Pathology Trivia MCQ: Quiz! Exam

A normal serum pH would typically fall within the range of 7.35 to 7.45, which is slightly alkaline. The given answer of 7.4 falls within this range, making it a suitable choice for a normal serum pH.

Insensible fluid loss refers to the water lost from the body through perspiration and expiration. Perspiration is the process of sweating, where water is released from the sweat glands to regulate body temperature. Expiration is the process of breathing out, where water vapor is exhaled from the lungs. Both of these mechanisms contribute to the insensible fluid loss, as they result in water leaving the body without us being consciously aware of it.

In a healthy male adult's body, the correct proportion of water to body weight is 60%. This means that approximately 60% of the total body weight is made up of water. Water is essential for various bodily functions such as digestion, circulation, temperature regulation, and waste removal. Maintaining proper hydration is crucial for overall health and well-being.

A serum pH of 7.33 in a patient with kidney disease indicates metabolic acidosis. In metabolic acidosis, there is an excess of acid in the body or a decrease in bicarbonate levels, leading to a decrease in pH. Kidney disease can impair the kidneys' ability to remove acid from the body, resulting in an accumulation of acid and a decrease in pH. This can be confirmed by measuring other blood parameters such as bicarbonate levels and anion gap.

Excessive sweating can lead to hyponatremia because when we sweat, we lose both water and electrolytes, including sodium. If the lost sodium is not adequately replaced, it can result in a decrease in the overall sodium concentration in the body, leading to hyponatremia. This can occur in individuals who engage in intense physical activity or work in hot environments where they sweat excessively.

Excess hydrogen ions in the blood contribute to an acidic environment, causing a decrease in serum pH. This is because hydrogen ions are positively charged and their accumulation increases the concentration of acidic substances in the blood, leading to a decrease in pH.

Sodium ion is a characteristic of a cation because it has a positive charge. Cations are formed when atoms lose electrons, resulting in a net positive charge. Sodium ion, with a positive charge of +1, is formed when a sodium atom loses one electron. Therefore, it is correct to say that sodium ion is a cation.

A rough oral mucosa is a typical sign of dehydration. Dehydration occurs when the body does not have enough fluids to function properly. When a person is dehydrated, their mouth may become dry and the oral mucosa may feel rough to the touch. This is because the body is not producing enough saliva, which helps to keep the mouth moist and the oral mucosa smooth. Therefore, a rough oral mucosa is a clear indication that the body is lacking adequate hydration.

Emphysema is a chronic lung condition that affects the air sacs in the lungs, making it difficult to exhale fully. This leads to a buildup of carbon dioxide in the bloodstream, resulting in respiratory acidosis. In respiratory acidosis, there is an excess of carbon dioxide in the body, leading to an increase in acidity. This occurs because the impaired expiration in emphysema prevents the removal of carbon dioxide from the body effectively. Therefore, the correct answer is respiratory acidosis.

Both hypokalemia and hyperkalemia can cause cardiac arrhythmias. Hypokalemia, which is a low level of potassium in the blood, can disrupt the normal electrical activity of the heart, leading to abnormal heart rhythms. Similarly, hyperkalemia, which is a high level of potassium in the blood, can also interfere with the heart's electrical signals and cause cardiac arrhythmias. Therefore, both conditions can result in abnormal heart rhythms.

Prolonged diarrhea is likely to cause metabolic acidosis. Diarrhea can lead to the loss of bicarbonate, which is an important buffer in the body that helps maintain the pH balance. When bicarbonate is lost, the body becomes more acidic, leading to metabolic acidosis. This can disrupt normal bodily functions and lead to symptoms such as fatigue, confusion, and rapid breathing.

Increased capillary permeability can cause edema. When the capillary walls become more permeable, fluid and proteins can leak out of the capillaries and accumulate in the surrounding tissues, leading to swelling and edema. This increased permeability can be caused by inflammation, injury, or certain medical conditions.

The kidneys are responsible for maintaining acid-base balance in the body by excreting or reabsorbing hydrogen ions (acid) and bicarbonate ions (base) in the urine. While the respiratory system and buffer systems in the blood also play a role in regulating acid-base balance, the kidneys are considered the slowest but most effective control because they can make long-term adjustments to the pH of the blood by altering the excretion or reabsorption of these ions.

