NUR 301 CLINICAL PATHOPHYSIOLOGY EXAM 2 2026/2027 – STUDY GUIDE,
PRACTICE QUESTIONS & EXAM REVIEW
Hydrostatic pressure - correct answer ✔✔Pushing force exerted by water in the bloodstream
Heart's pumping action is the source
Exerts outward force that pushes water through capillary membrane pores from ECF into ISF and ICF
Osmotic pressure - correct answer ✔✔Pressure exerted by the solutes in solution (greater # solutes
means greater osmotic pressure)
In bloodstream, osmotic pressure is exerted by electrolytes, mainly Na+ and plasma proteins
Osmotic pressure is a force that pulls water into bloodstream from ICF and ISF
Opposes hydrostatic pressure
Oncotic pressure - correct answer ✔✔Refers to the force exerted specifically by albumin the
bloodstream
Albumin is the main colloidal protein in the blood and is essential for painting the oncotic pressure
Albumin attracts water and helps keep it inside the blood vessel
Osmolarity - correct answer ✔✔a measurement of the concentration of solutes per kg of solvent
it's the number of particles suspended in a solution (sodium is the main determinant - found mostly in
ECF)
Hypoalbuminemia - correct answer ✔✔Albumin is essential for maintaining oncotic pressure - attracts
water and helps keep it in the blood vessel
Low albumin in the bloodstream causes low oncotic pressure
Low albumin in the bloodstream causes low oncotic pressure → low oncotic pressure is lower than
hydrostatic pressure at capillary membranes → results in edema as fluid moves out of the bloodstream
and into ISF and ICF
Albumin attracts water so if it is low in the bloodstream, water remains in the ICF and ISF which causes
edema
Normal value for Na+ - correct answer ✔✔135 - 145
Normal value for Ca2+ - correct answer ✔✔8.7 - 10
Normal value for K+ - correct answer ✔✔3.5 - 5.2
Normal value for Mg2+ - correct answer ✔✔1.5 - 2.5
Normal value for P - correct answer ✔✔2.5 - 4.5
Describe how osmoreceptors maintain fluid balance. - correct answer ✔✔detect high plasma osmolarity,
causes sensation of thirst from hypothalamus and release of ADH
, Describe how renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system maintain fluid balance. - correct answer ✔✔kidneys
secrete renin in response to decreased renal perfusion (sensed by juxtaglomerular apparatus) >> renin
converts angiotensinogen (produced in liver) into angiotensin I >> angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)
converts angiotensin I into angiotensin II >> angiotensin II binds to receptors in the adrenal cortex,
stimulating synthesis and secretion of aldosterone >> aldosterone begins reabsorption of sodium from
distal tubules back into bloodstream >> causes more absorption of water >> increases blood volume
Describe how antidiuretic hormone (ADH) maintain fluid balance. - correct answer ✔✔stimulates water
reabsorption from the nephron into the bloodstream >> raises blood's water content
Describe how natriuretic hormones maintain fluid balance. - correct answer ✔✔aid excretion of large
amounts of sodium and water in response to high ECF >> lower blood volume and osmolarity
What is third space accumulation? - correct answer ✔✔During illness, fluids become sequestered in
body cavities normally free of fluid such as pericardial sac, peritoneal cavity, pleural space
What happens in the body during dehydration? - correct answer ✔✔in the body -
cell shrinkage and decreased water in ECF
causes -
reduced fluid intake, excessive fluid loss, lack of ADH production, burns, fever, perspiration
treatment -
Hypotonic IV solution
Adds water to the bloodstream by shifting fluid from ECF to ICF
What happens in the body during fluid overload? - correct answer ✔✔in the body -
cell swelling and increased water in ECF
causes -
constant cycling of RAAS after heart failure, certain cancers that secrete ADH, excess fluid intake
treatment -
Hypertonic IV solution
Adds solutes to bloodstream and shifts fluid from ICF to ECF
What are the functions of inflammation? - correct answer ✔✔Protective coordinated response of the
body to injurious agents
Wall-off area of injury
Prevent spread of injurious agent
Bring body's defenses to region under attack
Acute Inflammation - correct answer ✔✔3 stages: vascular permeability, cellular chemotaxis, systemic
response
vascular permeability of acute inflammation - correct answer ✔✔histamine (an inflammatory mediator)
is released from the mast cells located in the tissues and then dilates the blood vessels and allows fluids,
WBCs, and platelets to travel to the site of injury. This also leads to enhanced capillary permeability
