NU 327
FINAL STUDY GUIDE 2026 EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED ANSWERS
Normal RBC Count - ANSWER-Female = 4.2-5.4
Male = 4.5-6.2
Normal WBC Count - ANSWER-Female = 4,500-11,000
Male = 5,000-10,000
Normal Hematocrit - ANSWER-Female = 37-47%
Male = 42-52%
Normal Hemoglobin - ANSWER-Female = 12-16
Male = 14-18
Normal Sodium (Na+) - ANSWER-Adults = 135-145 mEq/L
Normal Potassium (K+) - ANSWER-Adults = 3.5-5.0 mEq/L
Normal Total Cholesterol - ANSWER-<200 mg/dL
Normal HDLs - ANSWER-Female >55 mg/dL
Male >45 mg/dL
(these are protective levels)
Normal LDLs - ANSWER-Beneficial <100 mg/dL
Harmful >160 mg/dL
Normal Troponin - ANSWER-<0.01 ng/mL
Normal BNP - ANSWER-<100 indicates no Heart Failure
Normal Ejection Fraction (EF) - ANSWER-60-80%
Normal Creatinine - ANSWER-Female = 0.5-1.1 mg/dL
Male = 0.6-1.2 mg/dL
(reflects GFR for renal function)
,Normal Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) - ANSWER-10-20 mg/dL
(indirect measure of overall hydration)
Normal pH Range - ANSWER-7.35-7.45
Absolute pH - ANSWER-7.4
Normal PaCO2 Range - ANSWER-35-45 mmHg
(acid)
Normal HCO3- Range (Bicarb.) - ANSWER-22-26 mEq/L
(base)
Normal PaO2 Range - ANSWER-80-100 mmHg
Normal SaO2 Range - ANSWER-95-100%
Normal Blood Pressure Range - ANSWER-120/80-140/90
Normal V/Q Ratio - ANSWER-V = 4 L/min
Q = 5 L/min
V/Q = 0.8
Central Nervous System (CNS)
Components & Functions - ANSWER-- composed of brain + spinal cord bathed in cerebrospinal
fluid (CSF)
- receives and processes sensory information and creates responses to be relayed to
muscles/glands
- the site of emotion, memory, cognition, learning
- protected by the skull & vertebrae, CSF, blood-brain barrier, meninges (dura mater, arachnoid
mater, pia mater)
Cerebrum - ANSWER-- largest part of the brain
- sensory & motor activities
- motor coordination
- R & L hemispheres
- 4 lobes (frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital)
,Cerebellum - ANSWER-- beneath the cerebrum, base of the brain
- coordinates muscle movements
- controls posture
- maintains equilibrium
Brain Stem - ANSWER-- composed of the midbrain, pons, and medulla
- pupillary reflexes and eye movements
- respirations
- cardiac, vasomotor functions
Spinal Cord - ANSWER-- extends from the brain to second lumbar vertebrae
- 2-way conduction between brain and PNS
- gray matter - neuron cell bodies
- white matter - nerve tracts
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
Composition & Functions - ANSWER-- messages transmitted through the spinal cord reach their
target organs through the PNS
- 31 pairs of spinal nerves
- 12 pairs of cranial nerves
Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)
Composition & Functions - ANSWER-- composed of the Sympathetic NS and the
Parasympathetic NS
- digestion, respirations, cardiovascular, supports homeostasis
Sympathetic Nervous System
Functions & Effects - ANSWER-- speeds up
- adrenergic catecholamines norepinephrine
- dilates pupil
- inhibits flow of saliva
- accelerates heartbeat
, - dilates bronchi
- inhibits peristalsis and secretion
- conversion of glycogen to glucose
- secretion of adrenaline and noradrenaline
- inhibits bladder contraction
Parasympathetic Nervous System
Functions & Effects - ANSWER-- slows down
- cholinergic neurohormone acetylcholine
- constricts pupil
- stimulates flow of saliva
- slows heartbeat
- constricts bronchi
- stimulates peristalsis and secretion
- stimulates release of bile
- contracts bladder
Primary Brain Injury - ANSWER-- occurs immediately at the onset of brain injury
- little can be done to reverse
- sudden damage to tissue
Secondary Brain Injury - ANSWER-- development of further neurological damage
- day-weeks after initial injury
- delayed cell death may involve necrosis
Hypoxia - ANSWER-- an O2 deficiency at the cellular level
Hypoxemia - ANSWER-- an O2 deficiency in the blood
Ischemia - ANSWER-- occurs when the deliver of oxygenated blood is below the level needed to
meet metabolic demands
- cellular energy failure
