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Patho Module Six and Seven Assignment Answers and
Rationales
Module 6: Peripheral Vascular System Disorders
Module 7: Cardiovascular System Disorders
Academic honesty reminder: It is ok to discuss the assignments with other students as a learning tool, but it is considered a breach of academic
1. A patient has intermittent claudication and a history of atherosclerosis. What other findings are most likely?
a. pitting edema of the ankles. false—edema is associated with venous issues, not arterial (everything
in stem of question points to arterial: intermittent claudication = PAD, atherosclerosis = arterial
prob.)
b. jugular vein distention. False—JVD is caused by a backup of venous blood into jugular veins and
occurs because of right heart failure (RHF)—the failure of the right ventricle to pump blood forward.
c. cool feet with diminished pulses. Correct—atherosclerosis causes a non-patent lumen blocks
arterial flow to distal tissue (cells in the feet); intermittent claudication = pain with increased
activity (and therefore higher O2 demand by the cell) which decreases or goes away with rest. Link
intermittent claudication and S&S of poor perfusion (the Ps of PAD) with ischemia of the
peripheriphery.
d. S&S of increased preload. False—increased volume is not a part of this scenario.
2. A patient is diagnosed with venous insufficiency. What treatment is most likely and why?
a. a clot-busting medication; used to dissolve arterial clots. False—venous insufficiency = venous prob,
not an arterial problem.
b. drop the legs lower than the heart; allows blood to flow around a deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
False-venous issues = raise feet.
c. complete bedrest; venous stasis reduces the risk of thrombosis. False—venous stasis (stationary /
non-moving blood increases the risk for thrombus. Re-review Virchow’s triad.
d. elevation of the feet; enhances venous return. Correct – think of venous insufficiency as
“insufficient ability to return venous flow back UP to the heart” (due to incompetent venous
valves and decreased mobility) so that blood pools in the veins in the feet.
3. A 40-year-old man is undergoing a yearly physical. Everything is fine except that the nurse practitioner
hears a murmur. All the following are likely etiologies EXCEPT:
a. pulmonic valve insufficiency.
b. a heart valve that is ischemic from a coronary artery blockage.
c. incompetent venous valves. Correct – heart valve problems will cause a murmur. This is the
exception, since the answer is about valves in the veins; incompetent vein valves will not cause
murmurs. Be sure you think about venous valves & heart valves as very different entities
d. a stenotic mitral valve.
Patho Module Six and Seven Assignment A & R
This study source was downloaded by 100000841689952 from CourseHero.com on 06-16-2022 09:17:56 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/87680907/Patho-Module-Six-and-Seven-Assignment-A-Rdocx/
, 4. A patient has a DVT (deep vein thrombosis) of the right calf. Which of the following is the LEAST LIKELY to
develop?
a. Pain at the DVT site. False—with a DVT, pain IS a typical symptom (SHEP = swelling heat erythema
and pain). Remember this is an except question; the correct answer is the outlier (the one that does
not fit.
b. Loss of pulse in the right foot. Correct. The loss of a pulse indicates the loss of arterial blood flow
loss of perfusion (delivery of oxygenated blood). While it is a pathology for the patient, loss of
arterial blood flow is not related to a DVT a VENOUS problem. DVT = deep VENOUS thrombosis;
a clot in the vein could result in decreased venous return (the cause of the swelling/edema) but
the veins are NOT related to perfusion (the delivery of oxygen to the tissue). Consider the VEIN
and ARTERY problem as separate “highways”.
c. Erythema of the right lower leg. False—with a DVT, erythema IS a typical symptom (SHEP = swelling
heat erythema and pain).
d. Shortness of breath. False—hmmm. This is a brain tease. How does SOB factor in with a DVT? Recall
that 30% of those with DVT will develop a PE (pulmonary embolus). This occurs when a part of the
DV thrombus breaks “free” and then travels through the venous system into the pulmonary
arterioles; causing a PE. S&S of a PE include SOB, chest pain, hemoptysis, shock (low blood pressure)
from systemic inflammatory mediators.
