NU 631 EXAMINATION QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
ANSWERS
Absolute polycythemia - excessive red blood cell production; a physiologic response resulting
from increased erythropoietin secretion in response to chronic hypoxia or as a symptom of polycythemia
vera.
Absorption atelectasis - see Atelectasis.
Acid maltase deficiency (glycogen storage disease type II or Pompe disease) - an autosomal
recessive metabolic disorder that damages muscle and nerve cells throughout the body by an
accumulation of glycogen in the lysosome attributable to deficiency of the lysosomal acid a-glucosidase
enzyme. The buildup of glycogen causes progressive muscle weakness (myopathy) throughout the body
and affects various body tissues, particularly in the heart, skeletal muscles, liver, and nervous system.
Acne - a common skin disease characterized by pimples on the face, chest, and back. It occurs
when the pores of the skin become clogged with oil, dead skin cells, and bacteria.
Acne conglobata - severe cystic acne characterized by cystic lesions, abscesses, communicating
sinuses, and thickened, nodular scars; usually does not affect the face.
Acne rosacea - a chronic form of dermatitis of the face in which the middle portion of the face
appears red with small red lines caused by dilation of capillaries.
Acne vulgaris - an inflammatory eruption of the sebaceous follicles usually occurring on the face,
upper back, and chest that consists of blackheads, cysts, papules, and pustules.
Noninflammatory acne - open comedones caused by the enlargement and dilation of a plug
resulting from the accumulation of oil and dead skin cells inside the hair follicle and by closed
comedones that form if the hair follicle pore remains closed; they appear as a tiny, sometimes pink
bump in the skin.
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) - see Immune deficiency.
Acquired sideroblastic anemia - see Anemia.
ACTH deficiency - a condition characterized by decreased or absent production of
adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) by the pituitary gland, resulting in a reduction in the secretion of
adrenal hormones and subsequent weight loss, lack of appetite, weakness, nausea, vomiting, and low
blood pressure.
Actinic keratosis - a condition in which a premalignant small, reddish, rough spot appears on skin
chronically exposed to the sun.
Acute chest syndrome - a syndrome occurring in association with sickle cell disease defined by a
new infiltrate on chest radiograph; associated with one or more new symptoms: fever, cough, sputum
,production, dyspnea, or hypoxia. It occurs most commonly in the 2- to 4-year-old age group and declines
in incidence with age.
Acute colonic pseudo-obstruction (Ogilvie syndrome) - a massive dilation of the large bowel that
occurs in critically ill patients and immobilized older adults. It is characterized by significant dilation of
the cecum and absence of mechanical obstruction, and is related to excessive sympathetic motor input
or decreased parasympathetic motor input.
Acute confusional state (ACS) - a form of delirium caused by interference with the metabolic or
other biochemical processes essential for normal brain functioning. Symptoms may include disturbances
in cognition and levels of awareness, short-term memory deficit, retrograde and anterograde amnesia,
and disturbances in orientation, accompanied by restlessness, apprehension, irritability, and apathy. The
condition may be associated with an acute physiologic state, delirium, toxic psychosis, or acute brain
syndrome.
Acute coronary syndrome - a classification encompassing clinical presentations ranging from
unstable angina through infarction.
Acute cystitis - an inflammation of the bladder, which is the most common site of urinary tract
infection.
Acute epiglottitis - an infection that causes inflammation of the epiglottis and surrounding tissues
and may lead to upper airway blockage.
Acute gastritis - an inflammatory disorder of the gastric mucosa, usually caused by injury of the
protective mucosal barrier by drugs, chemicals, or Helicobacter pylori infection.
Acute glomerulonephritis - see Glomerulonephritis.
Acute gouty arthritis - an abrupt pain of a joint, most often the great toe, which is swollen, hot,
and shiny secondary to an attack of gout.
Acute idiopathic thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) - see Thrombocytopenia.
Acute leukemia - see Leukemia.
Acute liver failure (fulminant liver failure) - a rare clinical syndrome resulting from severe
impairment or necrosis of liver cells without preexisting liver disease or cirrhosis. Acetaminophen
overdose is the leading cause.
Acute lung injury (ALI)/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) - a spectrum of acute lung
inflammation and diffuse alveolocapillary injury.
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) - see Leukemia.
Acute mesenteric ischemia - caused by acute occlusion of the mesenteric artery that results in a
significant reduction in mucosal blood flow to the large and small intestines. Aortic aneurysms, arterial
thrombi, or emboli can be causes.
