NR 283 Unit 4 Pre-Class Questions
(Chapters 10 & 12)
*Make sure that you understand all of the terms you are studying, if you don’t know what a term means, look it up
before you continue studying. Take your thinking a step further by asking yourself “why” as you are reviewing material.
This will lead to understanding of the material versus memorization which will better help you answer questions.
*Ensure that you understand all highlighted terms in each chapter
* Answer the question and supplemental questions included with the original question
Chapter 10: Blood and Circulatory System Disorders
1. Describe the following terms and their function in the circulatory system:
a. Pulmonary Circulation: allows the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the lungs
b. Systemic Circulation: provides exchange of nutrients and wastes between the blood and the cells
throughout the body.
c. Arteries: transport blood away from the heart into the lungs or to body tissues.
d. Arterioles: the smaller branches of arteries that control the amount of blood flowing into the capillaries in
specific areas through the degree of contraction of smooth muscle in the vessel walls (vasoconstriction or
dilation).
e. Capillaries: very small vessels organized in numerous networks that form the microcirculation.
f. Venules: conduct blood from the capillary beds towards the heart
g. Veins: collect blood draining from the venules, approx. 70% of blood are in the veins at any time.
h. Autoregulation: a reflex adjustment in a small area of a tissue or an organ and controls localized vasodilation
or vasoconstriction in arterioles.
i. Vasodilation: a decrease in pH, an increase in carbon dioxide, or a decrease in oxygen.
j. Vasoconstriction: release of chemical mediators such as histamine or an increase in temperature at a
specific area.
k. Hematopoiesis: The production of all types of blood cells including formation, development, and
differentiation of blood cells. Prenatally, hematopoiesis occurs in the yolk sack, then in the liver, and lastly in
the bone marrow. In the normal situation, hematopoiesis in adults occurs in the bone marrow and lymphatic
tissues. All types of blood cells are derived from primitive cells (stem cells) that are pluripotent (they have
the potential to develop into all types of blood cells).
2. List the 3 hormones that cause vasoconstriction to increase blood pressure:
a. Norepinephrine
b. Epinephrine
c. Angiotensin
3. What is erythropoietin? Stimulates erythrocyte production in the red bone marrow in response to tissue to
hypoxia (insufficient oxygen available to cells).
a. Where is it produced? Originating from the kidneys
b. Under what conditions is it produced? It depends on the availability of many raw materials, including
amino acids, iron, vitamin B12, vitamin B6, and folic acid.
, NR 283 Unit 4 Pre-Class Questions
4. What gives oxygenated blood a bright red color? Oxyhemoglobin (heme provides the red color).
5. What gives deoxygenated blood a dark or bluish-red color? Deoxyhemoglobin (reduced hemoglobin).
6. Describe the way that jaundice occurs related to red blood cells: The balance of the heme component is
converted to bilirubin and transported by the blood to the liver, where it is conjugated (or combined) with
glucuronide to make it more soluble, and then excreted in the bile. Excessive hemolysis or destruction of RBCs
may cause elevated serum bilirubin levels, which result in jaundice, the yellow color in the sclera of the eye and
of the skin.
7. Describe the 3 steps of hemostasis: First, the immediate response of a blood vessel to injury is vasoconstriction
or vascular spasm. In small blood vessels, this decreases blood flow and may allow a platelet plug to form.
Second, thrombocytes tend to adhere to the underlying tissue at the site of injury and, if the blood vessel is
small, can form a platelet plug in the vessel. Third, the blood-clotting or coagulation mechanism is required in
larger vessels, by which the clotting factors that are present in inactive forms in the circulating blood are
activated through a sequence of reactions.
8. Describe the 4 different blood types (Table 10-1): Type O, Type A, Type B, and Type AB
a. Describe which blood each blood type can receive: see table above.
b. What is the rH factor? Can cause blood incompatibility if the mother is Rh-neg and fetus is Rh-pos.
i. Can a negative person receive positive blood? No
ii. Can a positive person receive negative blood? Yes.
9. Overall, describe anemia: reduces oxygen transport in the blood due to a decrease in hemoglobin content. Low
levels can result from declining production of the protein, a decrease number of erythrocytes, or a combination
of these factors. Can be classified by typical cell characteristics such as size, shape or by etiology.
10. Describe the overall clinical manifestations/complications of anemia (page 193):
a. Less energy is produced in all cells; cell metabolism and reproduction are diminished.
b. Compensation mechanisms to improve the oxygen supply include tachycardia and peripheral
vasoconstriction.
c. Fatigue (excessive tiredness), pallor (pale face), dyspnea (increased effort to breathe), and tachycardia
(rapid heart rate).
d. Decreased regeneration of epithelial cells causes the digestive tract to become inflamed and ulcerated,
leading to stomatitis (ulcers in the oral mucosa), inflamed and cracked lips, and dysphagia (difficulty
swallowing); the hair and skin may show degenerative changes.
