GCU PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
MIDTERM EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS 2026 - 2027
Hemophilia
An X-linked recessive disorder in which blood fails to clot properly,
leading to excessive bleeding if injured.
How does hemophilia affect...
Hemophilia can result in: Bleeding within joints that can lead to
chronic joint disease and pain. Bleeding in the head and sometimes
in the brain which can cause long term problems, such as seizures
and paralysis. Death can occur if the bleeding cannot be stopped or if it
occurs in a vital organ such as the brain
Hemophilia type A
Factor VIII deficiency
coagulation disorder; defect in factor #8; need a bag of blood prior to
dental treatment
Hemophilia type B
Factor IX deficiency
coagulation disorder; defect in factor #9; also known as Christmas
disease
Von Willebrand Disease
bleeding disorder caused by a deficiency of von Willebrand factor, a
"sticky" protein that lines blood vessels and reacts with platelets to form
a plug that leads to clot formation
most common inherited bleeding disorder
DIC
disseminated intravascular coagulation
Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC)
abnormal activation of the proteins involved in blood coagulation,
causing small blood clots to form in vessels and cutting off the supply of
,oxygen to distal tissues
EKG
(electrocardiogram) instrument used in measuring the electrical potential
during a heartbeat
Echocardiogram
ultrasound of the heart
Tropnin 1
CK - MB
Creatine Kinase-Muscle Breakdown
STEMI treatment
1. Aspirin + Ticagrelor, prasugrel, or clopidogrel
2. Morphine
3. PCI (percutaneous coronary intervention) door to balloon time < 90
minutes
4. Alteplase tPA, Reteplase,or Streptokinase followed by heparin + PPI
5. Beta blocker
6. ACE-I
7. Statins
N STEMI
a non-segment elevation MI is a heart attack that is not diagnosed on the
EKG but is diagnosed by an elevated troponin on blood test
Angina (stable and unstable)
mild to moderate substernal chest pain lasting less than 20 min due to
transient ischemia brought on by increased demands on heart
1. stable angina: exertional angina relieved with rest or sublingual
nitroglycerin
2. unstable angina: risk for MI or death, presents with low level activity
or rest; exercise contradindicated
Left sided congestive heart failure
Think Left "L" Lungs
DOE
Dry cough, crackles, wheezing
Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea-sob when lying down
Cheyne-Stokes respirations
Tachypnea and cardia
if the left ventricle pumps inefficiently, blood backs into the lungs
, S/S: pulmonary edema
usually leads to right sided failure
right side congestive heart failure
fluid builds up in tissues as peripheral edema
raises right atrial pressure and produces systemic congestion and edema
hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
heart muscle becomes enlarged and blocks blood flow
Cor pulmonale
right ventricular hypertrophy and heart failure due to pulmonary
hypertension
hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy
a genetic disease resulting in abnormal heart muscle
Systolic dysfunction
LHF due to decreased ventricular contractility (ischemia)
cardiomyopathy
Dystolic dysfunction
When the muscles of the heart become stiff, they can't relax
properly, creating a condition known as diastolic dysfunction. This
inflexibility prevents the heart's ventricles from filling completely,
causing blood to back up in the organs
Septic Shock
a serious condition that occurs when an overwhelming bacterial
infection affects the body
hypovolemic shock
A condition in which low blood volume, due to massive internal or
external bleeding or extensive loss of body water, results in inadequate
perfusion.
anaphylactic shock
A severe reaction that occurs when an allergen is introduced to the
bloodstream of an allergic individual. Characterized by
bronchoconstriction, labored breathing, widespread vasodilation,
circulatory shock, and sometimes sudden death.
Cardiogenic shock
A state in which not enough oxygen is delivered to the tissues of the
body, caused by low output of blood from the heart. It can be a severe
MIDTERM EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS 2026 - 2027
Hemophilia
An X-linked recessive disorder in which blood fails to clot properly,
leading to excessive bleeding if injured.
How does hemophilia affect...
Hemophilia can result in: Bleeding within joints that can lead to
chronic joint disease and pain. Bleeding in the head and sometimes
in the brain which can cause long term problems, such as seizures
and paralysis. Death can occur if the bleeding cannot be stopped or if it
occurs in a vital organ such as the brain
Hemophilia type A
Factor VIII deficiency
coagulation disorder; defect in factor #8; need a bag of blood prior to
dental treatment
Hemophilia type B
Factor IX deficiency
coagulation disorder; defect in factor #9; also known as Christmas
disease
Von Willebrand Disease
bleeding disorder caused by a deficiency of von Willebrand factor, a
"sticky" protein that lines blood vessels and reacts with platelets to form
a plug that leads to clot formation
most common inherited bleeding disorder
DIC
disseminated intravascular coagulation
Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC)
abnormal activation of the proteins involved in blood coagulation,
causing small blood clots to form in vessels and cutting off the supply of
,oxygen to distal tissues
EKG
(electrocardiogram) instrument used in measuring the electrical potential
during a heartbeat
Echocardiogram
ultrasound of the heart
Tropnin 1
CK - MB
Creatine Kinase-Muscle Breakdown
STEMI treatment
1. Aspirin + Ticagrelor, prasugrel, or clopidogrel
2. Morphine
3. PCI (percutaneous coronary intervention) door to balloon time < 90
minutes
4. Alteplase tPA, Reteplase,or Streptokinase followed by heparin + PPI
5. Beta blocker
6. ACE-I
7. Statins
N STEMI
a non-segment elevation MI is a heart attack that is not diagnosed on the
EKG but is diagnosed by an elevated troponin on blood test
Angina (stable and unstable)
mild to moderate substernal chest pain lasting less than 20 min due to
transient ischemia brought on by increased demands on heart
1. stable angina: exertional angina relieved with rest or sublingual
nitroglycerin
2. unstable angina: risk for MI or death, presents with low level activity
or rest; exercise contradindicated
Left sided congestive heart failure
Think Left "L" Lungs
DOE
Dry cough, crackles, wheezing
Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea-sob when lying down
Cheyne-Stokes respirations
Tachypnea and cardia
if the left ventricle pumps inefficiently, blood backs into the lungs
, S/S: pulmonary edema
usually leads to right sided failure
right side congestive heart failure
fluid builds up in tissues as peripheral edema
raises right atrial pressure and produces systemic congestion and edema
hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
heart muscle becomes enlarged and blocks blood flow
Cor pulmonale
right ventricular hypertrophy and heart failure due to pulmonary
hypertension
hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy
a genetic disease resulting in abnormal heart muscle
Systolic dysfunction
LHF due to decreased ventricular contractility (ischemia)
cardiomyopathy
Dystolic dysfunction
When the muscles of the heart become stiff, they can't relax
properly, creating a condition known as diastolic dysfunction. This
inflexibility prevents the heart's ventricles from filling completely,
causing blood to back up in the organs
Septic Shock
a serious condition that occurs when an overwhelming bacterial
infection affects the body
hypovolemic shock
A condition in which low blood volume, due to massive internal or
external bleeding or extensive loss of body water, results in inadequate
perfusion.
anaphylactic shock
A severe reaction that occurs when an allergen is introduced to the
bloodstream of an allergic individual. Characterized by
bronchoconstriction, labored breathing, widespread vasodilation,
circulatory shock, and sometimes sudden death.
Cardiogenic shock
A state in which not enough oxygen is delivered to the tissues of the
body, caused by low output of blood from the heart. It can be a severe
