NSG 3850 Exam 2 Pathophysiology II: Newest
Exam 2026 Preparation With Complete
Questions And Correct Answers With Rationales
| Already Graded A+||Brand New Version!!
Section 1: Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases
1. A patient with chronic bronchitis is often referred to as a "blue bloater" because
of:
A) Barrel chest and pursed-lip breathing
B) Cyanosis and peripheral edema
C) Weight loss and cachexia
D) Polycythemia and clubbing
Answer: B
"Blue bloater" refers to cyanosis (from severe hypoxemia) and peripheral edema (from
right-sided heart failure/cor pulmonale). Pink puffers (emphysema) present with barrel
chest and pursed-lip breathing.
2. Which finding is characteristic of emphysema on a chest X-ray?
A) Hyperinflation and flattened diaphragms
B) Increased interstitial markings
C) Cardiomegaly
D) Pleural effusion
Answer: A
Emphysema causes destruction of alveolar walls, leading to hyperinflation of the lungs,
which flattens the diaphragms and increases the anteroposterior diameter (barrel chest).
,3. The primary pathophysiological mechanism in asthma is:
A) Destruction of alveolar walls
B) Reversible bronchoconstriction due to inflammation
C) Fibrosis of lung parenchyma
D) Mucus hypersecretion without inflammation
Answer: B
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder causing reversible bronchoconstriction,
mucosal edema, and mucus plugging. The bronchoconstriction is reversible with
treatment, unlike in COPD.
4. A "silent chest" on auscultation during an asthma attack indicates:
A) Improved airflow
B) Mucus plugging with minimal air movement
C) Resolution of bronchospasm
D) Development of pneumonia
Answer: B
A silent chest is a medical emergency indicating severe bronchoconstriction and mucus
plugging so profound that airflow is nearly absent. It signals impending respiratory failure.
5. Which enzyme imbalance is most associated with emphysema?
A) Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency
B) Angiotensin-converting enzyme excess
C) Elastase deficiency
D) Histamine excess
Answer: A
Alpha-1 antitrypsin inhibits protease enzymes like elastase. Deficiency allows elastase to
destroy alveolar walls, leading to emphysema. This is a genetic cause, but smoking is the
most common acquired cause.
6. Chronic bronchitis is defined clinically by:
A) Barrel chest and dyspnea on exertion
,B) Chronic productive cough for 3 months in 2 consecutive years
C) Reversible airway hyperresponsiveness
D) Diffuse alveolar damage
Answer: B
The clinical definition of chronic bronchitis is a productive cough lasting at least 3 months
per year for 2 consecutive years, not related to other causes.
7. In COPD, chronic hypoxemia leads to:
A) Left ventricular hypertrophy
B) Pulmonary vasodilation
C) Pulmonary hypertension and cor pulmonale
D) Decreased hematocrit
Answer: C
Chronic hypoxemia causes pulmonary vasoconstriction (hypoxic vasoconstriction), which
increases pulmonary artery pressure, leading to right ventricular hypertrophy and failure
(cor pulmonale).
8. Which medication is most appropriate for acute bronchospasm in asthma?
A) Inhaled corticosteroids
B) Oral leukotriene modifiers
C) Inhaled beta-2 agonists (e.g., albuterol)
D) Oral theophylline
Answer: C
Inhaled beta-2 agonists are the first-line rescue medications for acute bronchospasm
because they rapidly relax bronchial smooth muscle. Corticosteroids are for long-term
control of inflammation.
9. A patient with emphysema presents with pursed-lip breathing. The purpose of
this technique is to:
A) Increase oxygen intake
B) Decrease carbon dioxide retention
, C) Increase airway pressure and prevent airway collapse
D) Decrease respiratory rate
Answer: C
Pursed-lip breathing creates positive pressure in the airways during expiration, which
helps keep small airways open and prevents alveolar collapse, improving gas exchange.
10. Which of the following is a late sign of respiratory failure in a patient with
status asthmaticus?
A) Tachycardia
B) Diaphoresis
C) Confusion or lethargy
D) Wheezing
Answer: C
Confusion, lethargy, or somnolence indicate hypercapnia and hypoxia affecting the central
nervous system. This is a late, ominous sign requiring immediate intubation.
11. The term "pink puffer" refers to a patient with:
A) Chronic bronchitis
B) Emphysema
C) Asthma
D) Pulmonary fibrosis
Answer: B
Emphysema patients are "pink puffers" because they maintain relatively normal
oxygenation (pink) and use accessory muscles to breathe (puff) through pursed lips, often
with a barrel chest.