(Chapters 10 & 12)
*Make sure that you understand all of the terms you are studying, if you don’t know what a term means, look it up
before you continue studying. Take your thinking a step further by asking yourself “why” as you are reviewing material.
This will lead to understanding of the material versus memorization which will better help you answer questions.
*Ensure that you understand all highlighted terms in each chapter
* Answer the question and supplemental questions included with the original question
Chapter 10: Blood and Circulatory System Disorders
1. Describe the following terms and their function in the circulatory system:
a. Pulmonary Circulation: allows the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the lungs
b. Systemic Circulation: provides exchange of nutrients and wastes between the blood and the cells
throughout the body.
c. Arteries: transport blood away from the heart into the lungs or to body tissues.
d. Arterioles: the smaller branches of arteries that control the amount of blood flowing into the capillaries in
specific areas through the degree of contraction of smooth muscle in the vessel walls (vasoconstriction or
dilation).
e. Capillaries: very small vessels organized in numerous networks that form the microcirculation.
f. Venules: conduct blood from the capillary beds towards the heart
g. Veins: collect blood draining from the venules, approx. 70% of blood are in the veins at any time.
h. Autoregulation: a reflex adjustment in a small area of a tissue or an organ and controls localized vasodilation
or vasoconstriction in arterioles.
i. Vasodilation: a decrease in pH, an increase in carbon dioxide, or a decrease in oxygen.
j. Vasoconstriction: release of chemical mediators such as histamine or an increase in temperature at a
specific area.
k. Hematopoiesis: The production of all types of blood cells including formation, development, and
differentiation of blood cells. Prenatally, hematopoiesis occurs in the yolk sack, then in the liver, and lastly in
the bone marrow. In the normal situation, hematopoiesis in adults occurs in the bone marrow and lymphatic
tissues. All types of blood cells are derived from primitive cells (stem cells) that are pluripotent (they have
the potential to develop into all types of blood cells).
2. List the 3 hormones that cause vasoconstriction to increase blood pressure:
a. Norepinephrine
b. Epinephrine
c. Angiotensin
3. What is erythropoietin? Stimulates erythrocyte production in the red bone marrow in response to tissue to
hypoxia (insufficient oxygen available to cells).
a. Where is it produced? Originating from the kidneys
b. Under what conditions is it produced? It depends on the availability of many raw materials, including
amino acids, iron, vitamin B12, vitamin B6, and folic acid.
, NR 283 Unit 4 Pre-Class Questions
4. What gives oxygenated blood a bright red color? Oxyhemoglobin (heme provides the red color).
5. What gives deoxygenated blood a dark or bluish-red color? Deoxyhemoglobin (reduced hemoglobin).
6. Describe the way that jaundice occurs related to red blood cells: The balance of the heme component is
converted to bilirubin and transported by the blood to the liver, where it is conjugated (or combined) with
glucuronide to make it more soluble, and then excreted in the bile. Excessive hemolysis or destruction of RBCs
may cause elevated serum bilirubin levels, which result in jaundice, the yellow color in the sclera of the eye and
of the skin.
7. Describe the 3 steps of hemostasis: First, the immediate response of a blood vessel to injury is vasoconstriction
or vascular spasm. In small blood vessels, this decreases blood flow and may allow a platelet plug to form.
Second, thrombocytes tend to adhere to the underlying tissue at the site of injury and, if the blood vessel is
small, can form a platelet plug in the vessel. Third, the blood-clotting or coagulation mechanism is required in
larger vessels, by which the clotting factors that are present in inactive forms in the circulating blood are
activated through a sequence of reactions.
8. Describe the 4 different blood types (Table 10-1): Type O, Type A, Type B, and Type AB
a. Describe which blood each blood type can receive: see table above.
b. What is the rH factor? Can cause blood incompatibility if the mother is Rh-neg and fetus is Rh-pos.
i. Can a negative person receive positive blood? No
ii. Can a positive person receive negative blood? Yes.
9. Overall, describe anemia: reduces oxygen transport in the blood due to a decrease in hemoglobin content. Low
levels can result from declining production of the protein, a decrease number of erythrocytes, or a combination
of these factors. Can be classified by typical cell characteristics such as size, shape or by etiology.
10. Describe the overall clinical manifestations/complications of anemia (page 193):
a. Less energy is produced in all cells; cell metabolism and reproduction are diminished.
b. Compensation mechanisms to improve the oxygen supply include tachycardia and peripheral
vasoconstriction.
c. Fatigue (excessive tiredness), pallor (pale face), dyspnea (increased effort to breathe), and tachycardia
(rapid heart rate).
d. Decreased regeneration of epithelial cells causes the digestive tract to become inflamed and ulcerated,
leading to stomatitis (ulcers in the oral mucosa), inflamed and cracked lips, and dysphagia (difficulty
swallowing); the hair and skin may show degenerative changes.
