NU 310 PRACTICE EXAM QUESTIONS AND
DETAILED SOLUTIONS 2026
▶ chemical mediators. Answer: - affect blood vessels and nerves in the
damaged areas
- hyperemia (increased blood flow)
- histamine, protaglandin, bradykinin
▶ histamine. Answer: vasodilation and increased capillary permeability
▶ prostaglandin. Answer: vasodilation, increased capillary permeability,
pain, fever, potentiate histamine effect
▶ bradykinin. Answer: vasodilation, increased capillary permeability, pain,
chemotaxis (attract WBC to site)
▶ local effects of inflammation. Answer: - redness and warmth: increased
blood flow to damaged area
- swelling (edema): shift of protein and fluid into the interstitial space
- pain: increased pressure of fluid on nerves; release of chemical mediators
(bradykinin)
- loss of function: lack of nutrients; edema interferes with movement
▶ serous exudate. Answer: watery, consists primarily of fluid, some
proteins, and white blood cells
▶ fibrinous exudate. Answer: - thick, sticky, high cell and fibrin content
- help with clotting
- risk of scar tissue
▶ purulent exudate. Answer: - thick, yellow-green, contains more
leukocytes, cell debris, and microorganisms
- can have odor
- indicates bacterial infection
, ▶ systemic effects of inflammation. Answer: mild fever (pyrogen release),
malaise, fatigue, headache, anorexia
▶ changes in the blood with inflammation: leukocytosis. Answer: increased
numbers of WBC, esp. neutrophils
▶ changes in the blood with inflammation: differential count. Answer: -
proportion of each type of WBC altered, depending on the cause
- helpful in distinguishing viral vs bacterial infection
▶ changes in the blood with inflammation: plasma proteins. Answer:
increased fibrinogen and prothrombin
▶ changes in the blood with inflammation: c-reactive protein. Answer: not
normally in blood, but appears with acute inflammation and necrosis 24-48
hours
▶ changes in the blood with inflammation: increased ESR. Answer:
increased rate of RBCs settling
▶ changes in the blood with inflammation: cell enzyme. Answer: released
from necrotic cells and enter tissue fluid and blood, may indicate site of
inflammation
▶ potential complications of inflammation. Answer: - infection:
microorganisms can more easily penetrate edematous tissues
- skeletal muscle spasm: protective response to pain, usually with
orthopedic trauma
- local complications: depends on site of inflammation, includes obstruction,
loss of sensation, and decreased cell function
▶ chronic inflammation. Answer: - following acute episode of inflammation
- less swelling and exudate
- presence of more lymphocytes, macrophages, and fibroblasts (connective
tissue cells)
- tissue destruction
- more scar tissue
- granuloma could develop around foreign object
▶ potential complication of chronic inflammation. Answer: - ulcers
DETAILED SOLUTIONS 2026
▶ chemical mediators. Answer: - affect blood vessels and nerves in the
damaged areas
- hyperemia (increased blood flow)
- histamine, protaglandin, bradykinin
▶ histamine. Answer: vasodilation and increased capillary permeability
▶ prostaglandin. Answer: vasodilation, increased capillary permeability,
pain, fever, potentiate histamine effect
▶ bradykinin. Answer: vasodilation, increased capillary permeability, pain,
chemotaxis (attract WBC to site)
▶ local effects of inflammation. Answer: - redness and warmth: increased
blood flow to damaged area
- swelling (edema): shift of protein and fluid into the interstitial space
- pain: increased pressure of fluid on nerves; release of chemical mediators
(bradykinin)
- loss of function: lack of nutrients; edema interferes with movement
▶ serous exudate. Answer: watery, consists primarily of fluid, some
proteins, and white blood cells
▶ fibrinous exudate. Answer: - thick, sticky, high cell and fibrin content
- help with clotting
- risk of scar tissue
▶ purulent exudate. Answer: - thick, yellow-green, contains more
leukocytes, cell debris, and microorganisms
- can have odor
- indicates bacterial infection
, ▶ systemic effects of inflammation. Answer: mild fever (pyrogen release),
malaise, fatigue, headache, anorexia
▶ changes in the blood with inflammation: leukocytosis. Answer: increased
numbers of WBC, esp. neutrophils
▶ changes in the blood with inflammation: differential count. Answer: -
proportion of each type of WBC altered, depending on the cause
- helpful in distinguishing viral vs bacterial infection
▶ changes in the blood with inflammation: plasma proteins. Answer:
increased fibrinogen and prothrombin
▶ changes in the blood with inflammation: c-reactive protein. Answer: not
normally in blood, but appears with acute inflammation and necrosis 24-48
hours
▶ changes in the blood with inflammation: increased ESR. Answer:
increased rate of RBCs settling
▶ changes in the blood with inflammation: cell enzyme. Answer: released
from necrotic cells and enter tissue fluid and blood, may indicate site of
inflammation
▶ potential complications of inflammation. Answer: - infection:
microorganisms can more easily penetrate edematous tissues
- skeletal muscle spasm: protective response to pain, usually with
orthopedic trauma
- local complications: depends on site of inflammation, includes obstruction,
loss of sensation, and decreased cell function
▶ chronic inflammation. Answer: - following acute episode of inflammation
- less swelling and exudate
- presence of more lymphocytes, macrophages, and fibroblasts (connective
tissue cells)
- tissue destruction
- more scar tissue
- granuloma could develop around foreign object
▶ potential complication of chronic inflammation. Answer: - ulcers