FINAL STUDY GUIDE 2026 EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED ANSWERS
Normal RBC Count - ANSWER-Female = 4.2-5.4
Male = 4.5-6.2
Normal WBC Count - ANSWER-Female = 4,500-11,000
Male = 5,000-10,000
Normal Hematocrit - ANSWER-Female = 37-47%
Male = 42-52%
Normal Hemoglobin - ANSWER-Female = 12-16
Male = 14-18
Normal Sodium (Na+) - ANSWER-Adults = 135-145 mEq/L
Normal Potassium (K+) - ANSWER-Adults = 3.5-5.0 mEq/L
Normal Total Cholesterol - ANSWER-<200 mg/dL
Normal HDLs - ANSWER-Female >55 mg/dL
Male >45 mg/dL
(these are protective levels)
Normal LDLs - ANSWER-Beneficial <100 mg/dL
Harmful >160 mg/dL
Normal Troponin - ANSWER-<0.01 ng/mL
Normal BNP - ANSWER-<100 indicates no Heart Failure
Normal Ejection Fraction (EF) - ANSWER-60-80%
Normal Creatinine - ANSWER-Female = 0.5-1.1 mg/dL
Male = 0.6-1.2 mg/dL
(reflects GFR for renal function)
,Normal Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) - ANSWER-10-20 mg/dL
(indirect measure of overall hydration)
Normal pH Range - ANSWER-7.35-7.45
Absolute pH - ANSWER-7.4
Normal PaCO2 Range - ANSWER-35-45 mmHg
(acid)
Normal HCO3- Range (Bicarb.) - ANSWER-22-26 mEq/L
(base)
Normal PaO2 Range - ANSWER-80-100 mmHg
Normal SaO2 Range - ANSWER-95-100%
Normal Blood Pressure Range - ANSWER-120/80-140/90
Normal V/Q Ratio - ANSWER-V = 4 L/min
Q = 5 L/min
V/Q = 0.8
Central Nervous System (CNS)
Components & Functions - ANSWER-- composed of brain + spinal cord bathed in cerebrospinal
fluid (CSF)
- receives and processes sensory information and creates responses to be relayed to
muscles/glands
- the site of emotion, memory, cognition, learning
- protected by the skull & vertebrae, CSF, blood-brain barrier, meninges (dura mater, arachnoid
mater, pia mater)
Cerebrum - ANSWER-- largest part of the brain
- sensory & motor activities
- motor coordination
- R & L hemispheres
- 4 lobes (frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital)
,Cerebellum - ANSWER-- beneath the cerebrum, base of the brain
- coordinates muscle movements
- controls posture
- maintains equilibrium
Brain Stem - ANSWER-- composed of the midbrain, pons, and medulla
- pupillary reflexes and eye movements
- respirations
- cardiac, vasomotor functions
Spinal Cord - ANSWER-- extends from the brain to second lumbar vertebrae
- 2-way conduction between brain and PNS
- gray matter - neuron cell bodies
- white matter - nerve tracts
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
Composition & Functions - ANSWER-- messages transmitted through the spinal cord reach their
target organs through the PNS
- 31 pairs of spinal nerves
- 12 pairs of cranial nerves
Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)
Composition & Functions - ANSWER-- composed of the Sympathetic NS and the
Parasympathetic NS
- digestion, respirations, cardiovascular, supports homeostasis
Sympathetic Nervous System
Functions & Effects - ANSWER-- speeds up
- adrenergic catecholamines norepinephrine
- dilates pupil
- inhibits flow of saliva
- accelerates heartbeat
, - dilates bronchi
- inhibits peristalsis and secretion
- conversion of glycogen to glucose
- secretion of adrenaline and noradrenaline
- inhibits bladder contraction
Parasympathetic Nervous System
Functions & Effects - ANSWER-- slows down
- cholinergic neurohormone acetylcholine
- constricts pupil
- stimulates flow of saliva
- slows heartbeat
- constricts bronchi
- stimulates peristalsis and secretion
- stimulates release of bile
- contracts bladder
Primary Brain Injury - ANSWER-- occurs immediately at the onset of brain injury
- little can be done to reverse
- sudden damage to tissue
Secondary Brain Injury - ANSWER-- development of further neurological damage
- day-weeks after initial injury
- delayed cell death may involve necrosis
Hypoxia - ANSWER-- an O2 deficiency at the cellular level
Hypoxemia - ANSWER-- an O2 deficiency in the blood
Ischemia - ANSWER-- occurs when the deliver of oxygenated blood is below the level needed to
meet metabolic demands
- cellular energy failure
