1. Which of the following best describes afterload?
A. The volume of blood ejected per beat
B. The pressure the ventricle must overcome to eject
blood
C. The end‐diastolic pressure in the atrium
D. The rate of ventricular filling
Answer: B
Rationale: Afterload is the resistance (arterial
pressure) the left ventricle must overcome to eject
blood into the aorta.
2. A patient with left‐sided heart failure often
develops:
A. Peripheral edema
B. Hepatomegaly
C. Pulmonary congestion
D. Jugular venous distention
Answer: C
Rationale: Left‐sided failure causes blood to back up
into the lungs, leading to congestion and pulmonary
edema.
3. Which biomarker is most specific for myocardial
infarction?
A. CK-MB
B. Troponin I
C. AST
D. LDH
Answer: B
, Rationale: Cardiac troponins are highly specific and
sensitive for myocardial injury.
4. In hypovolemic shock, you would expect:
A. Warm, flushed skin
B. Bradycardia
C. Decreased preload
D. Increased cardiac output
Answer: C
Rationale: Severe blood or fluid loss reduces venous
return, lowering preload.
5. An early sign of right‐sided heart failure is:
A. Orthopnea
B. Hepatomegaly
C. Crackles in lung bases
D. Pink frothy sputum
Answer: B
Rationale: Right‐sided failure leads to systemic
venous congestion and liver enlargement.
Respiratory Pathophysiology
6. Which condition is characterized by loss of
alveolar elastin and air trapping?
A. Chronic bronchitis
B. Emphysema
C. Asthma
D. Pulmonary fibrosis
Answer: B
, Rationale: Emphysema involves destruction of
alveolar walls and loss of elastic recoil.
7. In acute asthma exacerbation, the primary
problem is:
A. Destruction of alveoli
B. Airway hyperresponsiveness and
bronchoconstriction
C. Mucus gland enlargement
D. Alveolar fibrosis
Answer: B
Rationale: Asthma attacks result from reversible
airway narrowing due to bronchospasm.
8. Which arterial blood gas pattern indicates
respiratory acidosis?
A. pH 7.32, PaCO₂ 55 mmHg, HCO₃⁻ 24 mEq/L
B. pH 7.48, PaCO₂ 30 mmHg, HCO₃⁻ 24 mEq/L
C. pH 7.32, PaCO₂ 30 mmHg, HCO₃⁻ 18 mEq/L
D. pH 7.48, PaCO₂ 55 mmHg, HCO₃⁻ 32 mEq/L
Answer: A
Rationale: Elevated PaCO₂ with low pH indicates
respiratory acidosis.
9. The hallmark of chronic bronchitis is:
A. Reduced diffusion capacity
B. Blue bloater appearance (cyanosis, edema)
C. Barrel chest
D. Massive hemoptysis
Answer: B
A. The volume of blood ejected per beat
B. The pressure the ventricle must overcome to eject
blood
C. The end‐diastolic pressure in the atrium
D. The rate of ventricular filling
Answer: B
Rationale: Afterload is the resistance (arterial
pressure) the left ventricle must overcome to eject
blood into the aorta.
2. A patient with left‐sided heart failure often
develops:
A. Peripheral edema
B. Hepatomegaly
C. Pulmonary congestion
D. Jugular venous distention
Answer: C
Rationale: Left‐sided failure causes blood to back up
into the lungs, leading to congestion and pulmonary
edema.
3. Which biomarker is most specific for myocardial
infarction?
A. CK-MB
B. Troponin I
C. AST
D. LDH
Answer: B
, Rationale: Cardiac troponins are highly specific and
sensitive for myocardial injury.
4. In hypovolemic shock, you would expect:
A. Warm, flushed skin
B. Bradycardia
C. Decreased preload
D. Increased cardiac output
Answer: C
Rationale: Severe blood or fluid loss reduces venous
return, lowering preload.
5. An early sign of right‐sided heart failure is:
A. Orthopnea
B. Hepatomegaly
C. Crackles in lung bases
D. Pink frothy sputum
Answer: B
Rationale: Right‐sided failure leads to systemic
venous congestion and liver enlargement.
Respiratory Pathophysiology
6. Which condition is characterized by loss of
alveolar elastin and air trapping?
A. Chronic bronchitis
B. Emphysema
C. Asthma
D. Pulmonary fibrosis
Answer: B
, Rationale: Emphysema involves destruction of
alveolar walls and loss of elastic recoil.
7. In acute asthma exacerbation, the primary
problem is:
A. Destruction of alveoli
B. Airway hyperresponsiveness and
bronchoconstriction
C. Mucus gland enlargement
D. Alveolar fibrosis
Answer: B
Rationale: Asthma attacks result from reversible
airway narrowing due to bronchospasm.
8. Which arterial blood gas pattern indicates
respiratory acidosis?
A. pH 7.32, PaCO₂ 55 mmHg, HCO₃⁻ 24 mEq/L
B. pH 7.48, PaCO₂ 30 mmHg, HCO₃⁻ 24 mEq/L
C. pH 7.32, PaCO₂ 30 mmHg, HCO₃⁻ 18 mEq/L
D. pH 7.48, PaCO₂ 55 mmHg, HCO₃⁻ 32 mEq/L
Answer: A
Rationale: Elevated PaCO₂ with low pH indicates
respiratory acidosis.
9. The hallmark of chronic bronchitis is:
A. Reduced diffusion capacity
B. Blue bloater appearance (cyanosis, edema)
C. Barrel chest
D. Massive hemoptysis
Answer: B
