PATHOPHYSIOLOGY FINAL EXAM MASTER STUDY
SET WITH COMPLETE SOLUTION!!
1. What commonly causes a small-bowel obstruction?
Answer: Adhesions from prior abdominal surgery or a strangulated hernia.
Elaboration: Scar tissue or trapped bowel loops restrict the passage of intestinal
contents, leading to obstruction.
2. What symptoms appear in a small-bowel obstruction?
Answer: Central, crampy intermittent abdominal pain; frequent and severe
vomiting; major fluid/electrolyte imbalance; and mild abdominal distention.
Elaboration: The higher the obstruction, the more vomiting and dehydration occur
because contents cannot move forward.
3. What are the main causes of a large-bowel obstruction?
Answer: Colon tumors or volvulus (twisting of the bowel).
Elaboration: These conditions block the wider colon lumen, slowing or stopping
stool passage.
4. What symptoms indicate a large-bowel obstruction?
,Answer: Crampy lower abdominal pain, severe abdominal distention, and typically
no vomiting.
Elaboration: Because the blockage is lower, stool and gas accumulate, leading to
significant bloating.
5. What is the pathophysiology of celiac disease?
Answer: An immune-mediated reaction to gluten that damages intestinal villi.
Elaboration: Loss of villi impairs nutrient absorption and leads to malabsorption
complications.
6. What is the pathophysiology of Crohn’s disease?
Answer: Chronic inflammation that can occur anywhere along the GI tract.
Elaboration: Lesions occur in a “skip” pattern and may penetrate through all layers
of the intestinal wall.
7. What are common signs and symptoms of Crohn’s disease?
Answer: Patchy skip lesions, deep ulcerations, watery diarrhea, nausea/vomiting,
abdominal pain, bloating, distention, and malabsorption.
Elaboration: Full-thickness involvement increases risk for strictures, fistulas, and
nutritional deficiencies.
8. What is the pathophysiology of ulcerative colitis?
,Answer: Continuous inflammation confined to the colon that starts in the rectum
and extends upward.
Elaboration: Only the mucosa and submucosa are involved, making the disease
more superficial compared to Crohn’s.
9. What are symptoms of ulcerative colitis?
Answer: Continuous ulcerations, bloody diarrhea, weight loss, fatigue, fever, and
no malabsorption.
Elaboration: Long-term inflammation increases the risk of colon cancer.
10. What is the pathophysiology of diverticulitis?
Answer: Infection and inflammation of diverticula, usually caused by obstruction
of the pouch.
Elaboration: Stasis leads to bacterial overgrowth and inflammation.
11. What symptoms appear with diverticulitis?
Answer: Left-lower-quadrant pain, fever, nausea, vomiting, and elevated WBC
count.
Elaboration: LLQ pain is typical because diverticula commonly form in the
sigmoid colon.
, 12. What complications can occur with esophageal varices?
Answer: Rupture leading to massive upper GI bleeding, hypotension, and
decreased hemoglobin/hematocrit.
Elaboration: This is a medical emergency with high mortality.
13. What are symptoms of GERD?
Answer: Heartburn, epigastric discomfort, chronic cough, sore throat, and a
sour/bitter taste, especially in the morning.
Elaboration: Acid reflux irritates the esophagus and upper airway.
14. What are risk factors for developing hernias?
Answer: Male sex, obesity, pregnancy, aging, heavy lifting, chronic cough, and
constipation.
Elaboration: Anything increasing intra-abdominal pressure weakens or strains
abdominal musculature.
15. What complications are associated with H. pylori infection?
Answer: Gastritis and peptic ulcer disease.
Elaboration: The bacteria weaken the mucosal barrier, allowing acid injury.
SET WITH COMPLETE SOLUTION!!
1. What commonly causes a small-bowel obstruction?
Answer: Adhesions from prior abdominal surgery or a strangulated hernia.
Elaboration: Scar tissue or trapped bowel loops restrict the passage of intestinal
contents, leading to obstruction.
2. What symptoms appear in a small-bowel obstruction?
Answer: Central, crampy intermittent abdominal pain; frequent and severe
vomiting; major fluid/electrolyte imbalance; and mild abdominal distention.
Elaboration: The higher the obstruction, the more vomiting and dehydration occur
because contents cannot move forward.
3. What are the main causes of a large-bowel obstruction?
Answer: Colon tumors or volvulus (twisting of the bowel).
Elaboration: These conditions block the wider colon lumen, slowing or stopping
stool passage.
4. What symptoms indicate a large-bowel obstruction?
,Answer: Crampy lower abdominal pain, severe abdominal distention, and typically
no vomiting.
Elaboration: Because the blockage is lower, stool and gas accumulate, leading to
significant bloating.
5. What is the pathophysiology of celiac disease?
Answer: An immune-mediated reaction to gluten that damages intestinal villi.
Elaboration: Loss of villi impairs nutrient absorption and leads to malabsorption
complications.
6. What is the pathophysiology of Crohn’s disease?
Answer: Chronic inflammation that can occur anywhere along the GI tract.
Elaboration: Lesions occur in a “skip” pattern and may penetrate through all layers
of the intestinal wall.
7. What are common signs and symptoms of Crohn’s disease?
Answer: Patchy skip lesions, deep ulcerations, watery diarrhea, nausea/vomiting,
abdominal pain, bloating, distention, and malabsorption.
Elaboration: Full-thickness involvement increases risk for strictures, fistulas, and
nutritional deficiencies.
8. What is the pathophysiology of ulcerative colitis?
,Answer: Continuous inflammation confined to the colon that starts in the rectum
and extends upward.
Elaboration: Only the mucosa and submucosa are involved, making the disease
more superficial compared to Crohn’s.
9. What are symptoms of ulcerative colitis?
Answer: Continuous ulcerations, bloody diarrhea, weight loss, fatigue, fever, and
no malabsorption.
Elaboration: Long-term inflammation increases the risk of colon cancer.
10. What is the pathophysiology of diverticulitis?
Answer: Infection and inflammation of diverticula, usually caused by obstruction
of the pouch.
Elaboration: Stasis leads to bacterial overgrowth and inflammation.
11. What symptoms appear with diverticulitis?
Answer: Left-lower-quadrant pain, fever, nausea, vomiting, and elevated WBC
count.
Elaboration: LLQ pain is typical because diverticula commonly form in the
sigmoid colon.
, 12. What complications can occur with esophageal varices?
Answer: Rupture leading to massive upper GI bleeding, hypotension, and
decreased hemoglobin/hematocrit.
Elaboration: This is a medical emergency with high mortality.
13. What are symptoms of GERD?
Answer: Heartburn, epigastric discomfort, chronic cough, sore throat, and a
sour/bitter taste, especially in the morning.
Elaboration: Acid reflux irritates the esophagus and upper airway.
14. What are risk factors for developing hernias?
Answer: Male sex, obesity, pregnancy, aging, heavy lifting, chronic cough, and
constipation.
Elaboration: Anything increasing intra-abdominal pressure weakens or strains
abdominal musculature.
15. What complications are associated with H. pylori infection?
Answer: Gastritis and peptic ulcer disease.
Elaboration: The bacteria weaken the mucosal barrier, allowing acid injury.