,Acute mountain sickness (AMS) - the presence of a combination of nonspecific symptoms that
appear within a few hours after ascent to altitude, and may include headache, loss of appetite, nausea,
vomiting, weakness, lassitude, dizziness, and difficulty sleeping.
Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) - see Leukemia.
Acute orthostatic hypotension - an abnormal decrease in blood pressure when a person stands.
This may lead to fainting.
Acute otitis media (AOM) - an infection of the middle ear space, behind the eardrum (tympanic
membrane); characterized by pain, dizziness, and partial loss of hearing.
Acute pancreatitis - inflammation of the pancreas resulting from obstruction to the outflow of
pancreatic digestive enzymes caused by bile duct or pancreatic duct obstruction (e.g., gallstones).
Usually a mild disease and resolves spontaneously.
Acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis (PSGN) - see Glomerulonephritis.
Acute pyelonephritis - acute inflammation of the renal parenchyma and pelvis characterized by
small cortical abscesses and yellowish streaks in the medulla resulting from the accumulation of pus in
the collecting tubules and interstitial tissue.
Acute renal failure (acute renal injury) - a sudden decline in kidney function with a decrease in
glomerular filtration and accumulation of nitrogenous waste products in the blood as demonstrated by
an elevation in plasma creatinine and blood urea nitrogen levels.
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) - capillaries or alveoli of the lungs are damaged as a
result of infection, injury, blood loss, or inhalation injury causing fluid to leak from the capillaries into the
alveoli, resulting in pulmonary edema and collapse of some alveoli.
Acute tubular necrosis (ATN) - the kidney undergoes ischemic or nephrotoxic injury because of
severe hypotension, aminoglycosides, or radiocontrast agents and produces granular and epithelial cell
casts in urine.
Acute urethral syndrome - the bladder is irritated and the typical symptoms of a urinary tract
infection are present in the absence of an infection.
Adenocarcinoma - tumor arising from epithelial cells with a glandular or glandlike pattern.
Adenocystic tumor (cylindroma) - rare bronchial gland tumors that arise predominantly in the
trachea or large airways and cause obstruction.
Adenomyosis - the presence of islands of endometrial glands surrounded by benign endometrial
stroma within the uterine myometrium.
Adenosine deaminase (ADA) deficiency - see Immune deficiency.
, Adrenarche - growth of axillary and pubic hair and other physiologic changes induced by
hyperactivity of the suprarenal cortex and adrenocortical secretion of androgenic hormones in early
puberty.
Agammaglobulinemia - see Immune deficiency.
Ageusia - loss of the sense of taste.
Agoraphobia - a mental disorder characterized by an irrational fear of leaving the familiar setting
of home, or venturing into the open; it is so pervasive that a large number of external life situations are
entered into reluctantly or are avoided; often associated with panic attacks.
Agranulocytosis - see Immune deficiency.
Akinesia - slowness or loss of normal motor function resulting in impaired muscle movement.
Akinetic mutism (AM) - a syndrome characterized by the inability to speak, loss of voluntary
movement, and apparent loss of emotional feeling. It is related to lesions of the upper brainstem.
Albright syndrome (Albright-McCune-Sternberg syndrome) - a syndrome characterized by
polyostotic fibrous dysplasia, patchy dermal pigmentation, and endocrine dysfunction.
Alcoholic cirrhosis - see Cirrhosis.
Alcoholic fatty liver (steatosis) - the mildest form of alcoholic liver disease; can be caused by
chronic ingestion of relatively small amounts of alcohol, may be asymptomatic, and is reversible with
cessation of drinking.
Alcoholic hepatitis (steatohepatitis) - a precursor of cirrhosis characterized by inflammation;
degeneration and necrosis of hepatocytes; infiltration of neutrophils, macrophages, and lymphocytes;
immunologic alterations; and lipid peroxidation.
Algor mortis - postmortem reduction of body temperature.
Alkaline reflux gastritis - inflammation of the stomach caused by reflux of bile and alkaline
pancreatic secretions that contain proteolytic enzymes and disrupt the mucosal barrier in the remnant
stomach.
Allergic contact dermatitis - contact dermatitis attributable to allergic sensitization.
Allodynia - a condition in which pain arises from a stimulus that would not normally be
experienced as painful.
Allostasis - long-term or chronic exaggerated responses to stress.
Alogia - inability to speak because of mental deficiency, mental confusion, or aphasia.
