Pathophysiology Final Exam Related

Review Pathophysiology Final Exam related questions and content

A 21-year-old male is brought to the ED following a night of partying in his fraternity. His friends found him 'asleep' and couldn't get him to respond. They cannot recall how many alcoholic beverages he drank the night before. While educating a student nurse and the man's friends, the nurse begins by explaining that alcohol is:

  • A. A water-soluble compound that is easily absorbed by the gastric lining of the stomach.
  • B. Very lipid-soluble and rapidly crosses the blood-brain barrier.
  • C. Able to reverse the transport of some substances to remove them from the brain.
  • D. Very likely to cause sedation and therefore the client just needs to sleep it off.
Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B. Alcohol is very lipid-soluble and rapidly crosses the blood-brain barrier, leading to its effects on the central nervous system and causing symptoms like sedation and unconsciousness. Choice A is incorrect because alcohol is not water-soluble; it is lipid-soluble. Choice C is incorrect as alcohol does not reverse the transport of substances from the brain. Choice D is incorrect as sedation from alcohol is not a reason to just 'sleep it off' in cases of alcohol poisoning, which can be life-threatening and requires medical attention.