NUR 376 Patho Final Updated Questions and
Answers (2026) | Latest Practice Review with
Detailed Explanations | Grade A+
• Immunodeficiency . Answer: Immune system weakened to extent that it cannot destroy
foreign invaders and antigens can overwhelm the body.
• Immunocompetence . Answer: refers to an individual's ability to protect oneself from
infectious agents due to a strong immune system.
• Immunosuppression . Answer: indicates that there is a defective immune system that
is putting the pt at risk for infection.
• Opportunistic Infection . Answer: an infection that was caused by a microorganism that
flourished because of its host's deficient immune system.
• Hospital Acquired of Health-Care acquired infection . Answer: when a pt's infection is
caused by microorganisms that originated within the clinical environment.
Difficult to tx due to antibiotic-resistant bacteria
• Type 1: Immediate hypersensitivity . Answer: allergic reaction
• Type 2: Cytotoxic hypersensitivity . Answer: mediated by Igs that target antigen on
cells and cause cell destruction.
Incomplete blood transfusion
• Type 3: Immune Complex hypersensitivity . Answer: antigen combines with Ig within
circulation and complexes are then deposited into tissues.
SLE, autoimmune disorders
• Type 4: Delayed hypersensitivity . Answer: initiated by T-cells that have previous
exposure to antigen
Dermatitis from exposure to poison ivy
• Key lab values in Infections . Answer: WBC 4,000-10,000 cells/mcL
Neutrophils: 40%-80% of WBCs / elevation = bacterial infection
Lymphocytes: 20%-40% of WBCs / elevation = viral infection
Eosinophils: 1%-7% of WBCs / elevation = allergic reaction
Basophils: 0%-2% of WBCs / elevation = Parasite or allergic reaction
Monocytes: 2% - 10% of WBCs / elevation = Inflammation, chronic infections,
autoimmune disease
• How can you determine inflammation vs. infection from a CBC? . Answer: You would
look at the differences in the WBCs on the CBC, which provides info about the % of
different types of white blood cells.
, An increase in neutrophils (makeup 40%-80% of WBCs) can be indicative of a bacterial
infection.
An increase in monocytes (macrophages) (2%-10% of WBCs) can be indicative of
inflammation / autoimmune disease.
• Hypervolemia . Answer: Excess fluid in ISF & ICF caused by increased hydrostatic
pressure causing edema
Can be caused by: High Salt diet, heart failure, kidney failure, or liver failure.
• Hypernatremia . Answer: High sodium content of the blood. Raises solute content
(more salt), in turn, raising OSMOTIC PRESSURE.
• Osmotic pressure . Answer: The pressure exerted by the solutes in solution, causes
water to shift from ICF into the ECF -> Causing cellular dehydration.
ECF gains fluid > Secreted by the kidneys > more dehydration!
• Polyuria . Answer: excess urine being excreted.
This continues until fluid is replenished appropriately
(Part of hypernatremia)
• Hypovolemia . Answer: Is caused by dehydration; a diminished level of circulating
blood volume that increases the osmolarity of blood.
• Hydrostatic pressure . Answer: the force exerted by the blood confined within the
blood vessels or heart chamber.
• Isotonic . Answer: No fluid shifts- solutions on both sides are at equilibrium. Equal
osmotic pressure. No "tug of war".
Example- Human blood.
Caution: Too much isotonic fluids can cause fluid volume overload
Monitor: BP due to HTN crisis. Risk for CVA stroke.
Ex: 0.9 % sodium chloride (NS), lactated ringers (LR)
Use: Rehydrate body, increase low BP, blood transfusions, blood loss, DKA, HHNS(risk
for type 2 diabetes patients)- when blood sugar high
• Hypertonic . Answer: HIGH & dry- Higher osmolarity than body fluids- very thick, very
salty, more solutes, less water. Fluid drawn out of the cell.
Monitor- BP, HTN crisis
Use for- hypovolemia, heat related, peritonitis, peritoneal dialysis*(draw fluid out of the
body)- Need to give slowly
Ex: 3% sodium chloride, 5% sodium chloride, 10% dextrose in water, 5% dextrose in
0.9% sodium chloride, 5% dextrose in 0.45% sodium chloride, 5% dextrose in lactated
Answers (2026) | Latest Practice Review with
Detailed Explanations | Grade A+
• Immunodeficiency . Answer: Immune system weakened to extent that it cannot destroy
foreign invaders and antigens can overwhelm the body.