PRACTICE QUESTIONS & EXAM REVIEW
Hydrostatic pressure - correct answer ✔✔Pushing force exerted by water in the bloodstream
Heart's pumping action is the source
Exerts outward force that pushes water through capillary membrane pores from ECF into ISF and ICF
Osmotic pressure - correct answer ✔✔Pressure exerted by the solutes in solution (greater # solutes
means greater osmotic pressure)
In bloodstream, osmotic pressure is exerted by electrolytes, mainly Na+ and plasma proteins
Osmotic pressure is a force that pulls water into bloodstream from ICF and ISF
Opposes hydrostatic pressure
Oncotic pressure - correct answer ✔✔Refers to the force exerted specifically by albumin the
bloodstream
Albumin is the main colloidal protein in the blood and is essential for painting the oncotic pressure
Albumin attracts water and helps keep it inside the blood vessel
Osmolarity - correct answer ✔✔a measurement of the concentration of solutes per kg of solvent
it's the number of particles suspended in a solution (sodium is the main determinant - found mostly in
ECF)
Hypoalbuminemia - correct answer ✔✔Albumin is essential for maintaining oncotic pressure - attracts
water and helps keep it in the blood vessel
Low albumin in the bloodstream causes low oncotic pressure
Low albumin in the bloodstream causes low oncotic pressure → low oncotic pressure is lower than
hydrostatic pressure at capillary membranes → results in edema as fluid moves out of the bloodstream
and into ISF and ICF
Albumin attracts water so if it is low in the bloodstream, water remains in the ICF and ISF which causes
edema
Normal value for Na+ - correct answer ✔✔135 - 145
Normal value for Ca2+ - correct answer ✔✔8.7 - 10
Normal value for K+ - correct answer ✔✔3.5 - 5.2
Normal value for Mg2+ - correct answer ✔✔1.5 - 2.5
Normal value for P - correct answer ✔✔2.5 - 4.5
Describe how osmoreceptors maintain fluid balance. - correct answer ✔✔detect high plasma osmolarity,
causes sensation of thirst from hypothalamus and release of ADH
, Describe how renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system maintain fluid balance. - correct answer ✔✔kidneys
secrete renin in response to decreased renal perfusion (sensed by juxtaglomerular apparatus) >> renin
converts angiotensinogen (produced in liver) into angiotensin I >> angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)
converts angiotensin I into angiotensin II >> angiotensin II binds to receptors in the adrenal cortex,
stimulating synthesis and secretion of aldosterone >> aldosterone begins reabsorption of sodium from
distal tubules back into bloodstream >> causes more absorption of water >> increases blood volume
Describe how antidiuretic hormone (ADH) maintain fluid balance. - correct answer ✔✔stimulates water
reabsorption from the nephron into the bloodstream >> raises blood's water content
Describe how natriuretic hormones maintain fluid balance. - correct answer ✔✔aid excretion of large
amounts of sodium and water in response to high ECF >> lower blood volume and osmolarity
What is third space accumulation? - correct answer ✔✔During illness, fluids become sequestered in
body cavities normally free of fluid such as pericardial sac, peritoneal cavity, pleural space
What happens in the body during dehydration? - correct answer ✔✔in the body -
cell shrinkage and decreased water in ECF
causes -
reduced fluid intake, excessive fluid loss, lack of ADH production, burns, fever, perspiration
treatment -
Hypotonic IV solution
Adds water to the bloodstream by shifting fluid from ECF to ICF
What happens in the body during fluid overload? - correct answer ✔✔in the body -
cell swelling and increased water in ECF
causes -
constant cycling of RAAS after heart failure, certain cancers that secrete ADH, excess fluid intake
treatment -
Hypertonic IV solution
Adds solutes to bloodstream and shifts fluid from ICF to ECF
What are the functions of inflammation? - correct answer ✔✔Protective coordinated response of the
body to injurious agents
Wall-off area of injury
Prevent spread of injurious agent
Bring body's defenses to region under attack
Acute Inflammation - correct answer ✔✔3 stages: vascular permeability, cellular chemotaxis, systemic
response
vascular permeability of acute inflammation - correct answer ✔✔histamine (an inflammatory mediator)
is released from the mast cells located in the tissues and then dilates the blood vessels and allows fluids,
WBCs, and platelets to travel to the site of injury. This also leads to enhanced capillary permeability
