Exam 2: Content Questions

Question 1

Which of the following is correct?
A: Bright lights are a notorious trigger for acute glaucoma
B: Otitis media is more common in adults than children
C: Sudden unilateral vision loss could be a sign of carotid stenosis
D: Meniere’s disease is the most common cause of vertigo

Answer 1

C: Sudden unilateral vision loss could be a sign of carotid stenosis

Question 2

Which of the following is correct?
A: A person with elevated pt/inr and elevated aptt has a problem with platelet function
B: ITP is often associated with a recent bacterial infection
C: A person receiving large amounts of transfused blood may need some fresh frozen plasma as well
D: An elevated level of clotting factors and the absence of detectable fibrin split products is characteristic of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)

Answer 2

C: A person receiving large amounts of transfused blood may need some fresh frozen plasma as well

Question 3

Which of the following is correct?
A : Acute blood loss would be immediately detectable on CBC
B: An individual with severe gastritis is at risk for B12 deficiency
C: Hemoglobin demonstrates increased affinity for oxygen in acidotic conditions
D: Fetal hemoglobin is a less efficient carrier of oxygen than adult hemoglobin

Answer 3

B: An individual with severe gastritis is at risk for B12 deficiency

Question 4

Which of the following is true with regard to the normal composition of blood?
A. Plasma is composed mostly from cells and water
B. Eosinophils are responsible for a fairly large percentage of total leukocytes
C. Platelets are basically very small nucleated cells
D. Monocytes and macrophages are basically the same thing

Answer 4

D. Monocytes and macrophages are basically the same thing

Question 5

Which of the following is true regarding the structure and function of hemoglobin?
A. Most adult hemoglobin is composed of alpha and delta chains
B. Hemoglobin gets very “sticky” when the pH goes up
C. Hemoglobin is normally contained in the nucleus of the RBC
D. Each hemoglobin molecule contains 1 heme group with iron at the center

Answer 5

B. Hemoglobin gets very “sticky” when the pH goes up

Question 6

Which of the following statements is the most correct regarding anemia?
A. Typically iron deficiency anemia results in a low total iron binding concentration (TIBC)
B. Anemia of kidney disease would probably result in abnormally small red blood cells
C. Beta-thalassemia is a more severe disease than alpha-thalassemia
D. Pernicious anemia can cause neuropathy

Answer 6

D. Pernicious anemia can cause neuropathy

Question 7

Which one of the following is consistent with polycythemia?
A. Exertional intolerance
B. Dizziness or Vertigo
C. Leukopenia
D. Pallor

Answer 7

B. Dizziness or Vertigo

Question 8

Which of the following is true with regard to fluid forces?
A. An increase in capillary osmotic pressure could lead to edema
B. An increase in interstitial osmotic pressure could lead to edema
C. A decrease in capillary osmotic pressure could lead to hypervolemia
D. A decrease in interstitial osmotic pressure could lead to edema

Answer 8

B. An increase in interstitial osmotic pressure could lead to edema

Question 9

Which of the following choices is consistent with very early signs volume depletion?
A. Skin tenting
B. Significantly decreased urine production
C. Tachycardia
D. Orthostatic hypotension

Answer 9

C. Tachycardia

Question 10

Which one of the following statements best describes hypernatremia
A. An excess of sodium in the blood
B. An deficiency of water in the blood
C. An excess of total body sodium
D. An excess of total body water

Answer 10

B. An deficiency of water in the blood

Question 11

Which of the following choices is most consistent with hypercalcemia?
A. Hyperactive reflexes
B. Constipation
C. Muscle twitching
D. Tetany

Answer 11

B. Constipation

Question 12

Which of the following is an appropriate compensatory response for metabolic acidosis?
A. Renal retention of protons
B. Renal retention of bicarb
C. Hyper-ventilation
D. Hypo-ventilation

Answer 12

C. Hyper-ventilation

Question 13

Which of the following is Incorrect?
A: Blood flow is equally distributed throughout the lungs to ensure appropriate ventilation

B: Sometimes a pulmonary embolism is detectable on an EKG

C: A person having a severe panic attack would have shift their oxygen hemoglobin disassociation curve to the left

D: Venous stasis is the most common cause of deep vein thrombosis

Answer 13

A: Blood flow is equally distributed throughout the lungs to ensure appropriate ventilation

Question 14

Which of the following is consistent with the body’s general response to hypoxia?
A. It usually results in an elevated pH

B. It results in systemic vasoconstriction

C. It results in decreased tidal volumes

D. It could result in increased pulmonary pressure

Answer 14

D. It could result in increased pulmonary pressure

Question 15

Which of the following choices is correct with regard to the transport of gasses?
A. Most of the oxygen is dissolved in the plasma

B. Most of the CO2 is dissolved in the plasma

C. Oxygen and CO2 are both primarily transported by hemoglobin

D. Carbon dioxide is mostly transported as carbonic acid and bicarbonate

Answer 15

D. Carbon dioxide is mostly transported as carbonic acid and bicarbonate

Question 16

Which of the following choices is consistent with a left shift in the HgB-O2 Curve?
A. Acidosis