An elevated hematocrit is related to a fluid deficit. Hematocrit is a measure of the percentage of red blood cells in the total blood volume. When there is a fluid deficit, the concentration of red blood cells increases, leading to an elevated hematocrit. This can occur in conditions such as dehydration or excessive sweating, where there is a loss of fluids from the body.

Third-spacing refers to the accumulation of fluid in the interstitial spaces, which are the spaces between cells. This condition occurs when there is a combination of decreased circulating blood volume and excess fluid in a body cavity. It is different from dehydration, which is a loss of body water, and hypovolemia, which is a decrease in blood volume. Water retention refers to the body's inability to eliminate excess water, which is not the same as third-spacing.

Hypocalcemia, or low calcium levels, can lead to skeletal muscle twitch and spasms (option 3) and weak cardiac contractions (option 4). Calcium is essential for proper muscle function, so a deficiency can cause muscle twitches and spasms. In the heart, calcium plays a crucial role in the contraction of cardiac muscles, so a decrease in calcium levels can result in weak contractions.

When the body is dehydrated, it needs to conserve water. One way it does this is by increasing the release of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) from the pituitary gland. ADH acts on the kidneys to decrease urine production and reabsorb more water back into the bloodstream. This helps to retain water and prevent further dehydration. Therefore, increased ADH is a compensatory mechanism in response to dehydration.

A deficit of plasma proteins would likely cause a decreased osmotic pressure. Plasma proteins, such as albumin, help maintain the balance of fluids between the blood vessels and tissues. They exert an osmotic pressure that prevents excessive fluid from leaving the blood vessels and entering the surrounding tissues. When there is a deficit of plasma proteins, this osmotic pressure decreases, leading to an imbalance in fluid distribution and increased fluid leakage into the tissues.

Phosphate ion is not a major component in blood clotting. Blood clotting primarily involves the interaction between proteins and platelets to form a clot, which helps in stopping bleeding. Phosphate ions are not directly involved in this process. However, phosphate ions play crucial roles in bone metabolism, metabolic processes involving ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate), and acid-base balance in the body.

When the osmotic pressure of the blood is elevated above normal, water would shift from the interstitial compartment into the blood. This is because osmosis is the movement of water from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration. In this case, the elevated osmotic pressure in the blood indicates a higher solute concentration, causing water to move from the interstitial compartment, where the solute concentration is lower, into the blood, where the solute concentration is higher.

During an anxiety attack, a person may experience rapid breathing or hyperventilation. Hyperventilation leads to excessive elimination of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the body, resulting in decreased levels of pCO2 (partial pressure of CO2 in the blood). This decrease in pCO2 can cause respiratory alkalosis, not respiratory acidosis. Therefore, the correct answer is decreased pCO2.

A serum value that indicates decompensated metabolic acidosis is when the pH of the blood is below the normal range. In metabolic acidosis, there is an excess of acid in the body, leading to a decrease in pH. A pH below the normal range indicates an imbalance in the acid-base levels, suggesting that the body is unable to adequately compensate for the excess acid. This can be a result of conditions such as diabetic ketoacidosis or kidney dysfunction.

Strenuous physical exercise on a hot day can lead to hypovolemia, which refers to a decrease in blood volume. This occurs because during intense exercise, the body loses a significant amount of fluid through sweating to regulate body temperature. The loss of fluid can lead to a decrease in blood volume, causing symptoms such as dizziness, fatigue, and increased heart rate.

In an adult male's body, the correct proportion of blood to body weight is 4%. This means that blood makes up approximately 4% of an adult male's total body weight. Blood is a vital fluid that carries oxygen, nutrients, hormones, and waste products throughout the body. It also plays a crucial role in regulating body temperature, pH balance, and immune responses. Maintaining the correct proportion of blood to body weight is essential for overall health and proper functioning of the body.

To maintain serum pH within the normal range, the ratio of carbonic acid to bicarbonate must be 1:20. This ratio is important because it helps to regulate the acidity or alkalinity of the blood. Carbonic acid (H2CO3) acts as an acid, while bicarbonate (HCO3-) acts as a base. The 1:20 ratio ensures that there is a proper balance between acids and bases in the blood, preventing it from becoming too acidic or too alkaline. This balance is crucial for the normal functioning of various physiological processes in the body.

Increased parathyroid hormone causes increased absorption of calcium from the digestive tract. Parathyroid hormone acts on the kidneys and bones to regulate calcium levels in the body. It increases the reabsorption of calcium in the kidneys to prevent its loss in urine and stimulates the release of calcium from the bones. Additionally, parathyroid hormone stimulates the production of active vitamin D, which in turn enhances the absorption of calcium from the digestive tract.

