NURS 5350 Advanced Pathophysiology Exam 3 2026–2027 – Questions, Answers & Study Guide

NURS 5350 Advanced Pathophysiology Exam 3
2026–2027 – Questions, Answers & Study Guide
1. Whatis a cough?: Protectivereflexthathelpscleartheairwaysbyanexplosiveexpiration.
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Acute cough: 2-3 weeks
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Chronic cough: longer than 3 weeks.
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Causes: Post nasal drip, GERD, medications (ACE).
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2. Hypoventilation vs. Hyperventilation?: Hypo: Alveolar ventilation is INADEQUATE: leads to RES- k k k k k k k k k k




PIRATORYACIDOSIS. k




Hyper: Alveolar ventilation EXCEEDS metabolic demands: Leads to RESPIRATORY ALKALOSIS.
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3. What is clubbing?: Apainlessenlargementoftheterminalphalangesofthefingersandtoesthatdevelops over
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time due to chronic hypoxia (COPD, CF, Pulmonary fibrosis, CHD).
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4. Whatis Hypoxemia vs. Hypoxia?: Hypoxemiaislowarterialbloodoxygencontent.
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Hypoxia is inadequate oxygen level in the tissues/cells.
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5. What is pneomothorax?: Presenceofairorgasinpleuralspace.
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6. Open vs tension pneumothorax?: Open:Airpressureinpleuralspaceequalsbarometricpressure
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.

Tension:Siteofpleuralruptureactsasonewayvalvepermittingairtoenteroninspirationbutpreventsitsescapeby closingduring
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expiration.
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7. What is pleural effusion?: Accumulationoffluidinthepleuralspace.
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Empyema: Pus k




8. What is Empyema?: Pusinthepleuralspace. k k k k k k k




Treatment: Antimicrobial medications and DRAINAGE of pleural space with chest tube.
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9. What is bronchiectasis?: Persistent abnormal dilation of the bronchi by DESTRUCTION OF THE ELASTIC OR
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MUSCULAR COMPONENTS OF THE BRONCHIAL WALL OR LUMEN OBSTRUCTION.
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10. What is Bronchitis?: Inflammation of the bronchial tubes - usually caused by viruses.
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11. What is bronchiolitis?: Dittuse inflammation of smallest airways or bronchioles (which are located on the
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most distal end of bronchi before the alveoli.
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,12. What is asthma? How does genetics and environment play a role in child- k k k k k k k k k k k k




hood asthma?WHa: Chronicinflammatorydisorderofthebronchialmucosa.
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Causes bronchial hyper responsiveness, constriction of the airways and variable airflow obstruction that is reversible. Allergies
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are a key component as many attacks are due to allergic response.
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Childhood asthma: Genetics: genes that code for increased levels of immune and inflammatory mediators (IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-
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13, IgE, and leukotrienes).
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13. What is COPD?: Airflow limitation thatis not fully reversible.
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Usually progressive and associated with chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
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14. Risk factors for COPD?: Smoking, dusts, chemicals, indoor pollution, outdoor air pollution.
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15. What is Emphysema?: Abnormal permanent enlargement of the gas-exchange airways accompanied by
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destruction of alveolar walls without obvious fibrosis.
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16. What are the two types of emphysema?: Centriacinar:Septaldestructionoccursinbronchi-oles
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and alveolar ducts. Occurs in smokers with chronic bronchitis.
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Panacinar: Involbves the entireacinus. Involves lower lobes of thelung.
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17. Whatcauseschronic bronchitis?: Causedbyviruses90%ofthetime. k k k k k k k k k k




18. What is a pulmonary embolism? Types or Origins? Risk factors?: Occlusion of a k k k k k k k k k k k k




portion of the pulmonary vascular bed by a thrombus, embolus, tissue fragments, lipids (fats), foreign body, air bubble, or
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amniotic fluid.
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Commonly (90%) arise from the deep veins in legs. k k k k k k k k




VirchowTriad:Venousstasis,hypercoagulability,andinjuriestotheendothelialcellsthatlinethevessels.
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Risk factors: Conditions that promote blood clotting (venous stasis: immobilization, heart failure), hypercoagulability (oral
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contreceptives, hormone replacement, pregnancy), genetic clotting disorders (factor V leiden mutation, etc).
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19. Cor Pulmonale?: SecondarytoPAH. k k k k




k Right ventricular enlargement.
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, Pulmonary hypertension, creating chronic pressure overload in the right ventricle.
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Clinical manifestations: heart appears normal at rest. With exercise: decreased cardiac output and chest pain.
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20. What is pulmonary edema?: Fluidinthelungsmostcommonlycausedbyleftsidesheartfailure, or high
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altitudes.
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SS: Dyspnea, hypoxia, dullness to percussion over bases, inspiratory crackles, pink frothy sputum.
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21. Laryngeal Cancer? Risk factors? SS?: Riskfactors:tobaccosmaoke,HPV,alcoholconsumption with k k k k k k k k k k k k




smoking.
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SS:Hoarseness,dyspnea,andcough.
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Patho: Laryngeal dysplasia has a high risk of progressing to malignancy. Metastasis develops by spreading to the draining
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lymph nodes.
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22. What is the most frequent cause of cancer death in the United States?: Lung Cancer
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(bronchogenic carcinomas).
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23. How do you determine treatment for lung cancer?: TNMclassificationsystem.
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T:Tumor(primary)extent.
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N:Noduleinvolvement.
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M:Metastasisextent.
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24. What is surfactant?: Lipid-protein mix produced by alveolar type II cells which MAINTAINS ALVEOLAR
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EXPANSION.
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Produced by. 20-24 weeks gestation; is secreted into the fetal airways by 30 weeks gestation; therefore babies born before 30
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weeks are at risk for inadequate surfactant in the lungs.
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25. What is croup?: Acutelaryngotracheobronchitis. k k k k




Common in 6 months to 5 years of age. k k k k k k k k




SS: seal-like barking cough, hoarse voice, and inspiratory stridor.
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26. What is the most common associated pathogen with brnchiolitis?: RSV.
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