Pneumonia and Pulmonary Edema
Post-Test for Pneumonia
Simon Duffy
- True
- False
2. Cystic fibrosis is an inherited disorder in the CFTR gene that regulates the movement of chloride and sodium into and out of cells. Dysfunction of this gene leads to a buildup of abnormally thick mucous in the airways. Using what you’ve learned so far in this chapter, give a stepwise explanation as to why someone with cystic fibrosis may be at an increased risk of developing pneumonia.
3. Fill in the blanks.
Lobar pneumonia involves _____ filling the _____, preventing good gas exchange and producing a productive cough with phlegm. The airways are normal sized. In interstitial or bronchopneumonia, the airways are inflamed and swollen causing a _____ in size. This will also impair gas exchange and difficulty breathing also known as _____. However, the cough reflex is to help ventilation and will not produce phlegm.
4. Black spots seen in the gross visual inspection of lung is normal and expected.
- True
- False
5. Finish the following sentence. Consolidation appears on gross inspection of lungs as:
- A deep red/brown colour with spongy appearance
- Red, with black spots spread diffusely
- Patches of pale red, white, or grey either localized or spread diffusely
- Consolidation can only be visualized with X-ray
Answer Key
1. False
2. Multiple answers possible. Example answer: Patients with cystic fibrosis have a dysfunctional CFTR protein, which is responsible for the transport of chloride and sodium ions in cells. In the airway, CFTR dysfunction may cause issues in mucus secretion and/or mucus reabsorption, leading to the development of an abnormally thick mucus layer in the airways. In the airways, mucus is normally able to trap debris and potential pathogens before they reach the lungs, and then cleared when pushed back up towards the esophagus. The abnormal mucus in cystic fibrosis patients can impede mucociliary clearance in the host when the airway-lining cilia are unable to beat efficiently due to the high viscosity of the surrounding mucus. Because of this, the cilia are unable to sufficiently propel the mucus towards the esophagus and thus pathogens such as bacteria are allowed to persist in the airway, where they can replicate and spread to the lower respiratory tract and lungs to cause pneumonia.
3. Exudate, alveoli, decrease, dyspnea
4. True
5. Patches of pale red, white, or grey either localized or spread diffusely
