Pathophysiology

Question 1

aerobic (air-O-bik) metabolism

Answer 1

the cellular process in which oxygen is used to metabolize glucose. Energy is produced in an efficient manner with minimal waste products.

Question 2

anaerobic (AN-air-o-bik) metabolism

Answer 2

the cellular process in which glucose is metabolized into energy without oxygen. Energy is produced in an inefficient manner with many waste products.

Question 3

cardiac output

Answer 3

the amount of blood ejected from the heart in 1

minute (heart rate stroke volume).

Question 4

chemoreceptors (ke-mo-re-cept-erz)

Answer 4

chemical sensors in the brain and blood vessels that identify changing levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide.

Question 5

dead air space

Answer 5

air that occupies the space between the mouth and

alveoli but that does not actually reach the area of gas exchange.

Question 6

dehydration(de-hi-DRAY-shun)

Answer 6

an abnormally low amount of water in the body.

Question 7

edema (eh-DEE-muh)

Answer 7

swelling associated with the movement of water into the interstitial space

Question 8

electrolyte (e-LEK-tro-lite)

Answer 8

a substance that, when dissolved in water, separates into charged particles.

Question 9

FiO2

Answer 9

fraction of inspired oxygen; the concentration of oxygen in the air we breathe.

Question 10

hydrostatic (HI-dro-STAT-ik) pressure

Answer 10

the pressure within a

blood vessel that tends to push water out of the vessel.

Question 11

hypersensitivity

Answer 11

an exaggerated response by the immune system to a particular substance.

Question 12

hypoperfusion (HI-po-per-FEW-zhun)

Answer 12

inability of the body to adequately circulate blood to the body’s cells to supply them with oxygen and nutrients. Also called shock.

Question 13

metabolism (meh-TAB-o-lizm)

Answer 13

the cellular function of converting nutrients into energy.

Question 14

minute volume

Answer 14

the amount of air breathed in during each respiration multiplied by the number of breaths per minute.

Question 15

patent (PAY-tent)

Answer 15

open and clear; free from obstruction.

Question 16

pathophysiology (path-o-fiz-e-OL-o-je)

Answer 16

the study of how disease processes affect the function of the body.

Question 17

perfusion (pur-FEW-zhun)

Answer 17

the supply of oxygen to, and removal of wastes from, the cells and tissues of the body as a result
of the flow of blood through the capillaries.

Question 18

plasma oncotic (PLAZ-ma on-KOT-ik) pressure

Answer 18

the pull exerted by large proteins in the plasma portion of blood that tends to pull water from the body into the bloodstream.

Question 19

shock

Answer 19

the inability of the body to adequately circulate blood to the body’s cells to supply them with oxygen and nutrients. Also called hypoperfusion. A life-threatening condition.

Question 20

stretch receptors

Answer 20

sensors in blood vessels that identify internal

pressure.

Question 21

stroke volume

Answer 21

the amount of blood ejected from the heart in

one contraction.

Question 22

systemic vascular resistance (SVR)

Answer 22

the pressure in the peripheral blood vessels that the heart must overcome in order to pump blood into the system.

Question 23

tidal volume

Answer 23

the volume of air moved in one cycle of breathing.

Question 24

V/Q match ventilation/perfusion match

Answer 24

This implies that the alveoli are supplied with enough air and that the air in the alveoli is matched with sufficient blood in the pulmonary capillaries to
permit optimum exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide.

Question 25

Define metabolism. Explain the necessary components of efficient metabolism.

Answer 25

Metabolism is the conversion of glucose and other nutrients into energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate. Necessary components include oxygen and glucose.

Question 26

Describe three types of respiratory dysfunction and how those dysfunctions affect the body.

Answer 26

Three types of respiratory dysfunction are: disruption of respiratory control,
disruption of pressure,
disruption of lung tissue.

Disruption of respiratory control occurs when the
brain fails to appropriately control breathing. Without regulatory messages being sent, breathing can cease or become ineffective. Disruption of pressure occurs when the integrity of the chest cavity is broken and air passes in and out through the chest wall.This interferes with the pressure changes necessary to move air in and out through the glottic opening. Disruption of lung tissue occurs when lung tissue is displaced or destroyed by disease or mechanical force. Injured or diseased tissue cannot exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide.

