Preparing for the NPTE (National Physical Therapy Examination) exam? Pathology is one of the areas our deck drills hardest: 330 of its 1010 flashcards focus on pathology, covering topics like SBP, Ischemic Heart Disease. Try the sample questions below — every card is a real question-and-answer pair from the full deck.
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A 62-year-old male with stable angina experiences chest pain during treadmill walking at 4 METs. Pain subsides after 3 minutes of rest. What is the most likely pathophysiological cause of this transient ischemia?
Show answer →Stable angina is caused by a fixed atherosclerotic narrowing of coronary arteries. Ischemia occurs when myocardial oxygen demand (MVO2) exceeds supply. **NPTE Key:** Stable angina is predictable, triggered by specific exertion levels, and relieved by rest or nitroglycerin. **Strategy:** Distinguish from unstable angina, which occurs at rest or with decreasing thresholds. If pain persists >15-20 mins despite rest, suspect Myocardial Infarction (MI).
A patient post-MI shows ST-segment elevation in leads V3 and V4 during an EKG screen. Which coronary artery is most likely occluded, and which area of the heart is affected?
Show answer →ST elevation in V3-V4 indicates an **Anterior Wall MI**, typically involving the **Left Anterior Descending (LAD)** artery. **Clinical Pearl:** The LAD is often called the widow maker due to its role in supplying the left ventricle. **FSBPT Focus:** V1-V2 (Septal), V3-V4 (Anterior), V5-V6, I, aVL (Lateral), II, III, aVF (Inferior/RCA). Understanding localization helps predict complications like heart failure (LAD) or bradycardia/conduction blocks (RCA).
During Phase I cardiac rehab, a patient 3 days post-STEMI exhibits a drop in systolic blood pressure (SBP) of 15 mmHg with low-level activity. What is the appropriate PT action and the underlying concern?
Show answer →**Action:** Terminate exercise immediately and notify medical staff. **Rationale:** A drop in SBP >10 mmHg during exercise is an absolute termination criterion. It suggests pump failure or severe ischemia. **NPTE Strategy:** Normal response is a rise in SBP (approx. 10 mmHg per MET). A flat or falling SBP (exertional hypotension) is a red flag for significant LV dysfunction or multi-vessel CAD. Differentiate from orthostatic hypotension, which occurs only during position changes.
A patient 4 days post-MI suddenly develops a new, loud holosystolic murmur heard best at the apex, accompanied by acute respiratory distress. What complication should the PT suspect?
Show answer →**Acute Mitral Regurgitation** due to **Papillary Muscle Rupture**. This is a medical emergency occurring 2-7 days post-MI. **Clinical Reasoning:** The mitral valve fails, causing backflow into the left atrium and pulmonary edema. **Distractor Alert:** Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) also causes a holosystolic murmur but is usually heard at the left sternal border. Both require immediate cessation of PT and emergency surgical consult.
How does the long-term use of Beta-Blockers (e.g., Metoprolol) influence the exercise prescription for a patient with Ischemic Heart Disease?
Show answer →Beta-blockers decrease HR and BP at rest and during exercise by blocking sympathetic input. **PT Impact:** Blunted HR response makes age-predicted Max HR formulas (220-age) invalid for intensity calculation. **Management:** Use the **Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE)** (target 11-13 on Borg 6-20 scale) for intensity monitoring. **NPTE Strategy:** If a question mentions beta-blockers, RPE is almost always the correct answer for monitoring intensity.
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The full NPTE deck contains 1010 flashcards, and 330 of them focus on pathology. This page shows 5 free samples.
Our NPTE deck dedicates 330 of 1010 cards (33%) to pathology — always cross-check the official FSBPT exam outline for the current blueprint weighting.
Yes — the samples on this page are free, and the NPTE preview page has 30 more free cards. Full access to all 1010 cards is a one-time $7.