Adult-Gerontology CNS Test Advanced Pathophysiology 2

Question 1

Systolic hypertension in older adults is largely attributed to:

Accepted Answer

Arterial stiffening and decreased aortic compliance

Answer

Age-related loss of arterial elasticity increases pulse wave velocity and systolic pressure while diastolic pressure may remain stable or decrease.

Question 2

Osteoporosis is best defined pathophysiologically as:

Accepted Answer

Imbalance between bone resorption and formation leading to decreased bone density and microarchitectural deterioration

Answer

Osteoporosis results from an uncoupling of bone remodeling where osteoclast-mediated resorption exceeds osteoblast-mediated formation, reducing bone mass.

Question 3

Which mechanism explains the anemia commonly seen in chronic kidney disease?

Accepted Answer

Reduced erythropoietin production by failing kidneys

Answer

CKD impairs erythropoietin synthesis in peritubular fibroblasts, reducing the hormonal stimulus for red blood cell production in bone marrow.

Question 4

Pulmonary embolism causes hypoxemia primarily through:

Accepted Answer

Ventilation-perfusion mismatch and increased dead space

Answer

PE creates unperfused but ventilated alveoli (dead space), and reflex bronchoconstriction in infarcted regions adds VQ mismatch, impairing gas exchange.

Question 5

Delirium in hospitalized older adults is best understood as:

Accepted Answer

An acute neurological syndrome reflecting global cerebral dysfunction from predisposing and precipitating factors

Answer

Delirium arises from the interaction of baseline vulnerability (predisposing factors like age/dementia) with acute insults (precipitating factors like infection, medications, or pain).

Adult-Gerontology CNS Test Practice Test

Adult-Gerontology CNS Test Practice Test

Adult-Gerontology CNS Test Advanced Pathophysiology 2