NR 507: Advanced Pathophysiology
Midterm questions and answers with
solutions 2025/2026
Asthma - ANSWER Chronic disease due to bronchoconstriction and an
excessive inflammatory response in the bronchioles
What are 5 s/s of asthma - ANSWER coughing
wheezing
shortness of breath
rapid breathing
chest tightness
Pathophysiology of asthma (5) - ANSWER -airway inflammation,
bronchial hyper-reactivity and smooth muscle spasm
-excess mucus production and accumulation
-hypertrophy of bronchial smooth muscle
-airflow obstruction
-decreased alveolar ventilation
Bronchioles - ANSWER smaller passageways that originate from the
bronchi that become the alveoli
,3 layers of the bronchioles - ANSWER innermost layer
middle layer - lamina propria
outermost layer
lamina propria - ANSWER the middle layer of the bronchioles
structure of the lamina propria - ANSWER embedded with connective
tissue cells and immune cells
purpose of the lamina propria - ANSWER white blood cells are present to
help protect the airways
How does the lamina propria effect the lungs in regards to asthma -
ANSWER the WBCs protective feature goes into overdrive causing an
inflammatory response that damages host tissue
What does the innermost layer of the bronchioles contain - ANSWER
columnar epithelial ells and mucus producing goblet cells
What does the outermost layer of the bronchioles contain - ANSWER
smooth muscle cells
what does the outermost layer of the bronchioles do - ANSWER control
the airways ability to constrict and dilate
, alveolar hyperinflation - ANSWER When air is unable to move out of the
alveolar like it should due to bronchial walls collapsing around possible
mucus plug thus trapping air inside
how does hyperinflation occur? - ANSWER the ongoing inflammatory
process of asthma produces mucus and pus plug that the bronchial walls
collapse around
Effect of hyperinflation of the alveolar - ANSWER -expanded thorax and
hypercapnia (retention of CO2)
- respiratory acidosis
What are two anticholinergic drugs used for asthma - ANSWER
tiotropium and ipratropium
What do anticholinergics do in the lungs? - ANSWER These drugs block
the effects of the parasympathetic nervous system
- increasing bronchodilation
MOA of anticholinergic drugs for asthma - ANSWER the parasympathetic
system is stimulated by the vagal nerve to release acetylcholine which
binds to the cholinergic receptors of the respiratory tract to cause
bronchial constriction = decreased airflow
Midterm questions and answers with
solutions 2025/2026
Asthma - ANSWER Chronic disease due to bronchoconstriction and an
excessive inflammatory response in the bronchioles
What are 5 s/s of asthma - ANSWER coughing
wheezing
shortness of breath
rapid breathing
chest tightness
Pathophysiology of asthma (5) - ANSWER -airway inflammation,
bronchial hyper-reactivity and smooth muscle spasm
-excess mucus production and accumulation
-hypertrophy of bronchial smooth muscle
-airflow obstruction
-decreased alveolar ventilation
Bronchioles - ANSWER smaller passageways that originate from the
bronchi that become the alveoli
,3 layers of the bronchioles - ANSWER innermost layer
middle layer - lamina propria
outermost layer
lamina propria - ANSWER the middle layer of the bronchioles
structure of the lamina propria - ANSWER embedded with connective
tissue cells and immune cells
purpose of the lamina propria - ANSWER white blood cells are present to
help protect the airways
How does the lamina propria effect the lungs in regards to asthma -
ANSWER the WBCs protective feature goes into overdrive causing an
inflammatory response that damages host tissue
What does the innermost layer of the bronchioles contain - ANSWER
columnar epithelial ells and mucus producing goblet cells
What does the outermost layer of the bronchioles contain - ANSWER
smooth muscle cells
what does the outermost layer of the bronchioles do - ANSWER control
the airways ability to constrict and dilate
, alveolar hyperinflation - ANSWER When air is unable to move out of the
alveolar like it should due to bronchial walls collapsing around possible
mucus plug thus trapping air inside
how does hyperinflation occur? - ANSWER the ongoing inflammatory
process of asthma produces mucus and pus plug that the bronchial walls
collapse around
Effect of hyperinflation of the alveolar - ANSWER -expanded thorax and
hypercapnia (retention of CO2)
- respiratory acidosis
What are two anticholinergic drugs used for asthma - ANSWER
tiotropium and ipratropium
What do anticholinergics do in the lungs? - ANSWER These drugs block
the effects of the parasympathetic nervous system
- increasing bronchodilation
MOA of anticholinergic drugs for asthma - ANSWER the parasympathetic
system is stimulated by the vagal nerve to release acetylcholine which
binds to the cholinergic receptors of the respiratory tract to cause
bronchial constriction = decreased airflow
