blood flow, resulting in ischemia or
infarction.
Hyperlipidemia - (ANSWER)Leading cause of coronary artery disease
Most commonly affects promximal portions of coronary arteries, larger branches of carotid arteries,
circle of Willis (base of brain), large vessels of lower extremities, renal arteries, mesenteric (intestinal)
arteries
Consequences of Atherosclerosis - (ANSWER)Reduced blood flow
Coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, carotid artery disease, cerebral vascular disease, stroke,
mesenteric ischemia, peripheral vascular disease, renal artery stenosis
, NURS 5315 Advance Pathophysiology - Exam 3 - UTA EXAM - 2026
(Questions + Answers) with verified Answers (Latest Update 2026) UPDATE!
Congenital Heart Disease - (ANSWER)-Most common heart disease affecting children
-Etiology is unknown in 90% of cases
Causes:
Genetic/environmental factors (multifactorial factors)
Primary genetic factors (single gene disorders, chromosome disorders)
Sole environmental factors (Accutane/isotretinoin for acne, alcohol, maternal rubella infection)
Maternal Risk Factors:
Age over 45, prior child with heart defect, poorly controlled diabetes during pregnancy, alcohol,
congenital infection during pregnancy (rubella), aspirin, lupus, Dilantin/phenytoin/diphenylhydantoin for
seizures
LEFT to RIGHT shunt (Congenital heart defect) - (ANSWER)-Oxygenated blood from the left side of the
heart mixes with unoxygenated blood in the right side of the heart.
-Oxygen saturation on left side is usually 95%, whereas right side is 75%
- As blood mixes, right side's oxygen saturation increases to 80% or more
-VOLUME OVERLOAD occurs on RIGHT side of heart occurs, leading to PULMONARY HYPERTENSION,
which causes RIGHT VENTRICULAR HYPERTROPHY, (secondary to pulm. hptn.), and LEFT VENTRICULAR
HYPERTROPHY(secondary to blood being returned to left ventricle)
Eisenmenger Syndrome: Reversal of left to right shunt to a right to left shunt.
Eisenmenger Syndrome - (ANSWER)1. Increased blood flow returns to lungs rather than to the rest of
the body.
2. Blood vessels become stiff and narrow - permanent damage.
3. Increased pressure of the blood flow in the lung becomes so great that the direction of blood flow
through the shunt reverses.
