Essentials of Pathophysiology Final Exam
Study Guide
1. Know physiological reactions in the body during “fight or flight
response”
- Blood vessels, pupils dilate, release epinephrine, norepinephrine
2. Define ventilation
- Process of moving air into the lungs
3. Know causes of edema
1) increased capillary hydrostatic pressure
2) loss of plasma proteins
3) obstruction of lymphatic circulation
4) increased capillary permeability
4. Define sign, symptom, subjective data, contraindication- know
how they are each used in diagnosis
- Subjective data- collected data from a patient’s feeling
- Sign- observed by nurses
- Symptom- what/how patient feels
- Contraindication- Treatments or procedures that may harm a
client
5. Know electrolytes that are higher in intracellular fluid
- Potassium
, 6. Know clinical manifestations of appendicitis and peptic ulcer
disease, be able to identify both
- Appendicitis: Pain in right lower quadrant (RLQ); McBurney’s
point
- Peptic Ulcer: Epigastric or abdominal pain, heartburn
7. Know steps of laceration correction, know what end goal is—
chap 3
- Hemostasis, Inflammatory, Proliferative, and Maturation.
Hemostasis, the first phase of healing, begins at the onset of
injury, and the objective is to stop the bleeding
8. Know clinical manifestations of ARF—high and low levels of
what in the lungs
- Clinical Manifestations:
• Shallow respirations
• Headache
• Tachycardia
• Dysrhythmias
• Lethargy
• Confusion
In acute respiratory failure O2 is low and CO2 is high (d/t
hypoventilation)
9. Know the cause of a pulmonary embolism (PE)
- Causes deep vein thrombosis, clot in leg migrates
10. Know tool to determine the level of consciousness
- Glasgow Coma Scale
2
, 11. Define cystitis, pyelonephritis—know difference
- Cystitis: Infections in the bladder area; in women (E. coli)
- Pyelonephritis: Ascending urinary tract infection (E. coli)
12. Know outcomes of imbalance in PTH, ADH, calcitonin—
what electrolyte is high/low
- Low levels of anti-diuretic hormone will cause the kidneys to excrete
too much water
13. Know phases of acute kidney injury -
Onset phase: Kidney injury occurs.
Oliguric (anuric) phase: Urine output decreases from renal
tubule damage.
Diuretic phase: The kidneys try to heal and urine output
increases, but tubule scarring, and damage occurs. Recovery
phase: Tubular edema resolves, and renal function improves.
14. Know common findings of ARDS
(acute respiratory distress syndrome)
• SOB
• Fast heart rate, fast breathing; rapid, shallow breaths
• Cough that produces phlegm
• Blue fingernails aka cyanosis
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Crackling sounds in the lungs
3
Study Guide
1. Know physiological reactions in the body during “fight or flight
response”
- Blood vessels, pupils dilate, release epinephrine, norepinephrine
2. Define ventilation
- Process of moving air into the lungs
3. Know causes of edema
1) increased capillary hydrostatic pressure
2) loss of plasma proteins
3) obstruction of lymphatic circulation
4) increased capillary permeability
4. Define sign, symptom, subjective data, contraindication- know
how they are each used in diagnosis
- Subjective data- collected data from a patient’s feeling
- Sign- observed by nurses
- Symptom- what/how patient feels
- Contraindication- Treatments or procedures that may harm a
client
5. Know electrolytes that are higher in intracellular fluid
- Potassium
, 6. Know clinical manifestations of appendicitis and peptic ulcer
disease, be able to identify both
- Appendicitis: Pain in right lower quadrant (RLQ); McBurney’s
point
- Peptic Ulcer: Epigastric or abdominal pain, heartburn
7. Know steps of laceration correction, know what end goal is—
chap 3
- Hemostasis, Inflammatory, Proliferative, and Maturation.
Hemostasis, the first phase of healing, begins at the onset of
injury, and the objective is to stop the bleeding
8. Know clinical manifestations of ARF—high and low levels of
what in the lungs
- Clinical Manifestations:
• Shallow respirations
• Headache
• Tachycardia
• Dysrhythmias
• Lethargy
• Confusion
In acute respiratory failure O2 is low and CO2 is high (d/t
hypoventilation)
9. Know the cause of a pulmonary embolism (PE)
- Causes deep vein thrombosis, clot in leg migrates
10. Know tool to determine the level of consciousness
- Glasgow Coma Scale
2
, 11. Define cystitis, pyelonephritis—know difference
- Cystitis: Infections in the bladder area; in women (E. coli)
- Pyelonephritis: Ascending urinary tract infection (E. coli)
12. Know outcomes of imbalance in PTH, ADH, calcitonin—
what electrolyte is high/low
- Low levels of anti-diuretic hormone will cause the kidneys to excrete
too much water
13. Know phases of acute kidney injury -
Onset phase: Kidney injury occurs.
Oliguric (anuric) phase: Urine output decreases from renal
tubule damage.
Diuretic phase: The kidneys try to heal and urine output
increases, but tubule scarring, and damage occurs. Recovery
phase: Tubular edema resolves, and renal function improves.
14. Know common findings of ARDS
(acute respiratory distress syndrome)
• SOB
• Fast heart rate, fast breathing; rapid, shallow breaths
• Cough that produces phlegm
• Blue fingernails aka cyanosis
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Crackling sounds in the lungs
3
