RASMUSSEN PATHOPHYSIOLOGY EXAM 3
FINAL PAPER 2026 COMPREHENSIVE
QUESTIONS AND ACCURATE SOLUTIONS
◉ Abnormal Breath Sounds
Answer: Crackles: "Snap" (Excess fluid, CHF, Pneumonia)
Rhonchi: Bubbles/gurgling (Inhale & exhale, COPD, pneumonia, CF)
Wheezing: Shrill/whistle/coarse rattle (partial block, Allergies,
COPD, Bronchitis)
Stridor: High pitched whistle (upper block/narrow)
Rales: Crackles
◉ Hydrocephalitis
Answer: Congenital: Increase CFS in skull. Flow disruptions, CNS
issues.
Big head, fast growing big head, bulging Fontelle's, Downward gaze
◉ Spina Bifida
Answer: Congenital: Neural tube defect, folate deficiency. Vertebrae
fuse, meninges and spinal ford herniate.
Occulta: Asymptomatic
,Meningocele: Sac perfusion, lower back, no deficits.
Myelomeningocele: SERIOUS, neuro (paralysis) & Bowel
(incontinence)
◉ Cerebral Palsy
Answer: Congenital: Linked to hypoxia. Poor muscle control,
spasticity, speech defects, and other neurologic deficiencies
◉ Meningitis
Answer: Infectious: inflammation of the meninges, by a bacterial
infection
Affects growth, movement, cognition. Drool, grimaces, bulging
Fontelle's, opisthotonos, photophobia, poor sucking
◉ Encephalitis
Answer: Infectious: Inflammation of spinal cord and brain, by
bacteria or virus
infection symptoms, LOC, cerebral edema, bulging fontelles,
hallucinations, paranoia, paralysis
◉ Trigeminal neuralgia
Answer: Over reaction of cranial nerve 5, extreme pain, suicide
disease
, ◉ Bells Palsy
Answer: Temporary, sudden weakness of half of the face
◉ Post-Polio Syndrome
Answer: 30+ years after having polio. Atrophy, pain, dysphagia, cold
intolerance
◉ Hepatic Encephalopathy
Answer: impaired ammonia metabolism (liver) causes cerebral
edema. Affects CNS, change in LOC, memory loss, asterixis (flapping
tremor) impaired handwriting, hyperventilation w/ resp alkalosis.
◉ Traumatic Brain Injury
Answer: Closed: blow to the head
Open: penetrating head injury that damages the brain
Unequal pupils, asymmetrical facial features, fluid drainage, change
in language, emotion, function, cognition.
Risks: Seizures, Alzheimer's, migraine, Parkinson's
◉ Increased ICP
Answer: From TBI or others that increase volume in skull.
HYPERTENSION, BRADYpnea, BRADYcardia (cushings triad)!
Hemorrhage is a concern, projectile vomit.
FINAL PAPER 2026 COMPREHENSIVE
QUESTIONS AND ACCURATE SOLUTIONS
◉ Abnormal Breath Sounds
Answer: Crackles: "Snap" (Excess fluid, CHF, Pneumonia)
Rhonchi: Bubbles/gurgling (Inhale & exhale, COPD, pneumonia, CF)
Wheezing: Shrill/whistle/coarse rattle (partial block, Allergies,
COPD, Bronchitis)
Stridor: High pitched whistle (upper block/narrow)
Rales: Crackles
◉ Hydrocephalitis
Answer: Congenital: Increase CFS in skull. Flow disruptions, CNS
issues.
Big head, fast growing big head, bulging Fontelle's, Downward gaze
◉ Spina Bifida
Answer: Congenital: Neural tube defect, folate deficiency. Vertebrae
fuse, meninges and spinal ford herniate.
Occulta: Asymptomatic
,Meningocele: Sac perfusion, lower back, no deficits.
Myelomeningocele: SERIOUS, neuro (paralysis) & Bowel
(incontinence)
◉ Cerebral Palsy
Answer: Congenital: Linked to hypoxia. Poor muscle control,
spasticity, speech defects, and other neurologic deficiencies
◉ Meningitis
Answer: Infectious: inflammation of the meninges, by a bacterial
infection
Affects growth, movement, cognition. Drool, grimaces, bulging
Fontelle's, opisthotonos, photophobia, poor sucking
◉ Encephalitis
Answer: Infectious: Inflammation of spinal cord and brain, by
bacteria or virus
infection symptoms, LOC, cerebral edema, bulging fontelles,
hallucinations, paranoia, paralysis
◉ Trigeminal neuralgia
Answer: Over reaction of cranial nerve 5, extreme pain, suicide
disease
, ◉ Bells Palsy
Answer: Temporary, sudden weakness of half of the face
◉ Post-Polio Syndrome
Answer: 30+ years after having polio. Atrophy, pain, dysphagia, cold
intolerance
◉ Hepatic Encephalopathy
Answer: impaired ammonia metabolism (liver) causes cerebral
edema. Affects CNS, change in LOC, memory loss, asterixis (flapping
tremor) impaired handwriting, hyperventilation w/ resp alkalosis.
◉ Traumatic Brain Injury
Answer: Closed: blow to the head
Open: penetrating head injury that damages the brain
Unequal pupils, asymmetrical facial features, fluid drainage, change
in language, emotion, function, cognition.
Risks: Seizures, Alzheimer's, migraine, Parkinson's
◉ Increased ICP
Answer: From TBI or others that increase volume in skull.
HYPERTENSION, BRADYpnea, BRADYcardia (cushings triad)!
Hemorrhage is a concern, projectile vomit.
