D236 PATHOPHYSIOLOGY E ACTUAL TEST
SCRIPT 2026 VERIFIED SOLUTIONS
◉ Chvostek's sign. Answer: Hypocalcemia (facial muscle spasm upon
tapping)
◉ renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS). Answer: Hormonal
system regulating blood pressure and fluid balance.
◉ Describe the RAAS System. Answer: 1. BP drops
2. Kidneys release Renin
3. Renin splits angiotensin into angiotensin 1
4. ACE in the lungs converts Angiotensin 1 into angiotensin 2
5. Angiotensin causes vasoconstriction, sodium, and water
reabsorption
6. Adrenal Cortex releases aldosterone, retaining sodium
7. The pituitary gland releases ADH, increasing water absorption
8. stimulated hypothalamus to increase thirst
9. BP RISES!!!
◉ Blood pH range. Answer: 7.35-7.45
,◉ What is HCO3-. Answer: Bicarbonate
◉ Is bicarbonate an acid or a base?. Answer: base
◉ What is CO2?. Answer: carbon dioxide
◉ is CO2 an acid or a base?. Answer: acid
◉ What is H+. Answer: hydrogen ion
◉ Is H+ an acid or a base?. Answer: acid
◉ Which organ controls CO2?. Answer: lungs (exhale it out)
◉ How is a patient's resp rate and CO2 during Hyperventilation?.
Answer: High Resp Rate / Low CO2
◉ When a patient is intox, overdose, or a head injury how is their
resp rate and CO2?. Answer: Low resp rate / high CO2
◉ Which organ controls H+ and HCO3?. Answer: Kidneys
,◉ What does it mean when an ABG is Fully Compensated?. Answer:
its pH is in normal range
◉ What is Familial Dilated Cardiomyopathy?. Answer: A genetic
form of heart disease that occurs when the cardiac muscle becomes
thin and weakened in at least one chamber of the heart.
◉ How does the heart compensate during Familial Dilated
Cardiomyopathy?. Answer: the heart attempts to increase the
amount of blood being pumped through the heart.
- leads to further thinning and weakening of the cardiac muscle
- results in heart failure overtime
◉ Hypercapnia. Answer: excessive carbon dioxide in the blood
◉ The Anion Gap. Answer: Difference between the concentrations of
serum cations and anions: determined by measuring the
concentrations of sodium cations and chloride and bicarbonate
anions.
◉ Respiratory Acidosis. Answer: A drop in blood pH due to
hypoventilation (too little breathing) and a resulting accumulation
of Co2.
, ◉ How is the resp rate during Respiratory acidosis. Answer: Low
and Slow
◉ Causes of respiratory acidosis. Answer: sleep apnea, head trauma
"knocked out", post-op anesthesia, CNS depressant drugs,
pneumonia, COPD, Asthma attacks
◉ symptoms of respiratory acidosis. Answer: Rapid, shallow
breathing, dyspnea, disorientation, muscle weakness
◉ How the body compensates during respiratory acidosis. Answer:
kidneys excrete H+ acid, and retain HCO3 base
◉ respiratory alkalosis. Answer: Arise in blood pH due to
hyperventilation (excessive breathing) and a resulting decrease in
CO2.
◉ Causes of respiratory alkalosis. Answer: hyperventilation (anxiety,
PE, fear), mechanical ventilation
◉ How does the body compensate for respiratory alkalosis. Answer:
kidneys excrete less H+ and reabsorb less HCO3
SCRIPT 2026 VERIFIED SOLUTIONS
◉ Chvostek's sign. Answer: Hypocalcemia (facial muscle spasm upon
tapping)
◉ renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS). Answer: Hormonal
system regulating blood pressure and fluid balance.
◉ Describe the RAAS System. Answer: 1. BP drops
2. Kidneys release Renin
3. Renin splits angiotensin into angiotensin 1
4. ACE in the lungs converts Angiotensin 1 into angiotensin 2
5. Angiotensin causes vasoconstriction, sodium, and water
reabsorption
6. Adrenal Cortex releases aldosterone, retaining sodium
7. The pituitary gland releases ADH, increasing water absorption
8. stimulated hypothalamus to increase thirst
9. BP RISES!!!
◉ Blood pH range. Answer: 7.35-7.45
,◉ What is HCO3-. Answer: Bicarbonate
◉ Is bicarbonate an acid or a base?. Answer: base
◉ What is CO2?. Answer: carbon dioxide
◉ is CO2 an acid or a base?. Answer: acid
◉ What is H+. Answer: hydrogen ion
◉ Is H+ an acid or a base?. Answer: acid
◉ Which organ controls CO2?. Answer: lungs (exhale it out)
◉ How is a patient's resp rate and CO2 during Hyperventilation?.
Answer: High Resp Rate / Low CO2
◉ When a patient is intox, overdose, or a head injury how is their
resp rate and CO2?. Answer: Low resp rate / high CO2
◉ Which organ controls H+ and HCO3?. Answer: Kidneys
,◉ What does it mean when an ABG is Fully Compensated?. Answer:
its pH is in normal range
◉ What is Familial Dilated Cardiomyopathy?. Answer: A genetic
form of heart disease that occurs when the cardiac muscle becomes
thin and weakened in at least one chamber of the heart.
◉ How does the heart compensate during Familial Dilated
Cardiomyopathy?. Answer: the heart attempts to increase the
amount of blood being pumped through the heart.
- leads to further thinning and weakening of the cardiac muscle
- results in heart failure overtime
◉ Hypercapnia. Answer: excessive carbon dioxide in the blood
◉ The Anion Gap. Answer: Difference between the concentrations of
serum cations and anions: determined by measuring the
concentrations of sodium cations and chloride and bicarbonate
anions.
◉ Respiratory Acidosis. Answer: A drop in blood pH due to
hypoventilation (too little breathing) and a resulting accumulation
of Co2.
, ◉ How is the resp rate during Respiratory acidosis. Answer: Low
and Slow
◉ Causes of respiratory acidosis. Answer: sleep apnea, head trauma
"knocked out", post-op anesthesia, CNS depressant drugs,
pneumonia, COPD, Asthma attacks
◉ symptoms of respiratory acidosis. Answer: Rapid, shallow
breathing, dyspnea, disorientation, muscle weakness
◉ How the body compensates during respiratory acidosis. Answer:
kidneys excrete H+ acid, and retain HCO3 base
◉ respiratory alkalosis. Answer: Arise in blood pH due to
hyperventilation (excessive breathing) and a resulting decrease in
CO2.
◉ Causes of respiratory alkalosis. Answer: hyperventilation (anxiety,
PE, fear), mechanical ventilation
◉ How does the body compensate for respiratory alkalosis. Answer:
kidneys excrete less H+ and reabsorb less HCO3
