MLT GlobeBasic Pathology: Hemodynamic disorders
153 Basic Pathology MCQs on Hemodynamic disorders with answers and explanations.
A localized area of ischaemic necrosis caused by vessel occlusion is called:
An infarct results when arterial supply or venous drainage is blocked. An embolus may cause it, but is the travelling mass, not the necrotic area.
Venous thrombosis most frequently occurs in which location?
Most venous thrombi form in deep leg veins because of stasis; they may embolize to the lungs.
Erosion of a large artery wall by a tumour or trauma most directly results in:
Loss of vessel integrity allows blood to escape (haemorrhage), which can be massive from large arteries or veins.
Swelling that collects in the ankles when a heart-failure patient stands and over the sacrum when lying down reflects gravity. This pattern is termed:
Edema caused by raised venous hydrostatic pressure gathers in the lowest-lying parts of the body, so its site shifts with posture: dependent edema.
A bleeding time test mainly evaluates the formation of the initial platelet plug at a cut. This phase of clotting is called:
Platelet adhesion, activation and aggregation into a plug is primary hemostasis. Secondary hemostasis is fibrin formation through the coagulation cascade.
In right heart failure, edema fluid gathers mainly in the subcutis of the lower legs, the parts furthest below the heart. The type of edema described is:
Subcutaneous edema may be diffuse but is most marked where hydrostatic pressure is highest, i.e. the dependent lower limbs.
A bruise measuring about 1.5 cm is seen on a patient's forearm. Which term fits a skin hemorrhage of this size?
Petechiae are 1-2 mm, purpura at least 3 mm, and ecchymoses (bruises) 1-2 cm subcutaneous hematomas.
Pleural fluid from a patient with heart failure is clear with a specific gravity of 1.010 and very few cells. Which feature best characterises this fluid?
A transudate forms from pressure or oncotic imbalance with intact vessels, so it is low in protein and cells with specific gravity below 1.012.
During exercise, skeletal muscle turns redder and warmer because blood inflow increases. Which vascular change produces this active hyperemia?
Active hyperemia results from arteriolar dilation (exercise, inflammation), increasing blood flow. Congestion is passive, due to impaired venous outflow.
A child with severe protein malnutrition (kwashiorkor) develops edema. The main mechanism is:
Protein malnutrition lowers albumin synthesis, reducing oncotic pressure so fluid moves into the interstitium.
Severe generalized edema with marked subcutaneous swelling and fluid in body cavities is called:
Anasarca is massive generalized edema. Ascites and hydrothorax refer to fluid in the peritoneal and pleural cavities respectively.
Net movement of water into extravascular spaces, causing swelling of tissues, is called:
Edema is excess fluid in the interstitial tissue. Congestion and hyperemia refer to increased blood within vessels.
A chest radiograph shows a non-inflammatory fluid collection within the pleural cavity. This is termed:
Hydrothorax is transudate in the pleural cavity. Pneumothorax is air, and ascites is fluid in the peritoneal cavity.
In edema, the excess fluid accumulates in which compartment?
Edema is increased fluid in the interstitial tissue spaces between cells. Fluid inside cells is cell swelling.
A cut surface of liver shows alternating dark red centrilobular areas and pale tan periportal areas ('nutmeg liver'). This indicates:
Right heart failure causes chronic passive congestion; congested centrilobular regions look red-brown against paler periportal tissue, giving the nutmeg pattern.
Most emboli that lodge in the pulmonary arteries originate from:
Over 95% of pulmonary emboli come from deep venous thrombi of the lower limbs, above the knee. Left atrial and carotid emboli enter systemic arteries.
A patient with a cervical spinal cord transection becomes hypotensive with warm skin and bradycardia due to loss of vascular tone. The shock type is:
Spinal cord injury interrupts sympathetic outflow, causing vasodilation and pooling of blood: neurogenic shock.
A tissue becomes redder than normal because arteriolar dilation actively increases blood inflow. This process is:
Hyperemia is an active process from arteriolar dilation. Congestion is passive, due to impaired venous outflow, and gives a bluish-red color.
A thrombus in the femoral vein impairs outflow, so blood accumulates passively in the leg, which turns bluish-red. This is called:
Congestion is a passive increase in blood volume due to reduced venous outflow; deoxygenated blood gives cyanosis. Hyperemia is active arteriolar inflow.
A patient with an extensive myocardial infarction develops hypotension and pulmonary edema due to pump failure. The type of shock is:
Cardiogenic shock results from failure of the heart to pump, most often after a large myocardial infarction.