ANCC Cardiac-Nursing
Certification_Pathophysiologic
Processes
2025/2026
Exam Prep Material
with
Verified Questions and Answers
A+ Grades Guarantee
, 1. Hypoxia
2. Ischemia
3. Physical agents
4. Chemical agents
5. Microorganisms and their toxins
6. Genetic defects
Pathophysiologic Stimuli 7. Nutritional imbalances
8. Cellular and chemical components of immune and inflammatory
responses
Lack of sufficient oxygen to maintain aerobic metabolism. Most
Hypoxia common cause of cellular injury
Lack of sufficient blood supply to tissues. Most common cause of
cellular hypoxia. Injures tissues faster than hypoxia does because
Ischemia insufficient nutrients are supplied to the tissues and lactic acid
builds up.
Mechanical trauma, pressure or temperature gradients, and
Examples of Physical Agents irradiation
Examples of Chemical Agents Drugs and posions, such as alcohol
Protein, vitamin or mineral deficiency
Examples of Nutritional
Imbalances
Occurs along a continuum from adaptation through injury to death.
Cellular response to
Celluar structure and function is disturbed or destroyed.
pathophysiologic stimuli
The internal compartment of the cell, contains organelles and
Cytoplasm cytosol
Or little organs, are membranes-bound compartments within the
Organelles cell that have specialized functions
Mitochondria Generate cellular energy through aerobic metabolism
Provides a large surface within the cell on which chemical
Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) reactions can occur
Ribosomes Synthesize protein
Processes and packages chemical for transport to more distant
cells. Also produces polysaccharides, modifies some activating
Golgi Apparatus enzyes and produce lysosomes.
Lysosomes Contain digestive enzymes
Perioxisomes Contain oxidative enzymes. Play a major role in lipid metabolism
Nucleus Contains large quantities of deoxyribonucleic acid
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) Forms the genes that regulate and differentiate cell function
Cytsosol The fluid medium in which the organelles are suspended
, Surrounds the entire cell and separates intracellular and
Plasma membrane extracellular fluid compartments.
1. Consists of a double layer of lipid molecules
2. Proteins that exchange material between the cell and its
environment
Characteristics of the plasma 3. Damage to or altered function of the plasma membrane is
membrane common, early response to pathophysiologic stimuli
Anchored on or in the lipid bilayer, trasnport and exchange
Proteins material between the cell and its environment
Lipid bilayer Double layer of lipid molecules
Specialized regions on the plasma membrane that link individual
cells into tissues and allow small molecules to pass from cell to
Cell junctions cell.
1. Tight junctions
2. Gap junctions
Three kinds of junctions 3. Opening or loosening of cell junctions
Desmosomes Hold cells together and maintain structural stability
Cardiac intercalated discs Maintain the functional integration of myocardial cells
Tight junctions Prevent the leakage of small molecules between adjacent cells
Coordinate the activity of adjacent cells. Synchronize the
contraction of myocardial cells. Facilitate the rapid spread of action
Gap junctions potentials in neural tissues.
Allows potassium to leak out of and water to move into injured
Opening or loosening of cell
cells
junctions
Surround the organelles and allow specific functions to occur
Intracellular membranes within each
Passive movement Does not require cell energy
The movement of a substance down a concentration gradient from
a region of higher concentration to a region of lower concentration
Diffusion
The net movement of water across a semipermeable membrane
that seprates compartments with different solute concentrations.
Osmosis Water moves into the compartment with the higher solute
concentration
The net movement of water becacuse of a pressure gradient.
Water moves from an area of higher pressure to one of lower
Filtration pressure.
Uses a carrier protein to move a substance across a
Facilitated diffusion semipermeable membrane.
Certification_Pathophysiologic
Processes
2025/2026
Exam Prep Material
with
Verified Questions and Answers
A+ Grades Guarantee
, 1. Hypoxia
2. Ischemia
3. Physical agents
4. Chemical agents
5. Microorganisms and their toxins
6. Genetic defects
Pathophysiologic Stimuli 7. Nutritional imbalances
8. Cellular and chemical components of immune and inflammatory
responses
Lack of sufficient oxygen to maintain aerobic metabolism. Most
Hypoxia common cause of cellular injury
Lack of sufficient blood supply to tissues. Most common cause of
cellular hypoxia. Injures tissues faster than hypoxia does because
Ischemia insufficient nutrients are supplied to the tissues and lactic acid
builds up.
Mechanical trauma, pressure or temperature gradients, and
Examples of Physical Agents irradiation
Examples of Chemical Agents Drugs and posions, such as alcohol
Protein, vitamin or mineral deficiency
Examples of Nutritional
Imbalances
Occurs along a continuum from adaptation through injury to death.
Cellular response to
Celluar structure and function is disturbed or destroyed.
pathophysiologic stimuli
The internal compartment of the cell, contains organelles and
Cytoplasm cytosol
Or little organs, are membranes-bound compartments within the
Organelles cell that have specialized functions
Mitochondria Generate cellular energy through aerobic metabolism
Provides a large surface within the cell on which chemical
Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) reactions can occur
Ribosomes Synthesize protein
Processes and packages chemical for transport to more distant
cells. Also produces polysaccharides, modifies some activating
Golgi Apparatus enzyes and produce lysosomes.
Lysosomes Contain digestive enzymes
Perioxisomes Contain oxidative enzymes. Play a major role in lipid metabolism
Nucleus Contains large quantities of deoxyribonucleic acid
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) Forms the genes that regulate and differentiate cell function
Cytsosol The fluid medium in which the organelles are suspended
, Surrounds the entire cell and separates intracellular and
Plasma membrane extracellular fluid compartments.
1. Consists of a double layer of lipid molecules
2. Proteins that exchange material between the cell and its
environment
Characteristics of the plasma 3. Damage to or altered function of the plasma membrane is
membrane common, early response to pathophysiologic stimuli
Anchored on or in the lipid bilayer, trasnport and exchange
Proteins material between the cell and its environment
Lipid bilayer Double layer of lipid molecules
Specialized regions on the plasma membrane that link individual
cells into tissues and allow small molecules to pass from cell to
Cell junctions cell.
1. Tight junctions
2. Gap junctions
Three kinds of junctions 3. Opening or loosening of cell junctions
Desmosomes Hold cells together and maintain structural stability
Cardiac intercalated discs Maintain the functional integration of myocardial cells
Tight junctions Prevent the leakage of small molecules between adjacent cells
Coordinate the activity of adjacent cells. Synchronize the
contraction of myocardial cells. Facilitate the rapid spread of action
Gap junctions potentials in neural tissues.
Allows potassium to leak out of and water to move into injured
Opening or loosening of cell
cells
junctions
Surround the organelles and allow specific functions to occur
Intracellular membranes within each
Passive movement Does not require cell energy
The movement of a substance down a concentration gradient from
a region of higher concentration to a region of lower concentration
Diffusion
The net movement of water across a semipermeable membrane
that seprates compartments with different solute concentrations.
Osmosis Water moves into the compartment with the higher solute
concentration
The net movement of water becacuse of a pressure gradient.
Water moves from an area of higher pressure to one of lower
Filtration pressure.
Uses a carrier protein to move a substance across a
Facilitated diffusion semipermeable membrane.
