Exam 2 –Questions with Answers & Rationales- Latest 2026/27.
Question 1. A patient receives morphine after thoracic surgery and develops slow, shallow respirations.
Which pathophysiologic change is most consistent with hypoventilation?
A. Insufficient alveolar ventilation causes increased PaCO2 and hypoxemia.
B. Pulmonary blood flow increases enough to produce respiratory alkalosis.
C. Excessive alveolar ventilation causes PaCO2 to fall below 35 mm Hg.
D. Normal oxygen-carrying capacity is preserved while only tissue use of oxygen is impaired.
✓ Correct Answer: A. Insufficient alveolar ventilation causes increased PaCO2 and hypoxemia.
Rationale: The Unit 3 notes define hypoventilation as inadequate delivery of air to the alveoli to provide oxygen and
remove carbon dioxide. It raises PaCO2 and can cause hypoxemia.
Question 2. Which patient factor in the uploaded notes can depress the central respiratory drive and
contribute directly to hypoventilation?
A. Morphine or barbiturate use.
B. High-altitude exposure.
C. A recent episode of anxiety with rapid breathing.
D. A type III hypersensitivity reaction in the alveoli.
✓ Correct Answer: A. Morphine or barbiturate use.
Rationale: Morphine and barbiturates are specifically listed as drugs that depress respiratory drive and can produce
hypoventilation.
Question 3. A patient is breathing rapidly because of severe anxiety. Which arterial blood gas trend is
expected from the pathophysiology of hyperventilation?
A. PaO2 falls because ventilation is absent.
B. Hemoglobin concentration falls because oxygen-carrying capacity is reduced.
C. PaCO2 decreases to less than 35 mm Hg.
D. PaCO2 rises above 45 mm Hg.
✓ Correct Answer: C. PaCO2 decreases to less than 35 mm Hg.
Rationale: Hyperventilation increases the amount of air entering the alveoli and lowers PaCO2, producing
hypocapnia.
Question 4. Which statement best distinguishes hypoxemia from hypoxia?
A. Hypoxemia is decreased tissue oxygen use, whereas hypoxia is low PaCO2.
B. Hypoxemia is an airway disease, whereas hypoxia is always a blood-clot disorder.
C. Hypoxemia is low cardiac output, whereas hypoxia is increased hemoglobin.
D. Hypoxemia is deficient oxygen in the blood, whereas hypoxia is decreased tissue oxygenation.
✓ Correct Answer: D. Hypoxemia is deficient oxygen in the blood, whereas hypoxia is decreased tissue
oxygenation.
Rationale: The notes define hypoxemia as deficient blood oxygen and hypoxia as decreased tissue oxygenation.
Question 5. A patient at high altitude has a decreased PaO2 but normal oxygen-carrying capacity.
Which type of hypoxia is described?
A. Circulatory hypoxia.
B. Hypoxic hypoxia.
C. Anemic hypoxia.
D. Histotoxic hypoxia.
✓ Correct Answer: B. Hypoxic hypoxia.
Rationale: Hypoxic hypoxia occurs when PaO2 is decreased despite a normal oxygen-carrying capacity; high
altitude, hypoventilation, and airway obstruction are listed causes.
,Question 6. A patient has a markedly low hemoglobin level and reduced oxygen-carrying capacity.
Which type of hypoxia is most consistent with the notes?
A. Histotoxic hypoxia.
B. Circulatory hypoxia.
C. Anemic hypoxia.
D. Hypoxic hypoxia.
✓ Correct Answer: C. Anemic hypoxia.
Rationale: Anemic hypoxia results from decreased oxygen-carrying capacity, including disorders that lower
hemoglobin.
Question 7. A patient in shock has normal oxygen-carrying capacity but greatly reduced blood flow to
the tissues. Which form of hypoxia is present?
A. Circulatory hypoxia.
B. Histotoxic hypoxia.
C. Anemic hypoxia.
D. Hypoxic hypoxia.
✓ Correct Answer: A. Circulatory hypoxia.
Rationale: Circulatory hypoxia results from a low-cardiac-output state in which oxygen-carrying capacity is normal
but blood flow is reduced.
Question 8. A worker exposed to cyanide has oxygen available in the blood, but the tissues cannot use
it. Which form of hypoxia does this represent?
A. Histotoxic hypoxia.
B. Hypoxic hypoxia.
C. Circulatory hypoxia.
D. Anemic hypoxia.
✓ Correct Answer: A. Histotoxic hypoxia.
Rationale: The notes use cyanide poisoning as the example of histotoxic hypoxia, in which a toxic substance
prevents tissues from utilizing available oxygen.
Question 9. Which group of findings represents early manifestations of hypoxemia in the uploaded
review?
A. Bradycardia, extreme restlessness, and dyspnea only.
B. Restlessness, anxiety, tachycardia, and tachypnea.
C. Hemarthrosis, petechiae, and prolonged PTT.
D. JVD, ascites, and hepatomegaly.
✓ Correct Answer: B. Restlessness, anxiety, tachycardia, and tachypnea.