B. An elevated pH

C. Increased CO2

D. Elevated body temperature

Answer 16

B. An elevated pH

Question 17

Which of the following is consistent with an increased AA gradient?
A. Acute bronchoconstriction

B. Fluid in the alveoli

C. Hyperventilation

D. Increased residual volume

Answer 17

B. Fluid in the alveoli

Question 18

Which of the following is correct?
A: Both Obstructive and Restrictive pulmonary diseases can result in an elevated FEV1/FVC ratio

B: Chronic bronchitis and Emphysema are almost always mutually exclusive disease processes

C: Aspiration pneumonia carries a particularly high mortality rate

D: Trauma is the most common cause of ARDS

Answer 18

C: Aspiration pneumonia carries a particularly high mortality rate

Question 19

Which of the following is most correct with regard to asthma?
A. Individuals with asthma rarely have a history of additional allergies

B. Inhaled corticosteroids are commonly used as “rescue” medications

C. Wheezing is often unilateral in many asthmatics

D. Cold air and exertion are well known triggers for acute bronchoconstriction

Answer 19

D. Cold air and exertion are well known triggers for acute bronchoconstriction

Question 20

Which of the following is most consistent with acute bronchitis?
A. Generally, it is more commonly bacterial than viral

B. It often lasts 3-5 days, and usually doesn’t result in high fever

C. Most cases result in purulent secretions

D. More often than not, it’s followed by bacterial pneumonia

Answer 20

B. It often lasts 3-5 days, and usually doesn’t result in high fever

Question 21

Which of the following is correct regarding Cystic Fibrosis?
A. It is usually an autosomal dominant disease

B. Currently, the average life-span is about 16 years

C. This disease affects sodium channels directly through an autoimmune mechanism

D. Intestinal malabsorption syndromes are common

Answer 21

D. Intestinal malabsorption syndromes are common

Question 22

Which of the following is most correct regarding the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis?
A. Arteries and veins are equally affected

B. “Foam cells” are basically bloated macrophages

C. Coronary arteries are commonly affected, but the carotids are rarely affected

D. “Stable” plaques in the coronary arteries are commonly associated with acute MI

Answer 22

B. “Foam cells” are basically bloated macrophages

Question 23

Which of the following is most consistent with the mechanism of claudication?
A. Systemic acidosis

B. Venous insufficiency

C. The failure of aerobic metabolism

D. Increased glucose catabolism

Answer 23

C. The failure of aerobic metabolism

Question 24

Which of the following patients is most at risk for a AAA?
A. An overweight, hypertensive, male smoker

B. A tall, thin male with long, thin fingers

C. A woman with systemic autoimmune vasculitis

D. All of these individuals have an elevated risk of AAA

Answer 24

D. All of these individuals have an elevated risk of AAA

Question 25

Which of the following is correct?
A: Medications are probably the most common cause of orthostatic hypotension

B: An decrease in circulating blood volume would normally result in an increase in systemic vascular resistance

C: Aortic stenosis would result in a very wide pulse pressure

D: The greatest amount of resistance in the cardiovascular system occurs in the small arteries

Answer 25

B: An decrease in circulating blood volume would normally result in an increase in systemic vascular resistance

Question 26

Which of the following statements regarding hypertension is most correct?
A. Chronic kidney disease is the most common cause

B. The best way to lower blood pressure is to slow down the heart rate

C. Primary autonomic dysfunction is a major cause of secondary hypertension

D. Systemic hypertension often can lead to pulmonary hypertension, but usually not the other way around

Answer 26

D. Systemic hypertension often can lead to pulmonary hypertension, but usually not the other way around

Question 27

Which of the following is correct?
A: Stroke volume and ejection fraction are basically the same thing

B: A individual experiencing a vaso-vagal syncopal episode usually requires medical intervention before consciousness is regained

C: A carotid artery massage could result in bradycardia

D: Marathon runners often have decreased parasympathetic tone

Answer 27

C: A carotid artery massage could result in bradycardia

Question 28

If blood flow moves from high to low pressure, how do the veins return the blood to the heart…(flow from low to high)??
A. The right atria contracts so forcefully, it actually creates a draw

B. The right ventricle contracts and creates a draw

C. The lymphatic system is responsible for this phenomena

D. The contracting muscles in the legs push the venous back toward the heart

Answer 28

D. The contracting muscles in the legs push the venous back toward the heart

Question 29

Which of the following is most correct?
A. Like many other arteries in the body, coronary arteries also tend to have anastomotic connections

B. All veins in the body have valves

C. The heart has parasympathetic innervation in all areas, but the sympathetics only control the AV node

D. The heart always generates a pressure differential, but it’s really the arteries and arterioles that regulate it

Answer 29

D. The heart always generates a pressure differential, but it’s really the arteries and arterioles that regulate it

Question 30

Which of the following is most consistent with the Frank-Starling law of the heart?
A. The more calcium there is, the stronger the contraction will be

B. In order to get maximum contraction, you have to have an adequate pre-load

C. A hypovolemic individual would have a maximum length tension relationship

D. The heart is solely dependent on this mechanism, and has no real innate contractile ability on its own

Answer 30

B. In order to get maximum contraction, you have to have an adequate pre-load