Question 27

Describe why it is important that blood vessels have the capability to dilate and constrict. How do these impact the cardiovascular system as a whole?

Answer 27

Dilation and constriction of blood vessels help maintain the necessary pressure in the
cardiovascular system to pump blood. These changes give the body the capability to adapt to changes in the volume of circulating blood.

Question 28

Define cardiac output. What are the key components of cardiac output?

Answer 28

Cardiac output is the amount of blood pumped by the heart each minute. Components include stroke volume and heart rate.

Question 29

Describe how the body might compensate for a challenge to the cardiopulmonary system. How might these compensations be seen in a patient?

Answer 29

The body compensates for cardiopulmonary challenges in predictable ways. Commonly,
the autonomic nervous system engages the “fight-or-flight” mechanism of its sympathetic arm. This causes blood vessels to constrict and the heart to beat faster and stronger. The sympathetic nervous response also causes pupils to dilate and the skin to sweat. Chemoreceptors in the brain and blood vessels sense increasing carbon dioxide and hypoxia and stimulate the respiratory system to breathe faster and deeper. Signs and symptoms include increased pulse and respirations, delayed capillary refill, and pale skin. Pupils may be dilated and the patient may be sweaty even in cool environments.

Question 30

sign or symptom of obstructed airway

Answer 30

lack of breathing, low 02,

Question 31

sign or symptom of bronchospasm (narrowed air passages)

Answer 31

wheezing

Question 32

sign or symptom of massive internal hemorrhage

Answer 32

low blood pressure or shock, moist skin, weak pulse

Question 33

sign or symptom of heart rate to slow

Answer 33

blood is not circulating so not get efficient o2 exchange

Question 34

What are the requirements for normal cellular metabolism? What changes occur when those requirements are not available?

Answer 34

Normal metabolism requires adequate amounts of oxygen and glucose. When adequate amounts of either are not available, the body changes the process. Anaerobic metabolism occurs in low oxygen states. This inefficient form of metabolism produces less energy and far more waste products.

Question 35

Considering the requirements of normal cellular metabolism, discuss how each of the following systems and/or organs
contributes to the delivery of those requirements
• Respiratory
• Circulatory
• Blood vessels
• Blood

Answer 35

The respiratory system delivers oxygen from room air to the bloodstream. The circulatory system delivers oxygen and glucose to the cells. The blood vessels dilate and constrict to provide sufficient pressure in the cardiovascular system to move blood, and the blood components carry the oxygen and glucose.

Question 36

We discussed that the heart plays a major role in compensation. Consider a patient with a traumatic injury to the heart. What impact on the patient’s ability to compensate might an injury like this have?

Answer 36

With a damaged heart, the body’s ability to compensate by managing cardiac output is
impaired. Cardiac injuries can limit the ability to change heart rate and stroke volume and therefore limit increases in cardiac output.

Question 37

Certain types of anemia decrease the amount of red blood cells in a patient’s blood. What might be the impact of not having enough red blood cells? How might this condition affect that patient’s ability to compensate for an illness or injury?

Answer 37

Red blood cells carry oxygen. A deficit in the number of these cells disrupts the body’s
ability to move oxygen in the cardiovascular system. Under normal circumstances, this
patient will have a difficult time transporting enough oxygen. In times of challenge, this deficit may seriously affect the body’s ability to compensate.A loss of red blood cells also limits the body’s ability to remove waste products such as carbon dioxide from the tissues. This can be damaging to the tissues.

Question 38

We discussed that the blood vessels play a major role in compensation.Consider a patient with an inability to control the diameter of the blood vessels (as in sepsis).What impact might an illness like this have on the patient’s ability to compensate?

Answer 38

A patient with a loss of tone in his blood vessels would lose the ability to control pressure within the cardiovascular system.This person could not adapt to blood loss by vasoconstriction. Furthermore, excessive dilation of blood vessels can drop blood pressure and cause shock.