PATHOPHYSIOLOGY FINAL PAPER 2026
QUESTIONS WITH FULL SOLUTION GRADED
A+
◉ An older adult patient comes to the clinic complaining of not
being able to do what he used to be able to. You know that normal
changes associated with aging include: (Select all that apply.)
A. Improved blood flow
B. Slowed metabolic rate
C. Decreased brain weight
D. Improved nerve fiber conduction
E. Less respiratory capacity. Answer: B, C, E
◉ A 20-year-old college student has presented to her campus
medical clinic for a scheduled Pap smear. The clinician who will
interpret the smear will examine cell samples for evidence of:
A. Changes in cell shape, size, and organization
B. Presence of unexpected cell types
C. Ischemic changes in cell sample
D. Abnormally high numbers of cells. Answer: A
,◉ The parents of a 4-year-old girl have sought care because their
daughter has admitted to chewing and swallowing imported toy
figurines that have been determined to be made of lead. Which of
the following blood tests should the care team prioritize?
A. White blood cell levels with differential
B. Red blood cell levels and morphology
C. Urea and creatinine levels
D. Liver function panel. Answer: B
Lead -> anemia, RBC lysis
You know it's not A because there is no infection involved. C is
focused on kidney function while D is focused on liver function. Both
of these would be important in the case of lead poisoning BUT the
priority answer is B, because you need first to address the most life-
threatening patient needs. The little girl in this question can go into
shock or suffer permanent organ damage if her RBCs are low.
◉ A patient with severe peripheral vascular disease has developed
signs of dry gangrene on the great toe of one foot. Which of the
following pathophysiologic processes most likely contributed to this
diagnosis?
A. Inappropriate activation of apoptosis
,B. Bacterial invasion
C. Impaired arterial blood supply
D. Metaplastic cellular changes. Answer: B
Remember that it's not C because to have gangrene, you must have
infection
◉ Although stress exposure initiates integrated responses by
multiple systems, the most important changes are first activated by
which system?
A. Pulmonary
B. Gastrointestinal
C. Neuroendocrine
D. Cardiovascular. Answer: C
◉ Which manifestation of stress reflects the non-specific fight or
flight response?
A. Decreased pupillary light response
B. Increased GI motility
C. Decreased short-term memory
D. Increased cardiopulmonary rates. Answer: D
, This would fall under physiologic responses to stress!! Slide 25 in
your lecture powerpoint
◉ Stress-induced cortisol hormone secretion is associated with:
A. Increased growth hormone level
B. Regulation of the stress response
C. Increased thyroid-stimulating hormone
D. Depressed adrenal gland function. Answer: B
You know it's not A because I mentioned in an earlier slide that
growth hormone levels decrease with stress. We didn't mention
thyroid-stimulating hormone as one of the ones associated with the
stress repsonse so you can pretty much assume that's not right. And
we know adrenal function is not depressed because ACTH from the
anterior pituitary stimulates the adrenal glands to release cortisol.
◉ Which of the following factors are known to contribute to an
individual's ability to adapt to stress? (Select all that apply.)
A. Ethnicity
B. Age
QUESTIONS WITH FULL SOLUTION GRADED
A+
◉ An older adult patient comes to the clinic complaining of not
being able to do what he used to be able to. You know that normal
changes associated with aging include: (Select all that apply.)
A. Improved blood flow
B. Slowed metabolic rate
C. Decreased brain weight
D. Improved nerve fiber conduction
E. Less respiratory capacity. Answer: B, C, E
◉ A 20-year-old college student has presented to her campus
medical clinic for a scheduled Pap smear. The clinician who will
interpret the smear will examine cell samples for evidence of:
A. Changes in cell shape, size, and organization
B. Presence of unexpected cell types
C. Ischemic changes in cell sample
D. Abnormally high numbers of cells. Answer: A
,◉ The parents of a 4-year-old girl have sought care because their
daughter has admitted to chewing and swallowing imported toy
figurines that have been determined to be made of lead. Which of
the following blood tests should the care team prioritize?
A. White blood cell levels with differential
B. Red blood cell levels and morphology
C. Urea and creatinine levels
D. Liver function panel. Answer: B
Lead -> anemia, RBC lysis
You know it's not A because there is no infection involved. C is
focused on kidney function while D is focused on liver function. Both
of these would be important in the case of lead poisoning BUT the
priority answer is B, because you need first to address the most life-
threatening patient needs. The little girl in this question can go into
shock or suffer permanent organ damage if her RBCs are low.
◉ A patient with severe peripheral vascular disease has developed
signs of dry gangrene on the great toe of one foot. Which of the
following pathophysiologic processes most likely contributed to this
diagnosis?
A. Inappropriate activation of apoptosis
,B. Bacterial invasion
C. Impaired arterial blood supply
D. Metaplastic cellular changes. Answer: B
Remember that it's not C because to have gangrene, you must have
infection
◉ Although stress exposure initiates integrated responses by
multiple systems, the most important changes are first activated by
which system?
A. Pulmonary
B. Gastrointestinal
C. Neuroendocrine
D. Cardiovascular. Answer: C
◉ Which manifestation of stress reflects the non-specific fight or
flight response?
A. Decreased pupillary light response
B. Increased GI motility
C. Decreased short-term memory
D. Increased cardiopulmonary rates. Answer: D
, This would fall under physiologic responses to stress!! Slide 25 in
your lecture powerpoint
◉ Stress-induced cortisol hormone secretion is associated with:
A. Increased growth hormone level
B. Regulation of the stress response
C. Increased thyroid-stimulating hormone
D. Depressed adrenal gland function. Answer: B
You know it's not A because I mentioned in an earlier slide that
growth hormone levels decrease with stress. We didn't mention
thyroid-stimulating hormone as one of the ones associated with the
stress repsonse so you can pretty much assume that's not right. And
we know adrenal function is not depressed because ACTH from the
anterior pituitary stimulates the adrenal glands to release cortisol.
◉ Which of the following factors are known to contribute to an
individual's ability to adapt to stress? (Select all that apply.)
A. Ethnicity
B. Age
