Path Possible 2022/2023 Questions and
Answers(Best recommended test grade
A+)
The normal range for CO2 in the blood is:
a) 25-35 mmHg
b) 30-50 mmHg
c) 35-45 mmHg
d) 80-100 mmHg Answer- c) 35-45 mmHg
oxygen concentrations in arterial blood are normally 80-100 mmHg.
which of the following might indicate an alkalosis (select all that apply)
a) HCO3=19 mEg/L
b) pH-7.48
c) O2=40 mmHg
d) CO2 = 32 mmHg Answer- b, d) when looking at pH, a pH lower than the normal
range would be more acidic and a pH higher than the normal range more basic. a pH of
7.48, which is higher than normal, would indicate an alkalosis. As CO2 is the acid in the
blood, if we have less than normal, we would have less acid, so would be more basic
and more prone to alkalosis. So a CO2 of 32 mmHg is also correct.
For HCO3 , it is the base. if we have less than the normal range, which would be less
than 22 mEq/L (the problem state HCO3 of 19 mEq/L), the body has less base so would
be prone to being more acidic, or in acidosis. Although the O2 of 40 mmHg is low, it has
no relation to acid-base balance
a reduction in circulating HCO3 due to kidney dysfunction would result in
a) metabolic compensation
b) respiratory compensation
c) respiratory alkalosis
d) respiratory acidosis Answer- b) respiratory compensation
A decrease in HCO3 would lead to a metabolic acidosis. Since it's not a respiratory
disorder, respiratory compensation will occur, using hyperventilation to rid the body of
more CO2 and compensate for he acidosis
as state above, the problem would lead to a metabolic acidosis and not a respiratory
acidosis or a respiratory alkalosis. Also, there can be no metabolic compensation as
that is done through the kidneys, which aren't functioning properly
,a decrease in PCO2 is a manifestation of
a) metabolic compensation
b) respiratory compensation
c) respiratory alkalosis
d) respiratory acidosis Answer- c) respiratory alkalosis
if the body has a decrease in CO2, then it has less acid, which would indicate an
alkalosis. Thus is would be a respiratory alkalosis and not a respiratory acidosis. this is
BEST because metabolic alkalosis is not available.
the question is asking about manifestations and not compensation, so metabolic
compensation and respiratory compensation are not valid answer choices
a patient who had a stroke 2 days ago is still unable to swallow. He has a nasogastric
tube and has been on intermittent gastric suctioning since admission. for what acid-
base imbalance is she most at risk?
a) respiratory acidosis
b) respiratory alkalosis
c) metabolic acidosis
d) metabolic alkalosis Answer- d) metabolic alkalosis
in prolonged nasogastric suctioning, the body is losing a lot of natural metabolic acids.
Less acid would mean more basic, so this is a metabolic alkalosis
prolonged suctioning is not a risk factor for the other acid-base imbalances
an elevation of which electrolyte can be associated with severe cardiac arrhythmias
leading to cardiac arrest
a) phosphate
b) potassium
c) sodium
d) magnesium Answer- b) potassium
abnormal potassium levels, both high and low, have a significant and serious effect on
the contractions of cardiac muscle causing changes in the electrocardiogram (ECG) and
ultimately cardiac arrest or standstill
water tends to move together with which electrolyte?
a) magnesium
b) phosphate
c) sodium
d) calcium Answer- c) sodium
sodium salts typically have a high affinity for water
, which of the following is the primary control of serum Na+ levels?
a) serum H+ levels
b) ADH
c) aldosterone
d) serum K+ levels Answer- c) aldosterone
aldosterone plays a central role in the regulation of blood pressure mainly by acting on
the distal tubules and collecting ducts of the nephron, increasing reabsorption of ions
and water in the kidney, to cause the conservation of sodium, secretion of potassium,
and increase in water retention
hypocalcemia causes weak cardiac contractions because:
a) insufficient calcium ions are available for muscle contraction
b) excessive amounts of calcium are stored in cardiac muscle
c) low phosphate ion levels prevent muscle contraction
d) permeability of nerve membranes increases Answer- a) insufficient calcium ions are
available for muscle contraction
the effects of hypocalcemia on skeletal muscle and cardiac muscle differ. Skeletal
muscle spasms result from the increased irritability of the nerves associated with the
muscle fibers, whereas the weaker contraction of cardiac muscle (which lacks nerves is
directly related to the calcium deficit. Also, adequate calcium is stored in the skeletal
muscle cells to provide for contractions, whereas contraction of cardiac muscle relies on
available extracellular calcium ions passing through the calcium channels
choose the correct effect of increased parathyroid hormone
a) increased activation of vitamin D
b) increased movement of calcium ions into the bones
c) increased absorption of calcium from the digestive tract
d) decreased re-absorption of calcium in the kidneys Answer- c) increased absorption of
calcium from the digestive tract
calcium balance is controlled by parathyroid hormone (PTH) and calcitonin. For
example, low blood calcium levels stimulate the secretion of PTH, which increases
calcium absorption from the digestive tract and kidneys and promotes resorption from
bone.
clinical manifestations of hypovolemia include all of the following, EXCEPT:
a) increased blood pressure
b) decreased urine output
c) increased heart rate
d) dry mucous membranes Answer- a) increased blood pressure
manifestations of hypovolemia include dry mouth, thirst, low skin turgor,
lightheadedness, dizziness, syncope, low blood pressure, tachycardia, collapsed veins,
oliguria, and low RBC and platelet
Answers(Best recommended test grade
A+)
The normal range for CO2 in the blood is:
a) 25-35 mmHg
b) 30-50 mmHg
c) 35-45 mmHg
d) 80-100 mmHg Answer- c) 35-45 mmHg
oxygen concentrations in arterial blood are normally 80-100 mmHg.