Alopecia - loss of hair.
ANSWERS
Absolute polycythemia - excessive red blood cell production; a physiologic response resulting
from increased erythropoietin secretion in response to chronic hypoxia or as a symptom of polycythemia
vera.
Absorption atelectasis - see Atelectasis.
Acid maltase deficiency (glycogen storage disease type II or Pompe disease) - an autosomal
recessive metabolic disorder that damages muscle and nerve cells throughout the body by an
accumulation of glycogen in the lysosome attributable to deficiency of the lysosomal acid a-glucosidase
enzyme. The buildup of glycogen causes progressive muscle weakness (myopathy) throughout the body
and affects various body tissues, particularly in the heart, skeletal muscles, liver, and nervous system.
Acne - a common skin disease characterized by pimples on the face, chest, and back. It occurs
when the pores of the skin become clogged with oil, dead skin cells, and bacteria.
Acne conglobata - severe cystic acne characterized by cystic lesions, abscesses, communicating
sinuses, and thickened, nodular scars; usually does not affect the face.
Acne rosacea - a chronic form of dermatitis of the face in which the middle portion of the face
appears red with small red lines caused by dilation of capillaries.
Acne vulgaris - an inflammatory eruption of the sebaceous follicles usually occurring on the face,
upper back, and chest that consists of blackheads, cysts, papules, and pustules.
Noninflammatory acne - open comedones caused by the enlargement and dilation of a plug
resulting from the accumulation of oil and dead skin cells inside the hair follicle and by closed
comedones that form if the hair follicle pore remains closed; they appear as a tiny, sometimes pink
bump in the skin.
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) - see Immune deficiency.
Acquired sideroblastic anemia - see Anemia.
ACTH deficiency - a condition characterized by decreased or absent production of
adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) by the pituitary gland, resulting in a reduction in the secretion of
adrenal hormones and subsequent weight loss, lack of appetite, weakness, nausea, vomiting, and low
blood pressure.
Actinic keratosis - a condition in which a premalignant small, reddish, rough spot appears on skin
chronically exposed to the sun.
Acute chest syndrome - a syndrome occurring in association with sickle cell disease defined by a
new infiltrate on chest radiograph; associated with one or more new symptoms: fever, cough, sputum
,production, dyspnea, or hypoxia. It occurs most commonly in the 2- to 4-year-old age group and declines
in incidence with age.
Acute colonic pseudo-obstruction (Ogilvie syndrome) - a massive dilation of the large bowel that
occurs in critically ill patients and immobilized older adults. It is characterized by significant dilation of
the cecum and absence of mechanical obstruction, and is related to excessive sympathetic motor input
or decreased parasympathetic motor input.
Acute confusional state (ACS) - a form of delirium caused by interference with the metabolic or
other biochemical processes essential for normal brain functioning. Symptoms may include disturbances
in cognition and levels of awareness, short-term memory deficit, retrograde and anterograde amnesia,
and disturbances in orientation, accompanied by restlessness, apprehension, irritability, and apathy. The
condition may be associated with an acute physiologic state, delirium, toxic psychosis, or acute brain
syndrome.
Acute coronary syndrome - a classification encompassing clinical presentations ranging from
unstable angina through infarction.
Acute cystitis - an inflammation of the bladder, which is the most common site of urinary tract
infection.
Acute epiglottitis - an infection that causes inflammation of the epiglottis and surrounding tissues
and may lead to upper airway blockage.
Acute gastritis - an inflammatory disorder of the gastric mucosa, usually caused by injury of the
protective mucosal barrier by drugs, chemicals, or Helicobacter pylori infection.
Acute glomerulonephritis - see Glomerulonephritis.
Acute gouty arthritis - an abrupt pain of a joint, most often the great toe, which is swollen, hot,
and shiny secondary to an attack of gout.
Acute idiopathic thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) - see Thrombocytopenia.
Acute leukemia - see Leukemia.
Acute liver failure (fulminant liver failure) - a rare clinical syndrome resulting from severe
impairment or necrosis of liver cells without preexisting liver disease or cirrhosis. Acetaminophen
overdose is the leading cause.
Acute lung injury (ALI)/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) - a spectrum of acute lung
inflammation and diffuse alveolocapillary injury.
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) - see Leukemia.
Acute mesenteric ischemia - caused by acute occlusion of the mesenteric artery that results in a
significant reduction in mucosal blood flow to the large and small intestines. Aortic aneurysms, arterial
thrombi, or emboli can be causes.