5. While at a health fair, a man’s blood pressure is measured at 168/100. The registered nurse, instructs the
man to see his healthcare provider (HCP). The man asks the nurse “Why; I feel great?”. How should the nurse
respond?
a. “High blood pressure can cause damage to your kidney or heart even if you feel great.” Correct. HTN
can cause widespread effect on almost all body organs (neuro, heart and kidney are most often
affected). HTN is considered to be “silent but deadly” as, often, S&S of damage may take time to
“show up” and once present may not be reversible.
b. “Unless you have a headache, an elevated blood pressure is not a problem.”False—see above
c. “An elevated blood pressure indicates less resistance in the artery and less work for your heart.”
False—HTN occurs because of MORE resistance in the artery to the flow of blood. More resistance =
increased afterload = MORE workload for the heart.
d. “If you are over 60 years old, this blood pressure measurement is within the normal range.”False—
elevated blood pressure is defined as any number ≥ 130/80. Example 130/79 = elevated BP. Example
129/80 = elevated BP. NOTE: American heart association has defined hypertension, but do not “fret”
about the patho exam—blood pressure numbers will be clearly abnormal = no “close” to low or high
number values will be given (like the examples on this assignment).
6. A man, whose blood pressure is measured at 168/100, is diagnosed with primary hypertension and wants to
know more about the reason for the diagnosis. Which response, by the registered nurse (RN), is correct?
a. Kidney disease is the likely cause of your high blood pressure. False—Kidney disease would cause
secondary hypertension
b. High blood pressure is caused by a diet high in fat, salt and cholesterol. False—a diet high in fat
and cholesterol CONTRIBUTES to HTN by increasing atherosclerosis (hardening/stiffening the artery
from the infiltration of fat and cholesterol). A diet high in salt will increase water retention =
increased fluid volume = increased preload = MORE blood volume can cause HTN.
c. There is no specific cause for high blood pressure; there are many known contributing factors.
Correct—HTN occurs as a result of atherosclerosis and/or over-activation of RAAS, and/or over-
activation of SNS + genetics and POSSIBLY certain personalities. No ONE thing causes HTN.
d. Type-A personality is known to cause high blood pressure. False—see above explanation.
Patho Module Six and Seven Assignment A & R
This study source was downloaded by 100000841689952 from CourseHero.com on 06-16-2022 09:17:56 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/87680907/Patho-Module-Six-and-Seven-Assignment-A-Rdocx/
Patho Module Six and Seven Assignment Answers and
Rationales
Module 6: Peripheral Vascular System Disorders
Module 7: Cardiovascular System Disorders
Academic honesty reminder: It is ok to discuss the assignments with other students as a learning tool, but it is considered a breach of academic
1. A patient has intermittent claudication and a history of atherosclerosis. What other findings are most likely?
a. pitting edema of the ankles. false—edema is associated with venous issues, not arterial (everything
in stem of question points to arterial: intermittent claudication = PAD, atherosclerosis = arterial
prob.)
b. jugular vein distention. False—JVD is caused by a backup of venous blood into jugular veins and
occurs because of right heart failure (RHF)—the failure of the right ventricle to pump blood forward.
c. cool feet with diminished pulses. Correct—atherosclerosis causes a non-patent lumen blocks
arterial flow to distal tissue (cells in the feet); intermittent claudication = pain with increased
activity (and therefore higher O2 demand by the cell) which decreases or goes away with rest. Link
intermittent claudication and S&S of poor perfusion (the Ps of PAD) with ischemia of the
peripheriphery.
d. S&S of increased preload. False—increased volume is not a part of this scenario.
2. A patient is diagnosed with venous insufficiency. What treatment is most likely and why?
a. a clot-busting medication; used to dissolve arterial clots. False—venous insufficiency = venous prob,
not an arterial problem.
b. drop the legs lower than the heart; allows blood to flow around a deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
False-venous issues = raise feet.
c. complete bedrest; venous stasis reduces the risk of thrombosis. False—venous stasis (stationary /
non-moving blood increases the risk for thrombus. Re-review Virchow’s triad.
d. elevation of the feet; enhances venous return. Correct – think of venous insufficiency as
“insufficient ability to return venous flow back UP to the heart” (due to incompetent venous
valves and decreased mobility) so that blood pools in the veins in the feet.
3. A 40-year-old man is undergoing a yearly physical. Everything is fine except that the nurse practitioner
hears a murmur. All the following are likely etiologies EXCEPT:
a. pulmonic valve insufficiency.
b. a heart valve that is ischemic from a coronary artery blockage.
c. incompetent venous valves. Correct – heart valve problems will cause a murmur. This is the
exception, since the answer is about valves in the veins; incompetent vein valves will not cause
murmurs. Be sure you think about venous valves & heart valves as very different entities
d. a stenotic mitral valve.
