NURS 261 - Pathophysiology II Final Exam Study Guide .

NURS 261 - Pathophysiology II Final Exam Study Guide /NURS 261 - Pathophysiology II Final Exam Study Guide . P. 311-312- Know Natriuresis and ANP ○ Natriuresis is a natural diuresis promoted by the heart and brain. The heart releases atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), brain (BNP) in response to excess water in the bloodstream. The natriuretic peptides act at the nephrons to release water into the urine. Natriuresis decreases the water content in the blood, and sodium follows water out of the urine. P. 319-Complication section. Know how HTN affects the heart ○ When HTN is not well controlled, it contributes to the development of heart disease, heart failure, and renal failure. It is also the major contributing factor to fatal intracerebral hemorrhage. HTN is the most common predisposing factor of heart failure. ○ Long term HTN often leads to left ventricular myocardial ischemia and infarction. As the left ventricle hypertrophies, the enlarged muscle protrudes into the left ventricular chamber, reducing the chambers capacity. ○ HTN weakens the walls of the arteries, increasing susceptibility to development of aneurysms, causing turbulent blood flow that is subject to rupture. It places pressure on cerebral arteries causing cerebral hemorrhage. HTN contributes to the development of hypertensive encephalopathy (cerebral edema). P. 319-320-Complications of HTN. Know the 3 organs damaged by HTN ○ HTN is responsible for damage to target organs which includes the heart, retina, kidney, brain, and peripheral arteries. P. 320-Etiology of Atherosclerosis ○ Endothelial injury serves as the precursor of atherosclerosis. The injury stimulates the inflammatory reaction, a chain of events that involves the WBCs, platelets, clotting factors, cytokines, and other inflammatory mediators. The developmet of arteriosclerotic plaque is an inflammatory process that includes LDL→ an added constituent to the other inflammatory mediators for endothelium.