,Acute mountain sickness (AMS) - the presence of a combination of nonspecific symptoms that
appear within a few hours after ascent to altitude, and may include headache, loss of appetite, nausea,
vomiting, weakness, lassitude, dizziness, and difficulty sleeping.
Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) - see Leukemia.
Acute orthostatic hypotension - an abnormal decrease in blood pressure when a person stands.
This may lead to fainting.
Acute otitis media (AOM) - an infection of the middle ear space, behind the eardrum (tympanic
membrane); characterized by pain, dizziness, and partial loss of hearing.
Acute pancreatitis - inflammation of the pancreas resulting from obstruction to the outflow of
pancreatic digestive enzymes caused by bile duct or pancreatic duct obstruction (e.g., gallstones).
Usually a mild disease and resolves spontaneously.
Acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis (PSGN) - see Glomerulonephritis.
Acute pyelonephritis - acute inflammation of the renal parenchyma and pelvis characterized by
small cortical abscesses and yellowish streaks in the medulla resulting from the accumulation of pus in
the collecting tubules and interstitial tissue.
Acute renal failure (acute renal injury) - a sudden decline in kidney function with a decrease in
glomerular filtration and accumulation of nitrogenous waste products in the blood as demonstrated by
an elevation in plasma creatinine and blood urea nitrogen levels.
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) - capillaries or alveoli of the lungs are damaged as a
result of infection, injury, blood loss, or inhalation injury causing fluid to leak from the capillaries into the
alveoli, resulting in pulmonary edema and collapse of some alveoli.
Acute tubular necrosis (ATN) - the kidney undergoes ischemic or nephrotoxic injury because of
severe hypotension, aminoglycosides, or radiocontrast agents and produces granular and epithelial cell
casts in urine.
Acute urethral syndrome - the bladder is irritated and the typical symptoms of a urinary tract
infection are present in the absence of an infection.
Adenocarcinoma - tumor arising from epithelial cells with a glandular or glandlike pattern.
Adenocystic tumor (cylindroma) - rare bronchial gland tumors that arise predominantly in the
trachea or large airways and cause obstruction.
Adenomyosis - the presence of islands of endometrial glands surrounded by benign endometrial
stroma within the uterine myometrium.
Adenosine deaminase (ADA) deficiency - see Immune deficiency.
, Adrenarche - growth of axillary and pubic hair and other physiologic changes induced by
hyperactivity of the suprarenal cortex and adrenocortical secretion of androgenic hormones in early
puberty.
Agammaglobulinemia - see Immune deficiency.
Ageusia - loss of the sense of taste.
Agoraphobia - a mental disorder characterized by an irrational fear of leaving the familiar setting
of home, or venturing into the open; it is so pervasive that a large number of external life situations are
entered into reluctantly or are avoided; often associated with panic attacks.
Agranulocytosis - see Immune deficiency.
Akinesia - slowness or loss of normal motor function resulting in impaired muscle movement.
Akinetic mutism (AM) - a syndrome characterized by the inability to speak, loss of voluntary
movement, and apparent loss of emotional feeling. It is related to lesions of the upper brainstem.
Albright syndrome (Albright-McCune-Sternberg syndrome) - a syndrome characterized by
polyostotic fibrous dysplasia, patchy dermal pigmentation, and endocrine dysfunction.
Alcoholic cirrhosis - see Cirrhosis.
Alcoholic fatty liver (steatosis) - the mildest form of alcoholic liver disease; can be caused by
chronic ingestion of relatively small amounts of alcohol, may be asymptomatic, and is reversible with
cessation of drinking.
Alcoholic hepatitis (steatohepatitis) - a precursor of cirrhosis characterized by inflammation;
degeneration and necrosis of hepatocytes; infiltration of neutrophils, macrophages, and lymphocytes;
immunologic alterations; and lipid peroxidation.
Algor mortis - postmortem reduction of body temperature.
Alkaline reflux gastritis - inflammation of the stomach caused by reflux of bile and alkaline
pancreatic secretions that contain proteolytic enzymes and disrupt the mucosal barrier in the remnant
stomach.
Allergic contact dermatitis - contact dermatitis attributable to allergic sensitization.
Allodynia - a condition in which pain arises from a stimulus that would not normally be
experienced as painful.
Allostasis - long-term or chronic exaggerated responses to stress.
Alogia - inability to speak because of mental deficiency, mental confusion, or aphasia.
Alopecia - loss of hair.
