NUR 376 Patho Final Exam Questions with Verified
Answers |2026/2027 Update | A+ Graded
Endocarditis - Answer -Inflammation of the heart valves
Most common cause is infection of intravascular lines that have been infected with
Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections.
Regurgitant heart valve defects, intracardiac abscesses, and heart failure are the major cardiac
complications.
Pericarditis - Answer -Inflammation of the membrane surrounding the heart causes pericardial
effusion. If fluid accumulates to high it compresses the heart and cannot fill with blood.
s/s: chest pain, fever, dyspnea, pericardial friction rub, and specific ECG findings.
mycardial infarction (MI) - Answer -Prolonged ischemia without recovery.
Common cause: artery atherosclerosis or obstruction.
Use ASA or heparin
S/S: Diaphoresis, Dyspnea, Extreme anxiety, Levine's sign (fist to chest), Pallor, Retrosternal
crushing chest pain that radiates to shoulder, arm, jaw, or back, Weak pulses
reprefusion injury - Answer -Occurs when tissue oxygenation is restored following a period of
ischemia. Blood flow through damaged microvessels gives the tissue a hemorrhagic
appearance. Clinically, reperfusion injury is characterized by arrhythmias and reduced
contractile function.
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,acute coronary syndrome (ACS) - Answer -sudden symptoms of insufficient blood supply to the
heart indicating unstable angina or acute myocardial infarction
Stable coronary Syndrome - Answer -Stable angina: recurring episodes of chest pain and self-
medicate during an episode.
Peripheral artery disease (PAD) - Answer -Gradual in nature, Atherosclerosis is the most
common cause. DM accelerates PAD.
S/S: pain, numbness, tingling, diminished or absent pulses, palpable coolness, paresthesias,
pallor, and pain of the lower extremity on exertion.
coronary artery disease - Answer -Atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries reduces the blood
supply to the heart muscle.
Chest pain, SOB, lightheadedness, back pain
chronic venous insufficiency - Answer -Damage to valves in the deep veins of the legs.
Valve damage = impaired venous return and abnormally high venous pressure = pooling and
stasis of blood in the lower extremities.
S/S: thin, shiny skin; dusky discoloration; edema; poor healing; and reduced or absent hair
distribution
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, Left Ventricular Failure (overview) - Answer -reduced relaxation or increased stiffness of
ventricular muscle. Cause: HTN. Decreased ventricular filling, reduced SV and cardiac output.
Left Ventricular Failure (backwards effects) - Answer -The result of a backup of hydrostatic
pressure into the left ventricle, causes weakness and pressure, which causes fluid extravasation
into the pulmonary interstitial and intracellular spaces leading to pulmonary edema.
S/S: Cough (cough with pink, frothy sputum = pulmonary edema). Dyspnea. Orthopnea. PND.
Physical Findings: Pulmonary bibasilar crackles. Cyanosis. S3 or S4 audible through stethoscope.
Right Ventricular Failure (backwards effects) - Answer -the right ventricle is weak, and blood
accumulates in the right ventricle.
S/S: JVD. Weight gain. Ascites. Hepatojugular reflux. Hepatomegaly. Splenomegaly. Ankle or
sacral edema.S3 or S4.
Atrial Fibrillation - Answer -A quivering, noncontracting atrium, is a common predisposing
condition to ischemic stroke. Causes an irregular pulse, possible tachycardia, and thrombus
formation in the left atrium. The patient may complain of palpitations.
Orthopnea - Answer -The sensation of dyspnea when lying flat. Most commonly occurs in LVF
when fluid builds in the lungs.
s/s: SOB, dizziness, weakness
3|Page
Answers |2026/2027 Update | A+ Graded
Endocarditis - Answer -Inflammation of the heart valves
Most common cause is infection of intravascular lines that have been infected with
Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections.
Regurgitant heart valve defects, intracardiac abscesses, and heart failure are the major cardiac
complications.
Pericarditis - Answer -Inflammation of the membrane surrounding the heart causes pericardial
effusion. If fluid accumulates to high it compresses the heart and cannot fill with blood.
s/s: chest pain, fever, dyspnea, pericardial friction rub, and specific ECG findings.
mycardial infarction (MI) - Answer -Prolonged ischemia without recovery.
Common cause: artery atherosclerosis or obstruction.
Use ASA or heparin
S/S: Diaphoresis, Dyspnea, Extreme anxiety, Levine's sign (fist to chest), Pallor, Retrosternal
crushing chest pain that radiates to shoulder, arm, jaw, or back, Weak pulses
reprefusion injury - Answer -Occurs when tissue oxygenation is restored following a period of
ischemia. Blood flow through damaged microvessels gives the tissue a hemorrhagic
appearance. Clinically, reperfusion injury is characterized by arrhythmias and reduced
contractile function.
1|Page
,acute coronary syndrome (ACS) - Answer -sudden symptoms of insufficient blood supply to the
heart indicating unstable angina or acute myocardial infarction
Stable coronary Syndrome - Answer -Stable angina: recurring episodes of chest pain and self-
medicate during an episode.
Peripheral artery disease (PAD) - Answer -Gradual in nature, Atherosclerosis is the most
common cause. DM accelerates PAD.
S/S: pain, numbness, tingling, diminished or absent pulses, palpable coolness, paresthesias,
pallor, and pain of the lower extremity on exertion.
coronary artery disease - Answer -Atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries reduces the blood
supply to the heart muscle.
Chest pain, SOB, lightheadedness, back pain
chronic venous insufficiency - Answer -Damage to valves in the deep veins of the legs.
Valve damage = impaired venous return and abnormally high venous pressure = pooling and
stasis of blood in the lower extremities.
S/S: thin, shiny skin; dusky discoloration; edema; poor healing; and reduced or absent hair
distribution
2|Page
, Left Ventricular Failure (overview) - Answer -reduced relaxation or increased stiffness of
ventricular muscle. Cause: HTN. Decreased ventricular filling, reduced SV and cardiac output.
Left Ventricular Failure (backwards effects) - Answer -The result of a backup of hydrostatic
pressure into the left ventricle, causes weakness and pressure, which causes fluid extravasation
into the pulmonary interstitial and intracellular spaces leading to pulmonary edema.
S/S: Cough (cough with pink, frothy sputum = pulmonary edema). Dyspnea. Orthopnea. PND.
Physical Findings: Pulmonary bibasilar crackles. Cyanosis. S3 or S4 audible through stethoscope.
Right Ventricular Failure (backwards effects) - Answer -the right ventricle is weak, and blood
accumulates in the right ventricle.
S/S: JVD. Weight gain. Ascites. Hepatojugular reflux. Hepatomegaly. Splenomegaly. Ankle or
sacral edema.S3 or S4.
Atrial Fibrillation - Answer -A quivering, noncontracting atrium, is a common predisposing
condition to ischemic stroke. Causes an irregular pulse, possible tachycardia, and thrombus
formation in the left atrium. The patient may complain of palpitations.
Orthopnea - Answer -The sensation of dyspnea when lying flat. Most commonly occurs in LVF
when fluid builds in the lungs.
s/s: SOB, dizziness, weakness
3|Page
