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NURS 231 – Pathophysiology (NEW UPDATED VERSION) LATEST ACTUAL EXAM
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS) |
GUARANTEED PASS A+ UPDATED 2026
1. Which type of cell injury is caused by hypoxia?
A. Chemical injury
B. Ischemic injury
C. Infectious injury
D. Mechanical injury
Answer: B. Ischemic injury
Rationale: Hypoxia, or oxygen deprivation, commonly results from ischemia (reduced blood
flow), causing cell injury due to lack of oxygen for ATP production.
2. Which process describes programmed cell death?
A. Necrosis
B. Apoptosis
C. Inflammation
D. Dysplasia
Answer: B. Apoptosis
Rationale: Apoptosis is a controlled, energy-dependent process eliminating damaged cells
without eliciting inflammation. Necrosis, by contrast, is uncontrolled and causes tissue damage.
3. Which type of necrosis is commonly seen in myocardial infarction?
A. Coagulative
B. Liquefactive
C. Caseous
D. Fat
Answer: A. Coagulative
Rationale: Coagulative necrosis preserves tissue architecture and is typical of hypoxic injury in
solid organs like the heart.
2026 2027 GRADED A+
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4. A patient with chronic inflammation often exhibits which cell type predominance?
A. Neutrophils
B. Lymphocytes and macrophages
C. Eosinophils
D. Basophils
Answer: B. Lymphocytes and macrophages
Rationale: Chronic inflammation involves mononuclear cells (lymphocytes, macrophages)
rather than the neutrophils typical of acute inflammation.
5. Which condition is caused by an autoimmune response?
A. Rheumatoid arthritis
B. Osteoarthritis
C. Gout
D. Fracture
Answer: A. Rheumatoid arthritis
Rationale: RA is an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks joint synovium,
causing inflammation and joint destruction.
6. Which electrolyte imbalance is most likely in diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hypernatremia
D. Hypocalcemia
Answer: A. Hyperkalemia
Rationale: Insulin deficiency and acidosis cause potassium to shift from the intracellular to the
extracellular compartment, producing hyperkalemia.
7. Which acid-base disturbance is expected in DKA?
A. Metabolic acidosis
B. Respiratory acidosis
C. Metabolic alkalosis
D. Respiratory alkalosis
2026 2027 GRADED A+
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Answer: A. Metabolic acidosis
Rationale: Accumulation of ketoacids lowers blood pH, resulting in metabolic acidosis.
8. What is the main pathophysiologic mechanism of asthma?
A. Airway inflammation and bronchoconstriction
B. Pulmonary embolism
C. Pleural effusion
D. Alveolar collapse
Answer: A. Airway inflammation and bronchoconstriction
Rationale: Asthma involves reversible airway obstruction due to inflammation, mucus
production, and smooth muscle constriction.
9. In chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which change occurs in the alveoli?
A. Destruction of alveolar walls
B. Fibrosis of pleura
C. Pulmonary edema
D. Hyperplasia of cilia
Answer: A. Destruction of alveolar walls
Rationale: Emphysema, a form of COPD, destroys alveolar walls, decreasing surface area for
gas exchange.
10. Which lab finding is characteristic of iron-deficiency anemia?
A. Microcytic, hypochromic RBCs
B. Macrocytic RBCs
C. Normocytic, normochromic RBCs
D. Hypersegmented neutrophils
Answer: A. Microcytic, hypochromic RBCs
Rationale: Iron deficiency leads to small (microcytic), pale (hypochromic) red blood cells due to
reduced hemoglobin synthesis.
11. A patient has hyperthyroidism. Which symptom is expected?
A. Tachycardia, weight loss, heat intolerance
B. Bradycardia, cold intolerance
2026 2027 GRADED A+
NURS 231 – Pathophysiology (NEW UPDATED VERSION) LATEST ACTUAL EXAM
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS) |
GUARANTEED PASS A+ UPDATED 2026
1. Which type of cell injury is caused by hypoxia?
A. Chemical injury
B. Ischemic injury
C. Infectious injury
D. Mechanical injury
Answer: B. Ischemic injury
Rationale: Hypoxia, or oxygen deprivation, commonly results from ischemia (reduced blood
flow), causing cell injury due to lack of oxygen for ATP production.
2. Which process describes programmed cell death?
A. Necrosis
B. Apoptosis
C. Inflammation
D. Dysplasia
Answer: B. Apoptosis
Rationale: Apoptosis is a controlled, energy-dependent process eliminating damaged cells
without eliciting inflammation. Necrosis, by contrast, is uncontrolled and causes tissue damage.
3. Which type of necrosis is commonly seen in myocardial infarction?
A. Coagulative
B. Liquefactive
C. Caseous
D. Fat
Answer: A. Coagulative
Rationale: Coagulative necrosis preserves tissue architecture and is typical of hypoxic injury in
solid organs like the heart.
2026 2027 GRADED A+
,2|Page
4. A patient with chronic inflammation often exhibits which cell type predominance?
A. Neutrophils
B. Lymphocytes and macrophages
C. Eosinophils
D. Basophils
Answer: B. Lymphocytes and macrophages
Rationale: Chronic inflammation involves mononuclear cells (lymphocytes, macrophages)
rather than the neutrophils typical of acute inflammation.
5. Which condition is caused by an autoimmune response?
A. Rheumatoid arthritis
B. Osteoarthritis
C. Gout
D. Fracture
Answer: A. Rheumatoid arthritis
Rationale: RA is an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks joint synovium,
causing inflammation and joint destruction.
6. Which electrolyte imbalance is most likely in diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hypernatremia
D. Hypocalcemia
Answer: A. Hyperkalemia
Rationale: Insulin deficiency and acidosis cause potassium to shift from the intracellular to the
extracellular compartment, producing hyperkalemia.
7. Which acid-base disturbance is expected in DKA?
A. Metabolic acidosis
B. Respiratory acidosis
C. Metabolic alkalosis
D. Respiratory alkalosis
2026 2027 GRADED A+
, 3|Page
Answer: A. Metabolic acidosis
Rationale: Accumulation of ketoacids lowers blood pH, resulting in metabolic acidosis.
8. What is the main pathophysiologic mechanism of asthma?
A. Airway inflammation and bronchoconstriction
B. Pulmonary embolism
C. Pleural effusion
D. Alveolar collapse
Answer: A. Airway inflammation and bronchoconstriction
Rationale: Asthma involves reversible airway obstruction due to inflammation, mucus
production, and smooth muscle constriction.
9. In chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which change occurs in the alveoli?
A. Destruction of alveolar walls
B. Fibrosis of pleura
C. Pulmonary edema
D. Hyperplasia of cilia
Answer: A. Destruction of alveolar walls
Rationale: Emphysema, a form of COPD, destroys alveolar walls, decreasing surface area for
gas exchange.
10. Which lab finding is characteristic of iron-deficiency anemia?
A. Microcytic, hypochromic RBCs
B. Macrocytic RBCs
C. Normocytic, normochromic RBCs
D. Hypersegmented neutrophils
Answer: A. Microcytic, hypochromic RBCs
Rationale: Iron deficiency leads to small (microcytic), pale (hypochromic) red blood cells due to
reduced hemoglobin synthesis.
11. A patient has hyperthyroidism. Which symptom is expected?
A. Tachycardia, weight loss, heat intolerance
B. Bradycardia, cold intolerance
2026 2027 GRADED A+