• Immunocompetence . Answer: refers to an individual's ability to protect oneself from
infectious agents due to a strong immune system.
• Immunosuppression . Answer: indicates that there is a defective immune system that
is putting the pt at risk for infection.
• Opportunistic Infection . Answer: an infection that was caused by a microorganism that
flourished because of its host's deficient immune system.
• Hospital Acquired of Health-Care acquired infection . Answer: when a pt's infection is
caused by microorganisms that originated within the clinical environment.
Difficult to tx due to antibiotic-resistant bacteria
• Type 1: Immediate hypersensitivity . Answer: allergic reaction
• Type 2: Cytotoxic hypersensitivity . Answer: mediated by Igs that target antigen on
cells and cause cell destruction.
Incomplete blood transfusion
• Type 3: Immune Complex hypersensitivity . Answer: antigen combines with Ig within
circulation and complexes are then deposited into tissues.
SLE, autoimmune disorders
• Type 4: Delayed hypersensitivity . Answer: initiated by T-cells that have previous
exposure to antigen
Dermatitis from exposure to poison ivy
• Key lab values in Infections . Answer: WBC 4,000-10,000 cells/mcL
Neutrophils: 40%-80% of WBCs / elevation = bacterial infection
Lymphocytes: 20%-40% of WBCs / elevation = viral infection
Eosinophils: 1%-7% of WBCs / elevation = allergic reaction
Basophils: 0%-2% of WBCs / elevation = Parasite or allergic reaction
Monocytes: 2% - 10% of WBCs / elevation = Inflammation, chronic infections,
autoimmune disease
• How can you determine inflammation vs. infection from a CBC? . Answer: You would
look at the differences in the WBCs on the CBC, which provides info about the % of
different types of white blood cells.
, An increase in neutrophils (makeup 40%-80% of WBCs) can be indicative of a bacterial
infection.
An increase in monocytes (macrophages) (2%-10% of WBCs) can be indicative of
inflammation / autoimmune disease.
• Hypervolemia . Answer: Excess fluid in ISF & ICF caused by increased hydrostatic
pressure causing edema
Can be caused by: High Salt diet, heart failure, kidney failure, or liver failure.
• Hypernatremia . Answer: High sodium content of the blood. Raises solute content
(more salt), in turn, raising OSMOTIC PRESSURE.
• Osmotic pressure . Answer: The pressure exerted by the solutes in solution, causes
water to shift from ICF into the ECF -> Causing cellular dehydration.
ECF gains fluid > Secreted by the kidneys > more dehydration!
• Polyuria . Answer: excess urine being excreted.
This continues until fluid is replenished appropriately
(Part of hypernatremia)
• Hypovolemia . Answer: Is caused by dehydration; a diminished level of circulating
blood volume that increases the osmolarity of blood.
• Hydrostatic pressure . Answer: the force exerted by the blood confined within the
blood vessels or heart chamber.
• Isotonic . Answer: No fluid shifts- solutions on both sides are at equilibrium. Equal
osmotic pressure. No "tug of war".
Example- Human blood.
Caution: Too much isotonic fluids can cause fluid volume overload
Monitor: BP due to HTN crisis. Risk for CVA stroke.
Ex: 0.9 % sodium chloride (NS), lactated ringers (LR)
Use: Rehydrate body, increase low BP, blood transfusions, blood loss, DKA, HHNS(risk
for type 2 diabetes patients)- when blood sugar high
• Hypertonic . Answer: HIGH & dry- Higher osmolarity than body fluids- very thick, very
salty, more solutes, less water. Fluid drawn out of the cell.
Monitor- BP, HTN crisis
Use for- hypovolemia, heat related, peritonitis, peritoneal dialysis*(draw fluid out of the
body)- Need to give slowly
Ex: 3% sodium chloride, 5% sodium chloride, 10% dextrose in water, 5% dextrose in
0.9% sodium chloride, 5% dextrose in 0.45% sodium chloride, 5% dextrose in lactated