Patho Module Six and Seven Assignment A & R
This study source was downloaded by 100000841689952 from CourseHero.com on 06-16-2022 09:17:56 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/87680907/Patho-Module-Six-and-Seven-Assignment-A-Rdocx/
, 4. A patient has a DVT (deep vein thrombosis) of the right calf. Which of the following is the LEAST LIKELY to
develop?
a. Pain at the DVT site. False—with a DVT, pain IS a typical symptom (SHEP = swelling heat erythema
and pain). Remember this is an except question; the correct answer is the outlier (the one that does
not fit.
b. Loss of pulse in the right foot. Correct. The loss of a pulse indicates the loss of arterial blood flow
loss of perfusion (delivery of oxygenated blood). While it is a pathology for the patient, loss of
arterial blood flow is not related to a DVT a VENOUS problem. DVT = deep VENOUS thrombosis;
a clot in the vein could result in decreased venous return (the cause of the swelling/edema) but
the veins are NOT related to perfusion (the delivery of oxygen to the tissue). Consider the VEIN
and ARTERY problem as separate “highways”.
c. Erythema of the right lower leg. False—with a DVT, erythema IS a typical symptom (SHEP = swelling
heat erythema and pain).
d. Shortness of breath. False—hmmm. This is a brain tease. How does SOB factor in with a DVT? Recall
that 30% of those with DVT will develop a PE (pulmonary embolus). This occurs when a part of the
DV thrombus breaks “free” and then travels through the venous system into the pulmonary
arterioles; causing a PE. S&S of a PE include SOB, chest pain, hemoptysis, shock (low blood pressure)
from systemic inflammatory mediators.
5. While at a health fair, a man’s blood pressure is measured at 168/100. The registered nurse, instructs the
man to see his healthcare provider (HCP). The man asks the nurse “Why; I feel great?”. How should the nurse
respond?
a. “High blood pressure can cause damage to your kidney or heart even if you feel great.” Correct. HTN
can cause widespread effect on almost all body organs (neuro, heart and kidney are most often
affected). HTN is considered to be “silent but deadly” as, often, S&S of damage may take time to
“show up” and once present may not be reversible.
b. “Unless you have a headache, an elevated blood pressure is not a problem.”False—see above
c. “An elevated blood pressure indicates less resistance in the artery and less work for your heart.”
False—HTN occurs because of MORE resistance in the artery to the flow of blood. More resistance =
increased afterload = MORE workload for the heart.
d. “If you are over 60 years old, this blood pressure measurement is within the normal range.”False—
elevated blood pressure is defined as any number ≥ 130/80. Example 130/79 = elevated BP. Example
129/80 = elevated BP. NOTE: American heart association has defined hypertension, but do not “fret”
about the patho exam—blood pressure numbers will be clearly abnormal = no “close” to low or high
number values will be given (like the examples on this assignment).
6. A man, whose blood pressure is measured at 168/100, is diagnosed with primary hypertension and wants to
know more about the reason for the diagnosis. Which response, by the registered nurse (RN), is correct?
a. Kidney disease is the likely cause of your high blood pressure. False—Kidney disease would cause
secondary hypertension
b. High blood pressure is caused by a diet high in fat, salt and cholesterol. False—a diet high in fat
and cholesterol CONTRIBUTES to HTN by increasing atherosclerosis (hardening/stiffening the artery
from the infiltration of fat and cholesterol). A diet high in salt will increase water retention =
increased fluid volume = increased preload = MORE blood volume can cause HTN.
c. There is no specific cause for high blood pressure; there are many known contributing factors.
Correct—HTN occurs as a result of atherosclerosis and/or over-activation of RAAS, and/or over-
activation of SNS + genetics and POSSIBLY certain personalities. No ONE thing causes HTN.
d. Type-A personality is known to cause high blood pressure. False—see above explanation.
Patho Module Six and Seven Assignment A & R
This study source was downloaded by 100000841689952 from CourseHero.com on 06-16-2022 09:17:56 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/87680907/Patho-Module-Six-and-Seven-Assignment-A-Rdocx/
