NR 283 Pathophysiology Exam UPDATED
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
What occurs during osmosis? - correct answer water moves from an area of lower solute
concentration to an area of higher solute concentration.
Intracellular fluid - correct answer fluid found inside the body's cells (2/3 of fluid in the body)
Interstitial fluid - correct answer type of extracellular fluid; fills the space between cells and
tissues
Intravascular fluid - correct answer plasma; fluid within the blood vessels; type of extracellular
fluid
Extracellular fluid - correct answer fluid that exists outside of the cell (1/3 of fluid in the body)
When does fluid movement in the body occur? - correct answer when there are changes in
hydrostatic pressure and osmotic pressure
Hydrostatic pressure - correct answer the pressure exerted to push fluid from one compartment
to another.
Example: when pressure in the blood vessels is higher, more fluid may be pushed from the
intravascular area to the extracellular spaces where the pressure is lower.
Osmotic pressure - correct answer draws fluid from an area of higher concentration to one of
lower concentration.
Osmolarity - correct answer a value used to describe the concentration (number of particles)
within a fluid. Osmolarity determines osmotic pressure.
How do hydrostatic pressure and osmotic pressure work to control the movement of fluid? - correct
answer they work opposite of each other to control the movement of fluid between the blood
,and interstitial areas. Increased hydrostatic pressure causes fluid to move out of the vascular system,
and increased osmotic pressure draws fluid back into the blood.
Hyperosmolar state - correct answer -sodium is high in extracellular fluid (ecv)
-dehydration occurs
-body conserves water and increases sodium excretion
-results in a lower urine volume and a higher urine concentration
-size of ecv increases to return serum osmolarity to normal
Hypoosmolar state - correct answer -sodium is low in extracellular fluid (ecv)
-fluid overload occurs
-body increases sodium conservation and increases water secretion
-results in a higher urine volume and a lower urine concentration
-size of ecv decreases to return serum osmolarity to normal
What other factors drive fluid movement? - correct answer electrolyte concentrations, blood
pressure, proteins, and certain hormones.
How do electrolytes assist in fluid movement? - correct answer they are used by the body to
adjust fluid levels.
Example: the renal system uses sodium to transfer fluid to the urinary system, or to hold fluid in the
vascular system when a fluid volume deficit is sensed.
How does blood pressure assist in fluid movement? - correct answer regulated by receptors
throughout the body that send signals to the autonomic nervous system to constrict or dilate blood
vessels depending on the fluid imbalance it may sense.
How do proteins assist in fluid movement? - correct answer they maintain fluid balance by
attracting additional water to increase fluid balance. Low protein levels can cause movement of fluid
into interstitial areas, causing edema.
,Example: someone who has low protein can have water leak from the vascular area into the
surrounding tissue, causing edema.
How do hormones assist in fluid movement? - correct answer they are used to attract fluid or
control the pressure of the vascular system.
Example: renin, a hormone secreted by the kidney acts on the plasma protein angiotensinogen to
begin a process that leads to vasoconstriction.
Antidiuretic hormone (adh) - correct answer signals the kidneys to promote reabsorption of
water.
Aldosterone - correct answer signals the kidneys for reabsorption of sodium ions and water.
Atrial natriuretic peptide (anp) and b-type natriuretic peptide (bnp) - correct answer secreted by
the heart to assist with fluid level maintenance.
Which hormones will the body use when there is too much fluid (fluid overload) or too little fluid
(dehydration)? - correct answer antidiuretic hormone, aldosterone, atrial natriuretic peptide are
triggered for release by the hypothalamus with changes in osmotic or hydrostatic pressure.
Fluid imbalance: hypovolemia - correct answer one of the most common causes, occurs from
traumatic blood loss or dehydration. While whole blood is lost due to hemorrhage, plasma is what is
reduced when someone does not intake enough fluid to replenish fluid lost from sweat and other
sources.
Hypovolemia causes - correct answer -blood loss from external injury
-dehydration
-anemia
-gastrointestinal bleeding
-medications (diuretics, laxatives)
-extensive burns
-severe diarrhea and/or vomiting
, Hypovolemia signs & symptoms - correct answer -dizziness
-lightheadedness
-syncope (passing out)
-low blood pressure
-high heart rate
-weight loss
-oliguria or anuria (scant or no urine output)
-hypernatremia
Hypovolemia treatments - correct answer fluids; the type of fluid given is determined by the
cause of the imbalance.
-if hemorrhage is the issue, then blood products are given
-if dehydration is the issue, a salt solution that is isotonic (same concentration as the blood) is given.
-if protein deficiency or malnutrition is the issue, something containing albumin may be given.
Fluid imbalance: maldistribution of fluid - correct answer occurs when immune response
mediators or other protein or hormone deficits cause a movement of fluid from one compartment to
another without a loss of fluid.
Example: an allergic response where considerable edema may occur.
Maldistribution causes - correct answer -systemic inflammatory response syndrome
-anaphylactic reaction
-transfusion reaction
-neurogenic shock
Maldistribution signs & symptoms - correct answer -generalized or site-specific edema
(swelling)
-shortness of breath
-reduced oxygen saturation
-increased respiratory rate
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
What occurs during osmosis? - correct answer water moves from an area of lower solute
concentration to an area of higher solute concentration.