12. Which finding is more common in chronic bronchitis than in emphysema?
A) Normal hematocrit
B) Decreased breath sounds
C) Copious sputum production
D) Hyperinflation on X-ray
Exam 2026 Preparation With Complete
Questions And Correct Answers With Rationales
| Already Graded A+||Brand New Version!!
Section 1: Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases
1. A patient with chronic bronchitis is often referred to as a "blue bloater" because
of:
A) Barrel chest and pursed-lip breathing
B) Cyanosis and peripheral edema
C) Weight loss and cachexia
D) Polycythemia and clubbing
Answer: B
"Blue bloater" refers to cyanosis (from severe hypoxemia) and peripheral edema (from
right-sided heart failure/cor pulmonale). Pink puffers (emphysema) present with barrel
chest and pursed-lip breathing.
2. Which finding is characteristic of emphysema on a chest X-ray?
A) Hyperinflation and flattened diaphragms
B) Increased interstitial markings
C) Cardiomegaly
D) Pleural effusion
Answer: A
Emphysema causes destruction of alveolar walls, leading to hyperinflation of the lungs,
which flattens the diaphragms and increases the anteroposterior diameter (barrel chest).
,3. The primary pathophysiological mechanism in asthma is:
A) Destruction of alveolar walls
B) Reversible bronchoconstriction due to inflammation
C) Fibrosis of lung parenchyma
D) Mucus hypersecretion without inflammation
Answer: B
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder causing reversible bronchoconstriction,
mucosal edema, and mucus plugging. The bronchoconstriction is reversible with
treatment, unlike in COPD.
4. A "silent chest" on auscultation during an asthma attack indicates:
A) Improved airflow
B) Mucus plugging with minimal air movement
C) Resolution of bronchospasm
D) Development of pneumonia
Answer: B
A silent chest is a medical emergency indicating severe bronchoconstriction and mucus
plugging so profound that airflow is nearly absent. It signals impending respiratory failure.
5. Which enzyme imbalance is most associated with emphysema?
A) Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency
B) Angiotensin-converting enzyme excess
C) Elastase deficiency
D) Histamine excess
Answer: A
Alpha-1 antitrypsin inhibits protease enzymes like elastase. Deficiency allows elastase to
destroy alveolar walls, leading to emphysema. This is a genetic cause, but smoking is the
most common acquired cause.
6. Chronic bronchitis is defined clinically by:
A) Barrel chest and dyspnea on exertion
,B) Chronic productive cough for 3 months in 2 consecutive years
C) Reversible airway hyperresponsiveness
D) Diffuse alveolar damage
Answer: B
The clinical definition of chronic bronchitis is a productive cough lasting at least 3 months
per year for 2 consecutive years, not related to other causes.
7. In COPD, chronic hypoxemia leads to:
A) Left ventricular hypertrophy
B) Pulmonary vasodilation
C) Pulmonary hypertension and cor pulmonale
D) Decreased hematocrit
Answer: C
Chronic hypoxemia causes pulmonary vasoconstriction (hypoxic vasoconstriction), which
increases pulmonary artery pressure, leading to right ventricular hypertrophy and failure
(cor pulmonale).
8. Which medication is most appropriate for acute bronchospasm in asthma?
A) Inhaled corticosteroids
B) Oral leukotriene modifiers
C) Inhaled beta-2 agonists (e.g., albuterol)
D) Oral theophylline
Answer: C
Inhaled beta-2 agonists are the first-line rescue medications for acute bronchospasm
because they rapidly relax bronchial smooth muscle. Corticosteroids are for long-term
control of inflammation.
9. A patient with emphysema presents with pursed-lip breathing. The purpose of
this technique is to:
A) Increase oxygen intake
B) Decrease carbon dioxide retention
, C) Increase airway pressure and prevent airway collapse
D) Decrease respiratory rate
Answer: C
Pursed-lip breathing creates positive pressure in the airways during expiration, which
helps keep small airways open and prevents alveolar collapse, improving gas exchange.
10. Which of the following is a late sign of respiratory failure in a patient with
status asthmaticus?
A) Tachycardia
B) Diaphoresis
C) Confusion or lethargy
D) Wheezing
Answer: C
Confusion, lethargy, or somnolence indicate hypercapnia and hypoxia affecting the central
nervous system. This is a late, ominous sign requiring immediate intubation.
11. The term "pink puffer" refers to a patient with:
A) Chronic bronchitis
B) Emphysema
C) Asthma
D) Pulmonary fibrosis
Answer: B
Emphysema patients are "pink puffers" because they maintain relatively normal
oxygenation (pink) and use accessory muscles to breathe (puff) through pursed lips, often
with a barrel chest.
12. Which finding is more common in chronic bronchitis than in emphysema?
A) Normal hematocrit
B) Decreased breath sounds
C) Copious sputum production
D) Hyperinflation on X-ray
