NRSG 2350 Exam 1 Practice Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering basic pathophysiology, core pharmacology principles, and the immune/inflammatory response.

Phospholipids

Components of the cell membrane that create the flexible bilayer separating the inside of the cell from the outside; provides barrier and flexibility.

Proteins (Cell Membrane)

Membrane components that act as channels, pumps, carriers, receptors, and enzymes to facilitate movement and communication.

Cholesterol (Cell Membrane)

A substance that stabilizes the cell membrane and affects fluidity, keeping the membrane from being too rigid or too loose.

Carbohydrates (Cell Membrane)

Structure on the cell surface that helps with cell recognition and communication, specifically self vs. nonself recognition.

Mitochondria

The organelle that produces ATP, the cell energy source; low oxygen leads to low ATP, pump failure, and cell swelling.

Lysosomes

Organelles that digest waste, bacteria, and damaged cell parts; if ruptured, they release enzymes that can damage the cell.

Anaerobic Metabolism

Energy production occurring when oxygen is low, producing less ATP and creating lactic acid as a byproduct.

Passive Transport

Movement of substances that does not require ATP and moves with the gradient from high to low concentration; includes diffusion and osmosis.

Active Transport

Movement of substances that requires ATP to move against the gradient from low to high concentration, such as the sodium-potassium pump.

Osmosis

The movement of water across a membrane toward the side with more solute; water follows salt/solute.

Atrophy

A cellular adaptation where cells shrink, such as leg muscles shrinking after being in a cast.

Hypertrophy

A cellular adaptation where cells get bigger, such as an enlarged heart muscle from chronic hypertension.

Hyperplasia

A cellular adaptation involving an increased number of cells, such as breast tissue growth during pregnancy.

Metaplasia

A cellular adaptation where one mature cell type changes to another mature cell type, such as airway changes in chronic smokers.

Dysplasia

Abnormal cell size, shape, and organization, often considered precancerous changes.

Hypoxia

Low oxygen levels that prevent cells from making enough ATP, leading to pump failure and swelling.

Ischemia

Reduced blood flow, which is more severe than hypoxia because it also fails to remove waste and provide nutrients.

Necrosis

Unplanned, uncontrolled cell death due to injury that is pathologic, messy, and causes inflammation in nearby tissue.

Apoptosis

Programmed, controlled cell death that is a normal or protective process where the cell shrinks and the membrane stays intact.

Sodium ($Na^+$)

The primary electrolyte for fluid balance and neuro function, with a normal range of $135-145\,mEq/L$.

Potassium ($K^+$)

Electrolyte responsible for heart rhythm and muscle/nerve function ($3.5-5.0\,mEq/L$); should never be given as an IV push.

Calcium ($Ca^{2+}$)

Electrolyte vital for bones, clotting, muscles, and nerves ($8.5-10.5\,mg/dL$); low levels show Chvostek/Trousseau signs.

Magnesium ($Mg^{2+}$)

Electrolyte involved in nerves, muscles, and cardiac rhythm ($1.5-2.5\,mEq/L$); high levels can cause respiratory depression and hypotension.

Third Spacing

A fluid imbalance where fluid is present in the body but not usable in the bloodstream, often seen in sepsis, burns, or ascites.

Phase IV (Drug Development)

The phase occurring after drug approval/post-marketing to monitor long-term effects and rare adverse reactions in large populations.

Schedule I Drugs

Controlled substances with high abuse potential and no accepted federal medical use, such as heroin.

Pharmacokinetics

What the body does to the drug, encompassing the four phases of ADME: Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, and Excretion.

Absorption

The phase of pharmacokinetics describing how a drug enters the bloodstream; IV is the fastest route.

Metabolism

The pharmacokinetics phase where the body changes the drug, primarily occurring in the liver.

Excretion

The pharmacokinetics phase where the drug leaves the body, primarily carried out by the kidneys.

Pharmacodynamics

The study of what the drug does to the body, including therapeutic effects, side effects, and mechanism of action.

Adverse Drug Reaction

An unintended, harmful response to a medication, such as severe rash, bleeding, or respiratory depression.

Innate Immunity

The immediate, nonspecific immune response people are born with, including physical barriers like skin and processes like inflammation.

Adaptive Immunity

Specific immunity that develops after exposure and has memory; involves B cells and T cells.

Humoral Immunity

A type of adaptive immunity where B cells and plasma cells make antibodies to neutralize or mark pathogens.

Cell-Mediated Immunity

A type of adaptive immunity where T cells attack infected or abnormal cells and coordinate the immune response.

Prodromal Stage

The stage of infection characterized by early vague symptoms such as fatigue, malaise, and low-grade fever.

Autoimmune Disorder

A condition where the immune system attacks 'self' tissues, causing damage, such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis.

Immunodeficiency

A state where the immune system is weak or missing parts, increasing the risk of infection, such as HIV/AIDS.

NSAIDs

A class of anti-inflammatory medications (e.g., ibuprofen) that can cause GI bleeding, kidney injury, and fluid retention.

Corticosteroids

Meds that suppress inflammation but increase infection risk, raise blood glucose, and can delay wound healing.

Antibiotic Stewardship

A concept ensuring the right drug, dose, time, duration, and reason to prevent antibiotic resistance.