WCU PATHOPHYSIOLOGY MIDTERM EXAM
STUDY GUIDE 2026 COMPLETE QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
● In which dysrhythmias should treatment be instituted immediately? -
Atrial fibrillation with a ventricular rate of 220 beats/minute
● Aortic regurgitation is associated with - diastolic murmur.
● Mitral stenosis is associated with - a pressure gradient across the
mitral valve.
● First-degree heart block is characterized by - prolonged PR interval.
● Which blood pressure reading is considered to be indicative of
prehypertension according to the JNC-7 criteria? - 128/82
● Increased preload of the cardiac chambers may lead to which patient
symptom? - Edema
● Beta-blockers are advocated in the management of heart failure
because they - reduce cardiac output.
,● Hypotension associated with neurogenic and anaphylactic shock is
because of - peripheral pooling of blood.
● While hospitalized, an elderly patient with a history of myocardial
infarction was noted to have high levels of low-density lipoproteins
(LDLs). What is the significance of this finding? - Increased LDL levels
are associated with increased risk of coronary artery disease.
● Hypertension is closely linked to - obstructive sleep apnea.
● In which stage of shock is a patient who has lost 1200 mL of blood,
who has normal blood pressure when supine, but who experiences
orthostatic hypotension upon standing? - Class II, Compensated Stage
● Administration of which therapy is most appropriate for hypovolemic
shock? - Crystalloids
● Which finding is indicative of orthostatic hypotension in a person with
a supine blood pressure (BP) of 110/70 and a heart rate (HR) of 100? -
Sitting BP 88/60, HR 118
● A patient is diagnosed with cardiogenic shock. The patient is
hyperventilating and is therefore at risk for the respiratory complication
of respiratory acidosis. - False
,A patient diagnosed with cardiogenic shock who is hyperventilating is at
risk for respiratory alkalosis.
● Rheumatic heart disease is most often a consequence of - β-hemolytic
streptococcal infection.
● Left-sided heart failure is characterized by - pulmonary congestion.
● Atherosclerotic plaques with large lipid cores are prone to - rupture.
● A patient who reports dizziness and who has absent P waves, wide
QRS complexes, and a heart rate of 38 beats/minute on an ECG is most
likely in which rhythm? - Ventricular escape rhythm
● Patients with structural evidence of heart failure who exhibit no signs
or symptoms are classified into which New York Heart Association heart
failure class? - Class I
● Chronic elevation of myocardial wall tension results in atrophy. -
False
Chronic elevation of myocardial wall tension results in hypertrophy.
● Improvement in a patient with septic shock is indicated by an increase
in - systemic vascular resistance.
, ● The ingestion of certain drugs, foods, or chemicals can lead to
secondary hypertension. - True
● In contrast to all other types of shock, the hyperdynamic phase of
septic shock is associated with - high cardiac output.
● Tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin-1 contribute to shock states
because they induce production of - nitric oxide.
● An example of an acyanotic heart defect is - ventricular septal defect.
● A type of shock that includes brain trauma that results in depression of
the vasomotor center is cardiogenic. - False
● An abnormally wide (more than 0.10 second) QRS complex is
characteristic of - premature ventricular complexes.
● Myocarditis should be suspected in a patient who presents with - acute
onset of left ventricular dysfunction.
● Low cardiac output in association with high preload is characteristic of
________ shock. - cardiogenic
STUDY GUIDE 2026 COMPLETE QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
● In which dysrhythmias should treatment be instituted immediately? -
Atrial fibrillation with a ventricular rate of 220 beats/minute
● Aortic regurgitation is associated with - diastolic murmur.
● Mitral stenosis is associated with - a pressure gradient across the
mitral valve.
● First-degree heart block is characterized by - prolonged PR interval.
● Which blood pressure reading is considered to be indicative of
prehypertension according to the JNC-7 criteria? - 128/82
● Increased preload of the cardiac chambers may lead to which patient
symptom? - Edema
● Beta-blockers are advocated in the management of heart failure
because they - reduce cardiac output.
,● Hypotension associated with neurogenic and anaphylactic shock is
because of - peripheral pooling of blood.
● While hospitalized, an elderly patient with a history of myocardial
infarction was noted to have high levels of low-density lipoproteins
(LDLs). What is the significance of this finding? - Increased LDL levels
are associated with increased risk of coronary artery disease.
● Hypertension is closely linked to - obstructive sleep apnea.
● In which stage of shock is a patient who has lost 1200 mL of blood,
who has normal blood pressure when supine, but who experiences
orthostatic hypotension upon standing? - Class II, Compensated Stage
● Administration of which therapy is most appropriate for hypovolemic
shock? - Crystalloids
● Which finding is indicative of orthostatic hypotension in a person with
a supine blood pressure (BP) of 110/70 and a heart rate (HR) of 100? -
Sitting BP 88/60, HR 118
● A patient is diagnosed with cardiogenic shock. The patient is
hyperventilating and is therefore at risk for the respiratory complication
of respiratory acidosis. - False
,A patient diagnosed with cardiogenic shock who is hyperventilating is at
risk for respiratory alkalosis.
● Rheumatic heart disease is most often a consequence of - β-hemolytic
streptococcal infection.
● Left-sided heart failure is characterized by - pulmonary congestion.
● Atherosclerotic plaques with large lipid cores are prone to - rupture.
● A patient who reports dizziness and who has absent P waves, wide
QRS complexes, and a heart rate of 38 beats/minute on an ECG is most
likely in which rhythm? - Ventricular escape rhythm
● Patients with structural evidence of heart failure who exhibit no signs
or symptoms are classified into which New York Heart Association heart
failure class? - Class I
● Chronic elevation of myocardial wall tension results in atrophy. -
False
Chronic elevation of myocardial wall tension results in hypertrophy.
● Improvement in a patient with septic shock is indicated by an increase
in - systemic vascular resistance.
, ● The ingestion of certain drugs, foods, or chemicals can lead to
secondary hypertension. - True
● In contrast to all other types of shock, the hyperdynamic phase of
septic shock is associated with - high cardiac output.
● Tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin-1 contribute to shock states
because they induce production of - nitric oxide.
● An example of an acyanotic heart defect is - ventricular septal defect.
● A type of shock that includes brain trauma that results in depression of
the vasomotor center is cardiogenic. - False
● An abnormally wide (more than 0.10 second) QRS complex is
characteristic of - premature ventricular complexes.
● Myocarditis should be suspected in a patient who presents with - acute
onset of left ventricular dysfunction.
● Low cardiac output in association with high preload is characteristic of
________ shock. - cardiogenic