which of the following might indicate an alkalosis (select all that apply)
a) HCO3=19 mEg/L
b) pH-7.48
c) O2=40 mmHg
d) CO2 = 32 mmHg Answer- b, d) when looking at pH, a pH lower than the normal
range would be more acidic and a pH higher than the normal range more basic. a pH of
7.48, which is higher than normal, would indicate an alkalosis. As CO2 is the acid in the
blood, if we have less than normal, we would have less acid, so would be more basic
and more prone to alkalosis. So a CO2 of 32 mmHg is also correct.
For HCO3 , it is the base. if we have less than the normal range, which would be less
than 22 mEq/L (the problem state HCO3 of 19 mEq/L), the body has less base so would
be prone to being more acidic, or in acidosis. Although the O2 of 40 mmHg is low, it has
no relation to acid-base balance
a reduction in circulating HCO3 due to kidney dysfunction would result in
a) metabolic compensation
b) respiratory compensation
c) respiratory alkalosis
d) respiratory acidosis Answer- b) respiratory compensation
A decrease in HCO3 would lead to a metabolic acidosis. Since it's not a respiratory
disorder, respiratory compensation will occur, using hyperventilation to rid the body of
more CO2 and compensate for he acidosis
as state above, the problem would lead to a metabolic acidosis and not a respiratory
acidosis or a respiratory alkalosis. Also, there can be no metabolic compensation as
that is done through the kidneys, which aren't functioning properly
,a decrease in PCO2 is a manifestation of
a) metabolic compensation
b) respiratory compensation
c) respiratory alkalosis
d) respiratory acidosis Answer- c) respiratory alkalosis
if the body has a decrease in CO2, then it has less acid, which would indicate an
alkalosis. Thus is would be a respiratory alkalosis and not a respiratory acidosis. this is
BEST because metabolic alkalosis is not available.
the question is asking about manifestations and not compensation, so metabolic
compensation and respiratory compensation are not valid answer choices
a patient who had a stroke 2 days ago is still unable to swallow. He has a nasogastric
tube and has been on intermittent gastric suctioning since admission. for what acid-
base imbalance is she most at risk?
a) respiratory acidosis
b) respiratory alkalosis
c) metabolic acidosis
d) metabolic alkalosis Answer- d) metabolic alkalosis
in prolonged nasogastric suctioning, the body is losing a lot of natural metabolic acids.
Less acid would mean more basic, so this is a metabolic alkalosis
prolonged suctioning is not a risk factor for the other acid-base imbalances
an elevation of which electrolyte can be associated with severe cardiac arrhythmias
leading to cardiac arrest
a) phosphate
b) potassium
c) sodium
d) magnesium Answer- b) potassium
abnormal potassium levels, both high and low, have a significant and serious effect on
the contractions of cardiac muscle causing changes in the electrocardiogram (ECG) and
ultimately cardiac arrest or standstill
water tends to move together with which electrolyte?
a) magnesium
b) phosphate
c) sodium
d) calcium Answer- c) sodium
sodium salts typically have a high affinity for water
, which of the following is the primary control of serum Na+ levels?
a) serum H+ levels
b) ADH
c) aldosterone
d) serum K+ levels Answer- c) aldosterone
aldosterone plays a central role in the regulation of blood pressure mainly by acting on
the distal tubules and collecting ducts of the nephron, increasing reabsorption of ions
and water in the kidney, to cause the conservation of sodium, secretion of potassium,
and increase in water retention
hypocalcemia causes weak cardiac contractions because:
a) insufficient calcium ions are available for muscle contraction
b) excessive amounts of calcium are stored in cardiac muscle
c) low phosphate ion levels prevent muscle contraction
d) permeability of nerve membranes increases Answer- a) insufficient calcium ions are
available for muscle contraction
the effects of hypocalcemia on skeletal muscle and cardiac muscle differ. Skeletal
muscle spasms result from the increased irritability of the nerves associated with the
muscle fibers, whereas the weaker contraction of cardiac muscle (which lacks nerves is
directly related to the calcium deficit. Also, adequate calcium is stored in the skeletal
muscle cells to provide for contractions, whereas contraction of cardiac muscle relies on
available extracellular calcium ions passing through the calcium channels
choose the correct effect of increased parathyroid hormone
a) increased activation of vitamin D
b) increased movement of calcium ions into the bones
c) increased absorption of calcium from the digestive tract
d) decreased re-absorption of calcium in the kidneys Answer- c) increased absorption of
calcium from the digestive tract
calcium balance is controlled by parathyroid hormone (PTH) and calcitonin. For
example, low blood calcium levels stimulate the secretion of PTH, which increases
calcium absorption from the digestive tract and kidneys and promotes resorption from
bone.
clinical manifestations of hypovolemia include all of the following, EXCEPT:
a) increased blood pressure
b) decreased urine output
c) increased heart rate
d) dry mucous membranes Answer- a) increased blood pressure
manifestations of hypovolemia include dry mouth, thirst, low skin turgor,
lightheadedness, dizziness, syncope, low blood pressure, tachycardia, collapsed veins,
oliguria, and low RBC and platelet
