NURS 611
NURS 611 Pathophysiology Exam 4
Study Questions and Answers 2026
1
Crohn's disease
Inflammatory disorder that affects any part of the GI tract from the mouth to the anus
R/F: Smoking, low fiber-high carbohydrate diet, medications such as NSAIDs, altered
intestinal microbiome.
P/P: Spreads with discontinuous TRANSMURAL involvement or "skip lesions" that can
involve any part of the GI tract from the mouth to the perianal area.
Skip lesions are distinguished by inflamed areas mixed with uninflamed areas,
noncaseating granulomas, fistulas, and deep penetrating ulcers.
Cardinal Sign: Diarrhea
S/S: Deficiencies in folic acid and vitamin d absorption
2
Appendicitis
Most common in children 10 to 11 years of age, up to 19
Most common surgical emergency in the abdomen
10 cases per 10,000 persons
NURS 611
,NURS 611
RLQ pain, low-grade fever, nausea, rebound tenderness at McBurney's point.
P/P: Inflammation of the vermiform appendix, which is a projection from the apex of
the cecum, becomes hypoxic
3
Cirrhosis
Scar tissue replaces healthy hepatocyte tissue and is an irreversible inflammatory,
fibrotic liver disease. It distorts the architecture of the liver parenchyma.
Prevalence 4.5 million
Mortality rate of 44,358 deaths yearly
R/F: Hepatitis C, alcohol-related liver disease, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD),
and hepatitis B is the most common cause of cirrhosis.
4
Colorectal Cancers
5
Pancreatic Cancer
Fourth leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S.
NURS 611
,NURS 611
6
Celiac Disease
Know as celiac sprue or gluten-sensitive enteropathy, is an autoimmune disease that
damages small intestinal villous epithelium when gluten (gliadin), the protein
component of wheat derivatives, barley, or rye, is ingested.
P/P: HLA-DQ2- or HLA-DQ8-induced CD4+ T-cell-mediated autoimmune injury to
genetically susceptible individuals' small intestinal epithelial cells.
7
Gluten Sensitivity
Patients will not have positive antibodies, nor will they exhibit classic intestinal villous
atrophy.
8
Portal hypertension
Thrombosis of the portal vein is the most common cause of portal hypertension in
children, and splenomegaly is the most common sign.
9
Primary lactose intolerance
P/P: The inability to digest milk sugar because of a lack of the enzyme lactase results in
osmotic diarrhea.
S/S: Abdominal pain, diarrhea, and flatulence
NURS 611
, NURS 611
TX: A diet low in fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and
polyols (FODMAPs) or probiotics
10
Intussusception
Telescoping of a proximal segment of the intestine into a distal segment causes an
obstruction. It occurs most commonly in the area of the ileocecal junction.
11
GERD
Reflux of acid and pepsin or bile salts from the stomach into the esophagus, causing
esophagitis
Prevalence: 18% to 27% in North America.
R/F: Age, obesity, hiatal hernia, drugs (anticholinergics, nitrates, calcium channel
blockers, nicotine), asthma, chronic cough.
P/P: Change in 20 mmHG LES resting pressure prevents backflow related to distention
D/T: Spontaneous relaxation of the LES may be triggered by gastric distention after
meals and trigger acid reflux. Acid reflux may be triggered by diet and lifestyle factors
such as food intake that causes delayed gastric emptying, acidic foods, and obesity.
Sliding hiatal hernia facilitates reflux.21 Vomiting, coughing, lifting, bending, and
pregnancy also increase abdominal pressure, contributing to the development of
reflux esophagitis.
NURS 611
NURS 611 Pathophysiology Exam 4
Study Questions and Answers 2026
1
Crohn's disease
Inflammatory disorder that affects any part of the GI tract from the mouth to the anus
R/F: Smoking, low fiber-high carbohydrate diet, medications such as NSAIDs, altered
intestinal microbiome.
P/P: Spreads with discontinuous TRANSMURAL involvement or "skip lesions" that can
involve any part of the GI tract from the mouth to the perianal area.
Skip lesions are distinguished by inflamed areas mixed with uninflamed areas,
noncaseating granulomas, fistulas, and deep penetrating ulcers.
Cardinal Sign: Diarrhea
S/S: Deficiencies in folic acid and vitamin d absorption
2
Appendicitis
Most common in children 10 to 11 years of age, up to 19
Most common surgical emergency in the abdomen
10 cases per 10,000 persons
NURS 611
,NURS 611
RLQ pain, low-grade fever, nausea, rebound tenderness at McBurney's point.
P/P: Inflammation of the vermiform appendix, which is a projection from the apex of
the cecum, becomes hypoxic
3
Cirrhosis
Scar tissue replaces healthy hepatocyte tissue and is an irreversible inflammatory,
fibrotic liver disease. It distorts the architecture of the liver parenchyma.
Prevalence 4.5 million
Mortality rate of 44,358 deaths yearly
R/F: Hepatitis C, alcohol-related liver disease, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD),
and hepatitis B is the most common cause of cirrhosis.
4
Colorectal Cancers
5
Pancreatic Cancer
Fourth leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S.
NURS 611
,NURS 611
6
Celiac Disease
Know as celiac sprue or gluten-sensitive enteropathy, is an autoimmune disease that
damages small intestinal villous epithelium when gluten (gliadin), the protein
component of wheat derivatives, barley, or rye, is ingested.
P/P: HLA-DQ2- or HLA-DQ8-induced CD4+ T-cell-mediated autoimmune injury to
genetically susceptible individuals' small intestinal epithelial cells.
7
Gluten Sensitivity
Patients will not have positive antibodies, nor will they exhibit classic intestinal villous
atrophy.
8
Portal hypertension
Thrombosis of the portal vein is the most common cause of portal hypertension in
children, and splenomegaly is the most common sign.
9
Primary lactose intolerance
P/P: The inability to digest milk sugar because of a lack of the enzyme lactase results in
osmotic diarrhea.
S/S: Abdominal pain, diarrhea, and flatulence
NURS 611
, NURS 611
TX: A diet low in fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and
polyols (FODMAPs) or probiotics
10
Intussusception
Telescoping of a proximal segment of the intestine into a distal segment causes an
obstruction. It occurs most commonly in the area of the ileocecal junction.
11
GERD
Reflux of acid and pepsin or bile salts from the stomach into the esophagus, causing
esophagitis
Prevalence: 18% to 27% in North America.
R/F: Age, obesity, hiatal hernia, drugs (anticholinergics, nitrates, calcium channel
blockers, nicotine), asthma, chronic cough.
P/P: Change in 20 mmHG LES resting pressure prevents backflow related to distention
D/T: Spontaneous relaxation of the LES may be triggered by gastric distention after
meals and trigger acid reflux. Acid reflux may be triggered by diet and lifestyle factors
such as food intake that causes delayed gastric emptying, acidic foods, and obesity.
Sliding hiatal hernia facilitates reflux.21 Vomiting, coughing, lifting, bending, and
pregnancy also increase abdominal pressure, contributing to the development of
reflux esophagitis.
NURS 611
