PATHOPHYSIOLOGY THE BIOLOGIC BASIS FOR
DISEASE TEST PAPER 2026 COMPLETE
RESPONSES GRADED A+
◉ vascular endothelium. Answer: -critical component of the
circulatory system
-considered by some to be a separate organ
-multifunctional tissue
-its health is essential to normal vascular and hemostatic physiology
a
-its dysfunction is an important factor in the pathogenesis of
vascular and other diseases
◉ right heart. Answer: -right side of the heart
-pump blood to the lungs
-pulmonary circulation
-low-pressure system
◉ left heart. Answer: -left side of heart
-send blood to supply all of the body except the lungs
-systemic circulation
-high-pressure system
,◉ arteries. Answer: -carry blood from the heart to all parts of the
body, where they branch into arterioles, smaller vessels, and
capillaries
◉ capillaries. Answer: -allow the closest contact and exchange
between the blood and the interstitial space/ interstitium
◉ veins. Answer: -carry blood from capillaries back to the heart
◉ lymph. Answer: -plasma or liquid component of the blood which
passes through the walls of capillaries into interstitial space
-returned to the cardiovascular system by vessels of the lymphatic
system
-consists primarily of water and small amounts of dissolved
proteins, mostly albumin, that are too large to be reabsorbed into
the less permeable blood capillaries
-carries 2 types of cells-lymphocytes and antigen-presenting cells
◉ lymphatic system. Answer: -one-way network of vessels that is
important for fluid balance, immune function, and transport of
lipids, hormones and cytokines
,◉ mediastinum. Answer: -area above the diaphragm and between
the lungs where the heart lies obliquely
◉ Heart structures are categorized by 3 function. Answer: 1.
Structural support of heart tissues and circulation of pulmonary and
systemic blood through the heart
-includes heart wall, fibrous skeleton, valves, great vessels
2. Maintenance of heart cells
-comprises vessels of coronary circulation (metabolism and
lymphatic)
3. Stimulation and control of heart action
-nerves, specialized pacemaker muscle cells
◉ 3 layers of heart wall. Answer: -epicardium
-myocardium
-endocardium
◉ pericardium. Answer: double-walled membranous sac enclosing
the heart wall
◉ pericardial sac function. Answer: 1. prevents displacement of
heart during gravitational acceleration or deceleration
2. acts as a physical barrier that protects the heart against infection
and inflammation from the lungs and pleural space
, 3. contains pain receptors and mechanoreceptors that can elicit
reflex changes in blood pressure and heart rate
◉ parietal pericardium. Answer: -outer layer of pericardium
-composed of a surface layer of mesothelium over a thin layer of
connective tissue
◉ visceral pericardium aka epicardium. Answer: -inner layer of
pericardium
-folds and becomes continuous with parietal pericardium, allowing
large vessels to enter and leave the heart without breaching the
pericardial layers
◉ pericardial cavity. Answer: fluid-containing space separating the
visceral and parietal pericardia
◉ pericardial fluid. Answer: -secreted by cells if the mesothelium
-lubricates the membranes that line the pericardial cavity, enabling
them to slide over one another with a minimum of friction as the
heart beats
-amount and character are altered by inflammation of the
pericardium
◉ epicardium. Answer: -outer layer of the heart
DISEASE TEST PAPER 2026 COMPLETE
RESPONSES GRADED A+
◉ vascular endothelium. Answer: -critical component of the
circulatory system
-considered by some to be a separate organ
-multifunctional tissue
-its health is essential to normal vascular and hemostatic physiology
a
-its dysfunction is an important factor in the pathogenesis of
vascular and other diseases
◉ right heart. Answer: -right side of the heart
-pump blood to the lungs
-pulmonary circulation
-low-pressure system
◉ left heart. Answer: -left side of heart
-send blood to supply all of the body except the lungs
-systemic circulation
-high-pressure system
,◉ arteries. Answer: -carry blood from the heart to all parts of the
body, where they branch into arterioles, smaller vessels, and
capillaries
◉ capillaries. Answer: -allow the closest contact and exchange
between the blood and the interstitial space/ interstitium
◉ veins. Answer: -carry blood from capillaries back to the heart
◉ lymph. Answer: -plasma or liquid component of the blood which
passes through the walls of capillaries into interstitial space
-returned to the cardiovascular system by vessels of the lymphatic
system
-consists primarily of water and small amounts of dissolved
proteins, mostly albumin, that are too large to be reabsorbed into
the less permeable blood capillaries
-carries 2 types of cells-lymphocytes and antigen-presenting cells
◉ lymphatic system. Answer: -one-way network of vessels that is
important for fluid balance, immune function, and transport of
lipids, hormones and cytokines
,◉ mediastinum. Answer: -area above the diaphragm and between
the lungs where the heart lies obliquely
◉ Heart structures are categorized by 3 function. Answer: 1.
Structural support of heart tissues and circulation of pulmonary and
systemic blood through the heart
-includes heart wall, fibrous skeleton, valves, great vessels
2. Maintenance of heart cells
-comprises vessels of coronary circulation (metabolism and
lymphatic)
3. Stimulation and control of heart action
-nerves, specialized pacemaker muscle cells
◉ 3 layers of heart wall. Answer: -epicardium
-myocardium
-endocardium
◉ pericardium. Answer: double-walled membranous sac enclosing
the heart wall
◉ pericardial sac function. Answer: 1. prevents displacement of
heart during gravitational acceleration or deceleration
2. acts as a physical barrier that protects the heart against infection
and inflammation from the lungs and pleural space
, 3. contains pain receptors and mechanoreceptors that can elicit
reflex changes in blood pressure and heart rate
◉ parietal pericardium. Answer: -outer layer of pericardium
-composed of a surface layer of mesothelium over a thin layer of
connective tissue
◉ visceral pericardium aka epicardium. Answer: -inner layer of
pericardium
-folds and becomes continuous with parietal pericardium, allowing
large vessels to enter and leave the heart without breaching the
pericardial layers
◉ pericardial cavity. Answer: fluid-containing space separating the
visceral and parietal pericardia
◉ pericardial fluid. Answer: -secreted by cells if the mesothelium
-lubricates the membranes that line the pericardial cavity, enabling
them to slide over one another with a minimum of friction as the
heart beats
-amount and character are altered by inflammation of the
pericardium
◉ epicardium. Answer: -outer layer of the heart
