SLCC Pathophysiology FINAL Fall Exam Questions and
Answers (latest Update 2024)
4 Major Cations
Sodium - Correct Answer ✅Sodium: 135 - 145 "EXCITES"
-Extracellular cation
-Affects brain and nervous system = changes in LOC/seizures
4 Major Cations
Potassium - Correct Answer ✅Potassium: 3.5 - 5.0 "EXCITES"
- Intracellular cation
- Affects heart (either high or low values)
4 Major Cations
Calcium - Correct Answer ✅Calcium: 8.5 - 10.5 "CALMS"
- Extracellular cation
- Affects nerves and muscles
4 Major Cations
Magnesium - Correct Answer ✅Magnesium: 1.5 - 3.0 "CALMS"
- Intracellular cation
- Affects deep tendon reflexes and smooth muscle (lungs/ uterus/ heart/
intestines)
ABG values
pH - Correct Answer ✅7.35 - 7.45
ABG values
PCO2 (respiratory) - Correct Answer ✅35 - 45
,SLCC Pathophysiology FINAL Fall Exam Questions and
Answers (latest Update 2024)
ABG values
HC03- (Renal) - Correct Answer ✅22 - 26
ABG values
PaO2 - Correct Answer ✅80 - 100
Kussmaul respirations - Correct Answer ✅If the body is acidic, the lungs
try to raise pH by "blowing off" CO2 (which makes a weak acid in the body -
carbonic acid). This results in KUSSMAUL breathing pattern - deep rapid
breathing
How to determine if ABG is compensated/ uncompensated/ partially
compensated - Correct Answer ✅Compensated = pH is NORMAL and other
two values are abnormal
Uncompensated = pH and ONE other value is abnormal
PartiALLy Compensated = ALL values are abnormal
Causes of Anemia
1. Anemia due to blood loss - Correct Answer ✅~Gastrointestinal (GI)
Conditions - upper or lower GI bleeds
~non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory drug over use (so patients with chronic
pain are at risk for anemia)
~Excessive menstruation or childbirth complications
Causes of Anemia
2. Anemia due to decreased or faulty RBC production - Correct Answer
✅~Nutritional deficiencies: Folate, Vitamin B-12, and Iron are necessary
components of RBC production
~Sickle Cell Anemia
~Bone marrow & stem cell problems: Leukemia and lymphoma are examples
,SLCC Pathophysiology FINAL Fall Exam Questions and
Answers (latest Update 2024)
Causes of Anemia
3. Anemia due to RBC destruction "Hemolytic Anemia" - Correct Answer
✅causes can be "Intrinsic" (inherited defective RBCs) or "Extrinsic"
(everything else)
~Inherited - sickle cell & thalassemia
~Stressors - RBCs destroyed by infections, drugs, snake or spider venom
~Toxins - advanced liver or kidney disease
~Autoimmune - Lupus can affect Bone marrow
~Spleen - in enlarged spleen blood moves more slowly thru, causing RBCs to
become prematurely destroyed before they get through the spleen .
Causes of Anemia
4. Other conditions associated with decreased or faulty RBCs - Correct
Answer ✅Advance kidney disease - see KIDNEY CONNECTION
Hypothyroidism - causes lowered iron levels in the blood.
Chronic diseases - INFLAMMATION causes production of cytokines that then
destroy all blood cells including erythrocytes. EXAMPLES: cancer, infection,
autoimmune disorders (lupus or rheumatoid arthritis)
KIDNEY CONNECTION - Correct Answer ✅Erythropoietin (made in kidneys)
signals bone marrow to make more RBCs, so if kidneys are damaged,
erythropoietin is not excreted and RBCs are not made.
Antigens - Correct Answer ✅Proteins on cell surface that identify it as
foreign or not. Cell specific.
Antibodies - Correct Answer ✅Immunoglobulins are the bodies compliment
to antigens. When antibodies attach to antigens cells cannot reproduce. Lock
and key analogy.
, SLCC Pathophysiology FINAL Fall Exam Questions and
Answers (latest Update 2024)
Apoptosis - Correct Answer ✅Controlled cell death by implosion.
Membrane maintains integrity, cell contents not released into extracellular
space, no inflammatory response.
Necrosis - Correct Answer ✅Uncontrolled cell death. Membrane looses
integrity, cell contents released into extracellular and inflammatory
response.
What does ARDS stand for - Correct Answer ✅Acute/Adult respiratory
distress syndrome
How does ARDS start? - Correct Answer ✅with an Acute lung injury/insult
(ALI) of some type (infection/sepsis, trauma, hypoxic event, aspiration of
gastric juices/vomit, pulmonary embolism, blood transfusion reaction, etc)
that causes SEVERE LUNG INFLAMMATION - also referred to as SIRS
(Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome)
In response to lung injury (ARDS)...the body will - Correct Answer ✅release
mediators, clotting factors, vasodilating agents, etc. Damaging lungs further.
Alveoli and surrounding capillary bed is severely damaged and rendered
useless. Lungs stop producing surfactant, leads to atelectasis.
