NSG 5140 ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY – MIDTERM EXAM
| QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | VERIFIED LATEST UPDATE 2026
What best describes the pathophysiology of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus? - ANSWERBeta-cell destruction in
the pancreas
What condition is indicated by polyuria, polydipsia, hyperglycemia, and positive ketones in urine? -
ANSWERDiabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)
What cellular mechanism contributes most to decreased contractility in heart failure with reduced
ejection fraction (HFrEF)? - ANSWERImpaired calcium handling in cardiomyocytes
Which type of shock is characterized by a severe systemic inflammatory response leading to vasodilation
and hypotension? - ANSWERDistributive (Septic)
What is the primary pathophysiologic mechanism in asthma? - ANSWERAirway inflammation and
hyperresponsiveness
Which lab finding is most consistent with hyperthyroidism? - ANSWERDecreased TSH, increased T3/T4
What is the hallmark of nephrotic syndrome? - ANSWERProteinuria >3.5 g/day, hypoalbuminemia,
edema
What contributes most to secondary hyperparathyroidism in chronic kidney disease (CKD)? -
ANSWERVitamin D deficiency and hyperphosphatemia
Which type of hypersensitivity reaction is mediated by IgE? - ANSWERType I
A patient with rheumatoid arthritis is at risk of which type of anemia? - ANSWERAnemia of chronic
disease
What mechanism is primarily responsible for edema in nephrotic syndrome? - ANSWERLoss of plasma
proteins and decreased oncotic pressure
Which neurotransmitter is most associated with the pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease? -
ANSWERDopamine
Which lab finding is characteristic of iron deficiency anemia? - ANSWERLow serum ferritin, low MCV
What pathophysiologic mechanism underlies atherosclerosis? - ANSWEREndothelial injury, lipid
accumulation, and inflammation
What primarily leads to ascites formation in cirrhosis? - ANSWERPortal hypertension and
hypoalbuminemia
What is the primary cause of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus? - ANSWERInsulin resistance with relative insulin
deficiency
Which electrolyte imbalance is most commonly associated with chronic kidney disease? -
ANSWERHyperkalemia
What pathophysiologic mechanism leads to air trapping in COPD? - ANSWERLoss of elastic recoil and
airway obstruction
pg. 1
,NSG 5140 ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY – MIDTERM EXAM
| QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | VERIFIED LATEST UPDATE 2026
What pathophysiologic process is responsible for the development of emphysema? - ANSWERProtease-
antiprotease imbalance causing alveolar wall destruction
What is the most common cause of secondary hypertension? - ANSWERChronic kidney disease
In systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), which mechanism leads to tissue damage? - ANSWERImmune
complex deposition
What is a hallmark of Crohn's disease? - ANSWERTransmural inflammation and skip lesions
Which mechanism is primarily responsible for hypercapnia in COPD? - ANSWERHypoventilation due to
airflow limitation
In acute pancreatitis, which enzyme contributes most to pancreatic tissue autodigestion? -
ANSWERTrypsin
Which electrolyte abnormality is most characteristic of Addison's disease? - ANSWERHyponatremia and
hyperkalemia
Which hormone is primarily deficient in central diabetes insipidus? - ANSWERAntidiuretic hormone
(ADH)
What mechanism is responsible for edema in heart failure? - ANSWERSodium and water retention due
to neurohormonal activation
Which lab abnormality is most consistent with acute pancreatitis? - ANSWERElevated amylase and lipase
What is the primary mechanism of tissue injury in myocardial infarction? - ANSWERIschemia due to
coronary artery occlusion
What is the hallmark of ulcerative colitis? - ANSWERContinuous mucosal inflammation starting in the
rectum
Which electrolyte disturbance is common in tumor lysis syndrome? - ANSWERHyperkalemia,
hyperphosphatemia, hyperuricemia
What best describes the pathophysiology of multiple sclerosis? - ANSWERAutoimmune demyelination in
CNS
What physiologic process underlies septic shock-induced organ dysfunction? - ANSWERMicrovascular
dysfunction and tissue hypoperfusion
Which type of anemia is characterized by hypersegmented neutrophils and macrocytic RBCs? -
ANSWERVitamin B12 or folate deficiency anemia
Which hormone is elevated in primary hyperaldosteronism? - ANSWERAldosterone
What pathophysiologic process underlies gout? - ANSWERUric acid crystal deposition in joints
Which electrolyte imbalance is characteristic of chronic alcohol use? - ANSWERHypomagnesemia
pg. 2
, NSG 5140 ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY – MIDTERM EXAM
| QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | VERIFIED LATEST UPDATE 2026
What is airway obstruction? - ANSWERA blockage that prevents airflow.