Acidosis is a condition characterized by an excess of acid in the body. When acidosis occurs, it disrupts the balance of electrolytes in the body, leading to changes in the central nervous system (CNS). In this case, acidosis causes CNS depression and drowsiness. This means that the excessive acid levels in the body can impair the normal functioning of the CNS, resulting in symptoms such as decreased alertness, reduced motor skills, and a feeling of tiredness or drowsiness.

Metabolic acidosis is a condition characterized by an excess of acid in the blood, leading to a decrease in pH. This acidosis can cause potassium ions to shift from inside the cells to the bloodstream, resulting in hyperkalemia (high levels of potassium in the blood). This occurs because hydrogen ions from the excess acid move into the cells in exchange for potassium ions, causing an increase in extracellular potassium levels. Therefore, hyperkalemia is a common consequence of metabolic acidosis.

When ketoacidosis increases in the blood of a diabetic, the sequence of events is as follows:
2. serum bicarbonate decreases: Ketoacidosis leads to a decrease in serum bicarbonate levels.
1. serum pH decreases: The decrease in serum bicarbonate causes a decrease in serum pH.
5. respiration increases: The decrease in serum pH stimulates an increase in respiration rate.
3. pCO2 decreases: The increased respiration rate leads to a decrease in pCO2 levels.
6. serum pH increases: The decrease in pCO2 causes an increase in serum pH.
7. urine pH decreases: The increase in serum pH leads to a decrease in urine pH.

Abnormally slow respirations can lead to an increase in carbonic acid levels in the body. Carbonic acid is formed when carbon dioxide dissolves in water, and it plays a role in maintaining the pH balance of the body. Slow respirations can result in a buildup of carbon dioxide in the blood, leading to an increase in carbonic acid. This can disrupt the acid-base balance in the body and potentially lead to respiratory acidosis.

Young infants are more vulnerable to serious dehydration because of limited renal compensation. This means that their kidneys are not fully developed and therefore cannot effectively regulate the balance of fluids in their bodies. As a result, they are more prone to losing fluids and becoming dehydrated. Additionally, their decreased body surface area and slower metabolic rate contribute to a higher risk of dehydration as they are not able to efficiently absorb and retain fluids.

Seizures can be a manifestation of respiratory alkalosis. Respiratory alkalosis occurs when there is an excessive elimination of carbon dioxide from the body, leading to a decrease in carbonic acid levels and an increase in pH. This can result in decreased cerebral blood flow and cerebral vasoconstriction, which can trigger seizures. Other symptoms of respiratory alkalosis may include dizziness, lightheadedness, confusion, and tingling in the extremities.

Anesthesia and sedation can cause respiratory system depression, leading to a decrease in the body's ability to eliminate carbon dioxide. To compensate for this, the kidneys increase the reabsorption of bicarbonate ions, which helps to buffer the excess carbon dioxide in the blood. Additionally, there is an increased secretion of hydrogen ions into the filtrate, which helps to maintain acid-base balance. Therefore, options 1 and 2 are the correct answers.

Tetany is caused by the increased permeability of nerve membranes. This increased permeability allows for the influx of calcium ions into the nerve cells, leading to hyperexcitability and involuntary muscle contractions. Insufficient calcium in skeletal muscle and excess calcium ions inside somatic nerves are not the primary causes of tetany. Increased stimulation of the nerves in the cerebral cortex is also not directly related to the development of tetany.

Excessive lactic acid accumulation in the body leads to a decrease in bicarbonate ion levels. Lactic acid is produced when the body breaks down glucose without enough oxygen. This process, called anaerobic metabolism, can occur during intense exercise or when there is a lack of oxygen supply. The excess lactic acid disrupts the balance of bicarbonate ions, which are important in maintaining the body's pH. The decrease in bicarbonate ions can result in a decrease in pH, leading to acidosis.

In patients with emphysema and impaired expiration, the lungs are unable to effectively remove carbon dioxide from the body. This leads to a buildup of carbon dioxide and a decrease in pH, resulting in respiratory acidosis. To compensate for this acid-base imbalance, the kidneys increase the reabsorption of bicarbonate and excrete hydrogen ions, leading to an increase in serum bicarbonate levels and a decrease in urine pH. This helps to restore the acid-base balance in the body.