Advanced Pathophysiology eDapt Asthma Exam
Questions and Answers
Introduction to Asthma
- Asthma is a complex, obstructive lung disease with airway inflammation and
bronchoconstriction due to intrinsic or extrinsic factors. Airway
hyperresponsiveness to various stimuli is a crucial feature that leads to the
inflammation and bronchoconstriction experienced by clients living with
asthma.
- Asthma has defining characteristics of shortness of breath, chest tightness, and
cough that vary over time and in intensity. Asthma affects all ages but is most
common in children and younger adults.
Asthma results in (...). Changes in airflow may cause partial or total airway
obstruction, leading to (...)
Increased alveolar oxygenation, increased alveolar perfusion, decreased alveolar
ventilation
Bradycardia, emphysema, hypoxia
Decreased alveolar ventilation
Hypoxia
Which physiological process causes wheezing during an exacerbation of
asthma?
, - Air passing through the alveoli filled with mucus during inhalation and
exhalation
- Air passing through the nose due to partial blockage of the epiglottis
- Air passing through narrowed bronchioles and mucus during exhalation
- Air passing enlarged tonsils into a narrowed trachea during inhalation
- Air passing through narrowed bronchioles and mucus during exhalation
Pathophysiology of Asthma
- In asthma, an allergen or irritant exposure causes immune activation, while mast
cell degranulation is triggered by immune factors that bind to the allergen or
irritant as it enters the airway. Mast cell degranulation releases chemicals and
vasoactive mediators. Vasoactive mediators cause vasodilation and increased
capillary permeability, while chemotactic mediators result in cellular infiltration.
- With continued exposure to an allergen or irritant, the client experiences airway
bronchospasm, acute inflammation, mucus production that accumulates in the
lungs, alveoli hyperinflation with consolidation, and eventually epithelial erosion
and fibrosis. The outcome is bronchial hyperresponsiveness and partial or total
airway obstruction.
Asthma and Gas Exchange
- As with other obstructive lung diseases, asthma has an underlying gas exchange
problem and ventilation-perfusion (V/Q mismatch). Thick mucus, mucosal edema,
and bronchospasms obstruct small airways; breathing becomes labored, and
expiration is difficult. Hyperventilation sets in as lung receptors respond to airway
Questions and Answers
Introduction to Asthma
- Asthma is a complex, obstructive lung disease with airway inflammation and
bronchoconstriction due to intrinsic or extrinsic factors. Airway
hyperresponsiveness to various stimuli is a crucial feature that leads to the
inflammation and bronchoconstriction experienced by clients living with
asthma.
- Asthma has defining characteristics of shortness of breath, chest tightness, and
cough that vary over time and in intensity. Asthma affects all ages but is most
common in children and younger adults.
Asthma results in (...). Changes in airflow may cause partial or total airway
obstruction, leading to (...)
Increased alveolar oxygenation, increased alveolar perfusion, decreased alveolar
ventilation
Bradycardia, emphysema, hypoxia
Decreased alveolar ventilation
Hypoxia
Which physiological process causes wheezing during an exacerbation of
asthma?
, - Air passing through the alveoli filled with mucus during inhalation and
exhalation
- Air passing through the nose due to partial blockage of the epiglottis
- Air passing through narrowed bronchioles and mucus during exhalation
- Air passing enlarged tonsils into a narrowed trachea during inhalation
- Air passing through narrowed bronchioles and mucus during exhalation
Pathophysiology of Asthma
- In asthma, an allergen or irritant exposure causes immune activation, while mast
cell degranulation is triggered by immune factors that bind to the allergen or
irritant as it enters the airway. Mast cell degranulation releases chemicals and
vasoactive mediators. Vasoactive mediators cause vasodilation and increased
capillary permeability, while chemotactic mediators result in cellular infiltration.
- With continued exposure to an allergen or irritant, the client experiences airway
bronchospasm, acute inflammation, mucus production that accumulates in the
lungs, alveoli hyperinflation with consolidation, and eventually epithelial erosion
and fibrosis. The outcome is bronchial hyperresponsiveness and partial or total
airway obstruction.
Asthma and Gas Exchange
- As with other obstructive lung diseases, asthma has an underlying gas exchange
problem and ventilation-perfusion (V/Q mismatch). Thick mucus, mucosal edema,
and bronchospasms obstruct small airways; breathing becomes labored, and
expiration is difficult. Hyperventilation sets in as lung receptors respond to airway