Rationale: The review uses the early pattern R-A-T: restlessness, anxiety, tachycardia/tachypnea.
Question 10. A patient has a recent onset of cough, low-grade fever, sore throat, fatigue, and postnasal
drip. Which disorder is most consistent with these findings?
A. Acute bronchitis.
B. Chronic venous insufficiency.
C. Cardiac tamponade.
D. Aortic stenosis.
✓ Correct Answer: A. Acute bronchitis.
Rationale: Acute bronchitis is described as usually mild and self-limited, with a productive or nonproductive cough,
low-grade fever, sore throat, postnasal drip, and fatigue.
Question 11. What is the key pathophysiologic process in acute bronchitis?
A. Alveolar walls are permanently destroyed by proteolytic enzymes.
B. An arterial clot eliminates perfusion to a limb.
C. Fluid accumulates in the pericardial sac and restricts ventricular filling.
D. Acute inflammation narrows the tracheobronchial airways through capillary dilation, fluid exudation,
inflammatory-cell infiltration, and increased mucus.
✓ Correct Answer: D. Acute inflammation narrows the tracheobronchial airways through capillary dilation,
fluid exudation, inflammatory-cell infiltration, and increased mucus.
Rationale: The notes describe acute bronchitis as inflammation of the trachea and bronchi with capillary dilation,
swelling from exudate, inflammatory cells, increased mucus, and loss of ciliary function.
, Question 12. Why may a chest radiograph be obtained in a patient with suspected acute bronchitis?
A. To confirm that the mitral valve is stenotic.
B. To identify a venous stasis ulcer.
C. To measure platelet adhesion.
D. To distinguish a usually normal bronchitis radiograph from pneumonia with pulmonary infiltrates.
✓ Correct Answer: D. To distinguish a usually normal bronchitis radiograph from pneumonia with pulmonary
infiltrates.
Rationale: The notes state that chest radiography helps distinguish acute bronchitis from pneumonia, which shows
infiltrates.
Question 13. A long-term smoker has a productive cough for more than 3 months in each of 2
successive years. Which diagnosis best matches the uploaded criteria?
A. Pleurisy.
B. Acute bronchitis.
C. Chronic bronchitis, Type B COPD.
D. Sarcoidosis.
✓ Correct Answer: C. Chronic bronchitis, Type B COPD.
Rationale: Chronic bronchitis is described by chronic or recurrent productive cough lasting more than 3 months and
occurring for 2 or more successive years.
Question 14. Which exposure is identified as the major cause of chronic bronchitis in the uploaded
notes?
A. Aortic valve calcification.
B. Cigarette smoking, accounting for about 90% of cases.
C. Cyanide exposure.
D. Vitamin K deficiency.
✓ Correct Answer: B. Cigarette smoking, accounting for about 90% of cases.
Rationale: The course notes identify cigarette smoking as the major cause of chronic bronchitis and cite
approximately 90% of cases.
Question 15. A patient with chronic bronchitis has persistent hypoxemia. Which compensatory
hematologic change is expected?
A. Secondary polycythemia from increased red blood cell production.
B. Factor VIII deficiency.
C. Loss of von Willebrand factor.
D. Thrombocytopenia from reduced megakaryocytes.
✓ Correct Answer: A. Secondary polycythemia from increased red blood cell production.
Rationale: Persistent hypoxemia in chronic bronchitis is described as stimulating increased RBC production,
producing secondary polycythemia.
Question 16. Which sequence best explains development of cor pulmonale in chronic bronchitis?
A. Systemic hypotension causes left ventricular dilation and aortic regurgitation.
B. Pleural fluid directly narrows the coronary arteries.
C. Platelet destruction causes pulmonary edema and left atrial enlargement.
D. Hypoxia and hypercarbia increase pulmonary vascular resistance, causing pulmonary hypertension and
eventually right ventricular dilation/right-sided heart failure.
✓ Correct Answer: D. Hypoxia and hypercarbia increase pulmonary vascular resistance, causing pulmonary
hypertension and eventually right ventricular dilation/right-sided heart failure.
Rationale: The notes link chronic hypoxia/hypercarbia to increased pulmonary artery resistance, pulmonary
hypertension, and eventual cor pulmonale/right-sided heart failure.
Question 17. A thin patient with progressive exertional dyspnea uses accessory muscles, has pursed-
lip breathing and a barrel chest, and has minimal cough. Which disorder is most consistent?
A. Chronic bronchitis, Type B COPD.
B. Acute bronchitis.
C. Pleural effusion.
D. Emphysema, Type A COPD.
✓ Correct Answer: D. Emphysema, Type A COPD.
Rationale: The emphysema profile in the notes includes a thin or wasted appearance, progressive exertional
dyspnea, accessory muscle use, pursed-lip breathing, barrel chest, and minimal cough.