Course 2: Pathophysiology Etiology

Question 1

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD): Etiology?

Answer 1

Narrowing of the coronary arteries limits blood supply to the heart muscle causing angina (chest pain specifically due to heart muscle ischemia)

Question 2

Myocardial Infarction (MI) STEMI/non-STEMI: Etiology?

Answer 2

Acute blockage of the coronary arteries results in ischemia and infarct of the heart muscle.

Question 3

Congestive Heart Failure (CHF): Etiology?

Answer 3

The heart becomes enlarged, inefficient, and congested with excess fluid.

Question 4

Atrial Fibrillation (A-Fib): Etiology?

Answer 4

Electrical abnormalities in the “wiring” of the heart caused the atria to quiver abnormally.

Question 5

Pulmonary Embolism (PE): Etiology?

Answer 5

A blood clot becomes lodged in the pulmonary artery and blocks blood flow to the lungs.

Question 6

Pneumonia (PNA): Etiology?

Answer 6

Infiltrate (bacterial infection) and inflammation in the lungs.

Question 7

Pneumothorax (PTX): Etiology?

Answer 7

Collapsed lung due to trauma or a spontaneous small rupture of the lung.

Question 8

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): Etiology?

Answer 8

Long-term damage to the lung’s alveoli (emphysema) along with inflammation and mucous production (chronic bronchitis)

Question 9

Reactive Airway Disease (RAD): Etiology?

Answer 9

Constricting of the airways due to inflammation and muscular contraction of the bronchioles, known as a “bronchospasm”.

Question 10

Ischemic CVA: Etiology?

Answer 10

Blockage of the arteries supplying blood to the brain resulting in permanent brain damage.

Question 11

Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA): Etiology?

Answer 11

Vascular changes temporarily deprive a part of the brain of oxygen (symptoms usually last less than 1 hour)

Question 12

Meningitis- Bacterial v Viral: Etiology?

Answer 12

Inflammation and infection of the meninges; the sac surrounding the brain and spinal cord

Question 13

Spinal Cord Injury: Etiology?

Answer 13

Injury to the spinal cord may create weakness or numbness in the extremities past the site of injury

Question 14

Seizure (Sz): Etiology?

Answer 14

Abnormal electrical activity in the brain leading to abnormal physical manifestations. Often caused by epilepsy, EtOH withdrawals, or febrile sz in pediatric pts.

Question 15

Bells Palsy: Etiology?

Answer 15

Inflammation or viral infection of the facial nerve causes one-sided weakness of the entire face.

Question 16

Headache (HA) – Cephalgia: Etiology?

Answer 16

Various causes including hypertensive HA (from high BP), recurrent diagnosed migraines, sinusitis, etc.

Question 17

Altered Mental Status (AMS): Etiology?

Answer 17

Multiple causes: most common are hypoglycemia, infection, intoxication, and neurological.

Question 18

Syncope (Fainting): Etiology?

Answer 18

Temporary loss of blood supply to the brain resulting in loss of consciousness. There are a variety of causes; most common are vasovagal and low blood volume (dehydration/hypovolemia). Occassionally, syncope occurs due to cardiac/neurologic causes.

Question 19

Vertigo (Room Spinning): Etiology?

Answer 19

Caused by two etiologies: the vertigo may be from a harmless problem of the inner ear (benign positional vertigo) or it may be caused due to damage in a specific center the brain (possible CVA).

Question 20

Appendicitis (APPY): Etiology?

Answer 20

Infection of the appendix causes inflammation and blockage, possibly leading to rupture.

Question 21

Small Bowel Obstruction (SBO): Etiology?

Answer 21

Physical blockage of the small intestine

Question 22

Gallstones (Cholelithiasis, Cholecystitis): Etiology?

Answer 22

Minerals from the liver’s bile condense to form gallstones, which can irritate, inflame, or obstruct the gallbladder

Question 23

Gastointestinal Bleed (GI Bleed): Etiology?

Answer 23

Hemorrhage in the upper or lower GI tract can lead to anemia

Question 24

Diverticulitis: Etiology?