ARDS development and progression stages - Correct Answer ✅1: First
Stage - Respiratory Alkalosis
2: Intermediate Stage - Acidosis (Resp & Met)
3: Intermediate Stage - Pulmonary Edema
4: Intermediate Stage - Blood Clotting
5: Late Stage - Respiratory Failure
Answers (latest Update 2024)
4 Major Cations
Sodium - Correct Answer ✅Sodium: 135 - 145 "EXCITES"
-Extracellular cation
-Affects brain and nervous system = changes in LOC/seizures
4 Major Cations
Potassium - Correct Answer ✅Potassium: 3.5 - 5.0 "EXCITES"
- Intracellular cation
- Affects heart (either high or low values)
4 Major Cations
Calcium - Correct Answer ✅Calcium: 8.5 - 10.5 "CALMS"
- Extracellular cation
- Affects nerves and muscles
4 Major Cations
Magnesium - Correct Answer ✅Magnesium: 1.5 - 3.0 "CALMS"
- Intracellular cation
- Affects deep tendon reflexes and smooth muscle (lungs/ uterus/ heart/
intestines)
ABG values
pH - Correct Answer ✅7.35 - 7.45
ABG values
PCO2 (respiratory) - Correct Answer ✅35 - 45
,SLCC Pathophysiology FINAL Fall Exam Questions and
Answers (latest Update 2024)
ABG values
HC03- (Renal) - Correct Answer ✅22 - 26
ABG values
PaO2 - Correct Answer ✅80 - 100
Kussmaul respirations - Correct Answer ✅If the body is acidic, the lungs
try to raise pH by "blowing off" CO2 (which makes a weak acid in the body -
carbonic acid). This results in KUSSMAUL breathing pattern - deep rapid
breathing
How to determine if ABG is compensated/ uncompensated/ partially
compensated - Correct Answer ✅Compensated = pH is NORMAL and other
two values are abnormal
Uncompensated = pH and ONE other value is abnormal
PartiALLy Compensated = ALL values are abnormal
Causes of Anemia
1. Anemia due to blood loss - Correct Answer ✅~Gastrointestinal (GI)
Conditions - upper or lower GI bleeds
~non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory drug over use (so patients with chronic
pain are at risk for anemia)
~Excessive menstruation or childbirth complications
Causes of Anemia
2. Anemia due to decreased or faulty RBC production - Correct Answer
✅~Nutritional deficiencies: Folate, Vitamin B-12, and Iron are necessary
components of RBC production
~Sickle Cell Anemia
~Bone marrow & stem cell problems: Leukemia and lymphoma are examples
,SLCC Pathophysiology FINAL Fall Exam Questions and
Answers (latest Update 2024)
Causes of Anemia
3. Anemia due to RBC destruction "Hemolytic Anemia" - Correct Answer
✅causes can be "Intrinsic" (inherited defective RBCs) or "Extrinsic"
(everything else)
~Inherited - sickle cell & thalassemia
~Stressors - RBCs destroyed by infections, drugs, snake or spider venom
~Toxins - advanced liver or kidney disease
~Autoimmune - Lupus can affect Bone marrow
~Spleen - in enlarged spleen blood moves more slowly thru, causing RBCs to
become prematurely destroyed before they get through the spleen .
Causes of Anemia
4. Other conditions associated with decreased or faulty RBCs - Correct
Answer ✅Advance kidney disease - see KIDNEY CONNECTION
Hypothyroidism - causes lowered iron levels in the blood.
Chronic diseases - INFLAMMATION causes production of cytokines that then
destroy all blood cells including erythrocytes. EXAMPLES: cancer, infection,
autoimmune disorders (lupus or rheumatoid arthritis)
KIDNEY CONNECTION - Correct Answer ✅Erythropoietin (made in kidneys)
signals bone marrow to make more RBCs, so if kidneys are damaged,
erythropoietin is not excreted and RBCs are not made.
Antigens - Correct Answer ✅Proteins on cell surface that identify it as
foreign or not. Cell specific.
Antibodies - Correct Answer ✅Immunoglobulins are the bodies compliment
to antigens. When antibodies attach to antigens cells cannot reproduce. Lock
and key analogy.
, SLCC Pathophysiology FINAL Fall Exam Questions and
Answers (latest Update 2024)
Apoptosis - Correct Answer ✅Controlled cell death by implosion.
Membrane maintains integrity, cell contents not released into extracellular
space, no inflammatory response.
Necrosis - Correct Answer ✅Uncontrolled cell death. Membrane looses
integrity, cell contents released into extracellular and inflammatory
response.
What does ARDS stand for - Correct Answer ✅Acute/Adult respiratory
distress syndrome
How does ARDS start? - Correct Answer ✅with an Acute lung injury/insult
(ALI) of some type (infection/sepsis, trauma, hypoxic event, aspiration of
gastric juices/vomit, pulmonary embolism, blood transfusion reaction, etc)
that causes SEVERE LUNG INFLAMMATION - also referred to as SIRS
(Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome)
In response to lung injury (ARDS)...the body will - Correct Answer ✅release
mediators, clotting factors, vasodilating agents, etc. Damaging lungs further.
Alveoli and surrounding capillary bed is severely damaged and rendered
useless. Lungs stop producing surfactant, leads to atelectasis.
ARDS development and progression stages - Correct Answer ✅1: First
Stage - Respiratory Alkalosis
2: Intermediate Stage - Acidosis (Resp & Met)
3: Intermediate Stage - Pulmonary Edema
4: Intermediate Stage - Blood Clotting
5: Late Stage - Respiratory Failure