Intracellular fluid - correct answer fluid found inside the body's cells (2/3 of fluid in the body)
Interstitial fluid - correct answer type of extracellular fluid; fills the space between cells and
tissues
Intravascular fluid - correct answer plasma; fluid within the blood vessels; type of extracellular
fluid
Extracellular fluid - correct answer fluid that exists outside of the cell (1/3 of fluid in the body)
When does fluid movement in the body occur? - correct answer when there are changes in
hydrostatic pressure and osmotic pressure
Hydrostatic pressure - correct answer the pressure exerted to push fluid from one compartment
to another.
Example: when pressure in the blood vessels is higher, more fluid may be pushed from the
intravascular area to the extracellular spaces where the pressure is lower.
Osmotic pressure - correct answer draws fluid from an area of higher concentration to one of
lower concentration.
Osmolarity - correct answer a value used to describe the concentration (number of particles)
within a fluid. Osmolarity determines osmotic pressure.
How do hydrostatic pressure and osmotic pressure work to control the movement of fluid? - correct
answer they work opposite of each other to control the movement of fluid between the blood
,and interstitial areas. Increased hydrostatic pressure causes fluid to move out of the vascular system,
and increased osmotic pressure draws fluid back into the blood.
Hyperosmolar state - correct answer -sodium is high in extracellular fluid (ecv)
-dehydration occurs
-body conserves water and increases sodium excretion
-results in a lower urine volume and a higher urine concentration
-size of ecv increases to return serum osmolarity to normal
Hypoosmolar state - correct answer -sodium is low in extracellular fluid (ecv)
-fluid overload occurs
-body increases sodium conservation and increases water secretion
-results in a higher urine volume and a lower urine concentration
-size of ecv decreases to return serum osmolarity to normal
What other factors drive fluid movement? - correct answer electrolyte concentrations, blood
pressure, proteins, and certain hormones.
How do electrolytes assist in fluid movement? - correct answer they are used by the body to
adjust fluid levels.
Example: the renal system uses sodium to transfer fluid to the urinary system, or to hold fluid in the
vascular system when a fluid volume deficit is sensed.
How does blood pressure assist in fluid movement? - correct answer regulated by receptors
throughout the body that send signals to the autonomic nervous system to constrict or dilate blood
vessels depending on the fluid imbalance it may sense.
How do proteins assist in fluid movement? - correct answer they maintain fluid balance by
attracting additional water to increase fluid balance. Low protein levels can cause movement of fluid
into interstitial areas, causing edema.
,Example: someone who has low protein can have water leak from the vascular area into the
surrounding tissue, causing edema.
How do hormones assist in fluid movement? - correct answer they are used to attract fluid or
control the pressure of the vascular system.
Example: renin, a hormone secreted by the kidney acts on the plasma protein angiotensinogen to
begin a process that leads to vasoconstriction.
Antidiuretic hormone (adh) - correct answer signals the kidneys to promote reabsorption of
water.
Aldosterone - correct answer signals the kidneys for reabsorption of sodium ions and water.
Atrial natriuretic peptide (anp) and b-type natriuretic peptide (bnp) - correct answer secreted by
the heart to assist with fluid level maintenance.
Which hormones will the body use when there is too much fluid (fluid overload) or too little fluid
(dehydration)? - correct answer antidiuretic hormone, aldosterone, atrial natriuretic peptide are
triggered for release by the hypothalamus with changes in osmotic or hydrostatic pressure.
Fluid imbalance: hypovolemia - correct answer one of the most common causes, occurs from
traumatic blood loss or dehydration. While whole blood is lost due to hemorrhage, plasma is what is
reduced when someone does not intake enough fluid to replenish fluid lost from sweat and other
sources.
Hypovolemia causes - correct answer -blood loss from external injury
-dehydration
-anemia
-gastrointestinal bleeding
-medications (diuretics, laxatives)
-extensive burns
-severe diarrhea and/or vomiting
, Hypovolemia signs & symptoms - correct answer -dizziness
-lightheadedness
-syncope (passing out)
-low blood pressure
-high heart rate
-weight loss
-oliguria or anuria (scant or no urine output)
-hypernatremia
Hypovolemia treatments - correct answer fluids; the type of fluid given is determined by the
cause of the imbalance.
-if hemorrhage is the issue, then blood products are given
-if dehydration is the issue, a salt solution that is isotonic (same concentration as the blood) is given.
-if protein deficiency or malnutrition is the issue, something containing albumin may be given.
Fluid imbalance: maldistribution of fluid - correct answer occurs when immune response
mediators or other protein or hormone deficits cause a movement of fluid from one compartment to
another without a loss of fluid.
Example: an allergic response where considerable edema may occur.
Maldistribution causes - correct answer -systemic inflammatory response syndrome
-anaphylactic reaction
-transfusion reaction
-neurogenic shock
Maldistribution signs & symptoms - correct answer -generalized or site-specific edema
(swelling)
-shortness of breath
-reduced oxygen saturation
-increased respiratory rate