Answer 24

Acute inflammation and infection of abnormal pockets of the large intestine, known as diverticuli

Question 25

Pancreatitis: Etiology?

Answer 25

Inflammation of the pancreas

Question 26

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD): Etiology?

Answer 26

Stomach acid regurgitating into the esophagus

Question 27

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI): Etiology?

Answer 27

Infection in the urinary tract (bladder or urethra)

Question 28

Pyelonephritis: Etiology?

Answer 28

Infection of the tissue in the kidneys, usually spread from a UTI

Question 29

Kidney Stone (Nephrolithiasis): Etiology?

Answer 29

A kidney stone dislodges from the kidney and begins traveling down the ureter. The stone scrapes and irritates the ureter, causing severe flank pain and bloody urine.

Question 30

Ectopic Pregnancy: Etiology?

Answer 30

Fertilized egg develops outside the uterus, usually in the fallopian tube. High risk for rupture and death

Question 31

Ovarian Torsion: Etiology?

Answer 31

Twisting of an ovarian artery reducing blood flow to an ovary, possibly resulting in infarct of the ovary

Question 32

Testicular Torsion: Etiology?

Answer 32

Twisting of the spermatic cord resulting in loss of blood flow and nerve function to the testicle

Question 33

Upper Respiratory Infection (URI): Etiology?

Answer 33

Most often viral infection causes congestion, cough, and inflammation of the upper airway

Question 34

Streptococcal Pharyngitis (Strep Throat): Etiology?

Answer 34

Bacterial infection of the tonsils and pharynx causing a sore throat and frequently swollen lymph nodes.

Question 35

Otitis Media (Middle Ear Infection): Etiology?

Answer 35

Viral or bacterial infection of the tympanic membrane (TM) causing ear pain and pressure.

Question 36

Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye): Etiology?

Answer 36

Infection of the outer lining of the eye, known as the conjunctiva

Question 37

Epistaxis (Nosebleed): Etiology?

Answer 37

Rupture of a blood vessel inside the nose causes blood to flow out the nose and into the throat.

Question 38

Musculoskeletal Back Pain: Etiology?

Answer 38

Deterioration or strain of the back creates pain that is worse with movement

Question 39

Extremity Injury: Etiology?

Answer 39

Trauma creates pain/swelling in an extremity.

Question 40

Aortic Dissection: Etiology?

Answer 40

Separation of the muscular wall from the membrane of the artery, putting the patient at risk of aortic rupture and death.

Question 41

Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT): Etiology?

Answer 41

Blood slows down while flowing through long straight veins in the extremities; slow-flowing blood is more likely to clot. Once formed the clot can continue to grow and eventually occlude (block) the vein.

Question 42

Abscess (Cellulitis with Fluctuance): Etiology?

Answer 42

Skin infection with an underlying collection of pus

Question 43

Cellulitis: Etiology?

Answer 43

Infection of the skin cells

Question 44

Rash: Etiology?

Answer 44

Changes in the skin’s appearance due to systemic or localized reaction. May be caused from medication, virus, bacteria, fungus, insect, etc.

Question 45

Allergic Reaction: Etiology?

Answer 45

Immune response causing an inflammatory reaction consisting of swelling, itching (pruritis), and rash

Question 46

Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA): Etiology?

Answer 46

Shortage of insulin resulting in hyperglycemia and production of ketones.

Question 47

Psychological Disorder: Etiology?

Answer 47

Various types of psychological disease produce abnormal thoughts, behaviors, or actions

Question 48

Trauma: Etiology?

Answer 48

Depending on the mechanism of injury (MOI), physical trauma may break bones, sever nerves, rupture blood vessels, or damage internal organs.

Question 49

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA): Etiology?

Answer 49

Widened and weakened arterial wall at risk of rupture.

Question 50

Hemorrhagic CVA (Brain Bleed): Etiology?

Answer 50

Traumatic or spontaneous rupture of blood vessels in the head leads to bleeding in the brain.