PN2003 MIDTERM FINAL EXAM 2024-2025
As we age what happens to our height? Why?
decreased height approx. 2 inches by 80 years old
- due to reduced hydration
- loss of cartilage
- thinning of the vertebra
- long bone curve
What happens to our weight as we age? Why?
-Weight is reduced because
- muscle mass is reduced
- fat tissue is decreased
(total body fat of body composition is increased)
- bone mass decreases
- intracellular fluid decreases = less body fluid
- because of less fat the elderly are colder
what is pneumonia
inflammation of the lungs
How is pneumonia present?
- fever
- rapid pulse >100
- shortness of breath
- chest pain upon inhaling
,- femmy cough 😷 with yellow/green sputum
As we age what happens to to the respiratory system structure?
- elastic recoil decreases
- chest wall compliance decreases (the ability of the lung tissue to "absorb" the
same applied force, which generally results from a change in intrathoracic pressure)
- alveoli function decreases
- anteroposterior diameter (barrel chest)increases (rib cage cannot expand and
compress)
As we age what happens to the respiratory system control?
- response to hypoxemia (low o2) decreases
- response to hypercapnia (build-up of CO2) decreases
As we age what happens to the respiratory system defense mechanisms?
- decreased cell-mediated immunity
- decreased specific antibodies
- decreased cilia function
- decreased cough force
- decreased alveolar macrophage function (They ingest small inhaled particles)
As we age what happens to the cardiovascular system?
- decreased heart rate
- increased arrhythmias (irregular/fast/slow heartbeat)
- ischemic tissue (reduction in blood supply)
- hypertrophy (heart muscle becomes thickened, making chambers smaller)
- blood vessels and arteries in the head, neck, and extremities are more prominent
(due to fat loss and thinner skin)
,- heart size does not change with age
- valves become thick and rigid
- CO decreases
What is arteriosclerosis?
hardening of the arteries
What is atherosclerosis?
The build-up of fats, cholesterol, and other substances in and on the artery walls.
As we age what happens to the musculoskeletal system?
- enlarged joints (kyphosis)
- muscle fibers atrophy (wasting/thinning of muscle)
- muscle decreases
- muscle mass, strength, movements decrease (sarcopenia)
- possible muscle tremmors
- reflexes are lessened
- bone mineral/mass is decreased (demineralization)
What causes demineralization of bones?
prolonged inactivity
what amount of older adults suffer from arthritis? What is arthritis?
50%
- inflammation of a joint
As we age what happens to the endocrine system?
- decreased regulatory and feedback mechanisms
- decreased binding affinities and receptors
, - decreased thyroid gland output of thyroxine
- decreased rate of insulin release from the pancreas
- decreased receptor sensitivity to glucose
- decreased ability to metabolize insulin = high blood suger
- decreased ACTH (stress is more difficult)
-
As we age what happens to the integumentary system?
- skin tags
- purpura (purple bruised looking skin)
- actinic keratosis (from sun exposure)
- seborrheic keratosis (non-cancerous)
- senile pruritus (dry scaly skin)
- skin repairs slower
What is very common in the elderly who are immobile related to the integumentary
system?
pressure injuries
As we age what decreases in the GI system?
- decreased HCL production
- decreased taste buds
- decreased intestinal motility
- decreased swallowing coordination
- decreased vit b12 (k) absorption from food
As we age what changes in the GI system in regards to the large intestine?
- slowed transit
As we age what happens to our height? Why?
decreased height approx. 2 inches by 80 years old
- due to reduced hydration
- loss of cartilage
- thinning of the vertebra
- long bone curve
What happens to our weight as we age? Why?
-Weight is reduced because
- muscle mass is reduced
- fat tissue is decreased
(total body fat of body composition is increased)
- bone mass decreases
- intracellular fluid decreases = less body fluid
- because of less fat the elderly are colder
what is pneumonia
inflammation of the lungs
How is pneumonia present?
- fever
- rapid pulse >100
- shortness of breath
- chest pain upon inhaling
,- femmy cough 😷 with yellow/green sputum
As we age what happens to to the respiratory system structure?
- elastic recoil decreases
- chest wall compliance decreases (the ability of the lung tissue to "absorb" the
same applied force, which generally results from a change in intrathoracic pressure)
- alveoli function decreases
- anteroposterior diameter (barrel chest)increases (rib cage cannot expand and
compress)
As we age what happens to the respiratory system control?
- response to hypoxemia (low o2) decreases
- response to hypercapnia (build-up of CO2) decreases
As we age what happens to the respiratory system defense mechanisms?
- decreased cell-mediated immunity
- decreased specific antibodies
- decreased cilia function
- decreased cough force
- decreased alveolar macrophage function (They ingest small inhaled particles)
As we age what happens to the cardiovascular system?
- decreased heart rate
- increased arrhythmias (irregular/fast/slow heartbeat)
- ischemic tissue (reduction in blood supply)
- hypertrophy (heart muscle becomes thickened, making chambers smaller)
- blood vessels and arteries in the head, neck, and extremities are more prominent
(due to fat loss and thinner skin)
,- heart size does not change with age
- valves become thick and rigid
- CO decreases
What is arteriosclerosis?
hardening of the arteries
What is atherosclerosis?
The build-up of fats, cholesterol, and other substances in and on the artery walls.
As we age what happens to the musculoskeletal system?
- enlarged joints (kyphosis)
- muscle fibers atrophy (wasting/thinning of muscle)
- muscle decreases
- muscle mass, strength, movements decrease (sarcopenia)
- possible muscle tremmors
- reflexes are lessened
- bone mineral/mass is decreased (demineralization)
What causes demineralization of bones?
prolonged inactivity
what amount of older adults suffer from arthritis? What is arthritis?
50%
- inflammation of a joint
As we age what happens to the endocrine system?
- decreased regulatory and feedback mechanisms
- decreased binding affinities and receptors
, - decreased thyroid gland output of thyroxine
- decreased rate of insulin release from the pancreas
- decreased receptor sensitivity to glucose
- decreased ability to metabolize insulin = high blood suger
- decreased ACTH (stress is more difficult)
-
As we age what happens to the integumentary system?
- skin tags
- purpura (purple bruised looking skin)
- actinic keratosis (from sun exposure)
- seborrheic keratosis (non-cancerous)
- senile pruritus (dry scaly skin)
- skin repairs slower
What is very common in the elderly who are immobile related to the integumentary
system?
pressure injuries
As we age what decreases in the GI system?
- decreased HCL production
- decreased taste buds
- decreased intestinal motility
- decreased swallowing coordination
- decreased vit b12 (k) absorption from food
As we age what changes in the GI system in regards to the large intestine?
- slowed transit
