Cystic Fibrosis Questions And Answers NCLEX
Exam 2022
1. Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disorder that causes the endocrine glands to work
incorrectly.
False: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disorder that causes the EXOCRINE (not
endocrine) glands to work incorrectly. Exocrine glands are glands that produce and
transfer its secretions (ex: mucous, tears, sweat, digestive enzymes) via DUCTS to an
intended area of the body, rather than directly into the bloodstream. This is different
from endocrine glands that don’t have ducts but directly secrete chemicals (like
hormones) directly into the blood.
2. Select the systems below that are affected by cystic fibrosis:
A. Reproductive
B. Lymphatic
C. Respiratory
D. Gastrointestinal
E. Neuro
F. Integumentary
The answers are A, C, D and F. Cystic fibrosis affects the respiratory system (this
causes thick mucus to build up in the lungs and it can affect both the upper and lower
respiratory system like the sinuses), gastrointestinal (pancreas, intestines, and liver are
all affected due to thick mucus), and integumentary (skin’s sweat glands will make
extremely salty sweat).
, 3. You’re educating the parents of an 8-month-old, who was recently diagnosed with
cystic fibrosis, about the disease. You explain to the parents that the child has a gene
mutation on the ____________. The gene that is specifically mutated is called?
A. endocrine glands; Hbg S gene
B. exocrine glands; CFTR gene
C. endocrine glands; Chromosome 21
D. exocrine glands; HTT gene
The answer is B. Cystic fibrosis affects the EXOCRINE glands, specifically the Cystic
Fibrosis Transmembrane Regulator gene (CFTR). This is a protein that controls the
channels of sodium and chloride…hence the sodium and water transport in and out of
the cell. These channels are within the membrane of these cells that makes our sweat,
mucous, tears, digestive enzymes. Since it is mutated the fluids that are normally thin
now become very thick and sticky, which causes many problems in the organs like the
lungs, pancreas, intestine etc.
4. Cystic fibrosis is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder. Which option below best
describes what most likely happens for a child to develop this condition?
A. One parent, who is a carrier of the mutated gene, has to pass it to the child
B. One of the parents has to have cystic fibrosis in order to pass it to their offspring
C. Both of the parents must have cystic fibrosis in order for the child to develop it
D. Both parents, who are carriers of the mutated gene, each pass one mutated gene to
the child
The answer is D. CF is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder. This means that both
of the parents are carriers of the disease (they won’t have signs and symptoms of CF).
They each have one healthy gene and one mutated gene. For CF to occur in their
Exam 2022
1. Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disorder that causes the endocrine glands to work
incorrectly.
False: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disorder that causes the EXOCRINE (not
endocrine) glands to work incorrectly. Exocrine glands are glands that produce and
transfer its secretions (ex: mucous, tears, sweat, digestive enzymes) via DUCTS to an
intended area of the body, rather than directly into the bloodstream. This is different
from endocrine glands that don’t have ducts but directly secrete chemicals (like
hormones) directly into the blood.
2. Select the systems below that are affected by cystic fibrosis:
A. Reproductive
B. Lymphatic
C. Respiratory
D. Gastrointestinal
E. Neuro
F. Integumentary
The answers are A, C, D and F. Cystic fibrosis affects the respiratory system (this
causes thick mucus to build up in the lungs and it can affect both the upper and lower
respiratory system like the sinuses), gastrointestinal (pancreas, intestines, and liver are
all affected due to thick mucus), and integumentary (skin’s sweat glands will make
extremely salty sweat).
, 3. You’re educating the parents of an 8-month-old, who was recently diagnosed with
cystic fibrosis, about the disease. You explain to the parents that the child has a gene
mutation on the ____________. The gene that is specifically mutated is called?
A. endocrine glands; Hbg S gene
B. exocrine glands; CFTR gene
C. endocrine glands; Chromosome 21
D. exocrine glands; HTT gene
The answer is B. Cystic fibrosis affects the EXOCRINE glands, specifically the Cystic
Fibrosis Transmembrane Regulator gene (CFTR). This is a protein that controls the
channels of sodium and chloride…hence the sodium and water transport in and out of
the cell. These channels are within the membrane of these cells that makes our sweat,
mucous, tears, digestive enzymes. Since it is mutated the fluids that are normally thin
now become very thick and sticky, which causes many problems in the organs like the
lungs, pancreas, intestine etc.
4. Cystic fibrosis is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder. Which option below best
describes what most likely happens for a child to develop this condition?
A. One parent, who is a carrier of the mutated gene, has to pass it to the child
B. One of the parents has to have cystic fibrosis in order to pass it to their offspring
C. Both of the parents must have cystic fibrosis in order for the child to develop it
D. Both parents, who are carriers of the mutated gene, each pass one mutated gene to
the child
The answer is D. CF is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder. This means that both
of the parents are carriers of the disease (they won’t have signs and symptoms of CF).
They each have one healthy gene and one mutated gene. For CF to occur in their