What causes impaired gas exchange in ARDS? - ANSWERAlveolar-capillary membrane damage.
What is hyperventilation? - ANSWERIncreased rate or depth of breathing.
What is bronchospasm? - ANSWERContraction of the smooth muscle in the airways.
What causes pulmonary edema in ARDS? - ANSWERInflammation and increased permeability.
Which laboratory finding is most consistent with hemolytic anemia? - ANSWERHigh reticulocyte count,
high LDH, indirect hyperbilirubinemia.
What primarily causes acute tubular necrosis (ATN)? - ANSWERIschemic or nephrotoxic injury to renal
tubular cells.
What distinguishes hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state (HHS) from DKA? - ANSWERSevere hyperglycemia
without significant ketosis.
What contributes most to the development of varicose veins? - ANSWERVenous valve incompetence
and venous hypertension.
What is the central mechanism in systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS)? - ANSWERExcessive
inflammatory cytokine release causing endothelial injury.
Which vitamin deficiency causes scurvy? - ANSWERVitamin C.
What mechanism is most responsible for edema in liver cirrhosis? - ANSWERPortal hypertension and
decreased albumin synthesis.
What electrolyte abnormality is most common in diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)? - ANSWERHyperkalemia.
What complication in chronic liver disease is caused by portal hypertension? - ANSWEREsophageal
varices.
Which type of shock is associated with massive blood loss? - ANSWERHypovolemic shock.
What process contributes to osteoporosis? - ANSWERIncreased osteoclast activity and decreased bone
formation.
What compensatory mechanism helps maintain cardiac output in heart failure? - ANSWERSympathetic
nervous system and RAAS activation.
What mechanism underlies congestive heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF)? -
ANSWERDiastolic dysfunction due to ventricular stiffness.
What electrolyte imbalance is most associated with acute renal failure? - ANSWERHyperkalemia.
What primarily leads to pulmonary edema in left-sided heart failure? - ANSWERElevated pulmonary
capillary hydrostatic pressure.
pg. 3
| QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | VERIFIED LATEST UPDATE 2026
What best describes the pathophysiology of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus? - ANSWERBeta-cell destruction in
the pancreas
What condition is indicated by polyuria, polydipsia, hyperglycemia, and positive ketones in urine? -
ANSWERDiabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)
What cellular mechanism contributes most to decreased contractility in heart failure with reduced
ejection fraction (HFrEF)? - ANSWERImpaired calcium handling in cardiomyocytes
Which type of shock is characterized by a severe systemic inflammatory response leading to vasodilation
and hypotension? - ANSWERDistributive (Septic)
What is the primary pathophysiologic mechanism in asthma? - ANSWERAirway inflammation and
hyperresponsiveness
Which lab finding is most consistent with hyperthyroidism? - ANSWERDecreased TSH, increased T3/T4
What is the hallmark of nephrotic syndrome? - ANSWERProteinuria >3.5 g/day, hypoalbuminemia,
edema
What contributes most to secondary hyperparathyroidism in chronic kidney disease (CKD)? -
ANSWERVitamin D deficiency and hyperphosphatemia
Which type of hypersensitivity reaction is mediated by IgE? - ANSWERType I
A patient with rheumatoid arthritis is at risk of which type of anemia? - ANSWERAnemia of chronic
disease
What mechanism is primarily responsible for edema in nephrotic syndrome? - ANSWERLoss of plasma
proteins and decreased oncotic pressure
Which neurotransmitter is most associated with the pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease? -
ANSWERDopamine
Which lab finding is characteristic of iron deficiency anemia? - ANSWERLow serum ferritin, low MCV
What pathophysiologic mechanism underlies atherosclerosis? - ANSWEREndothelial injury, lipid
accumulation, and inflammation
What primarily leads to ascites formation in cirrhosis? - ANSWERPortal hypertension and
hypoalbuminemia
What is the primary cause of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus? - ANSWERInsulin resistance with relative insulin
deficiency
Which electrolyte imbalance is most commonly associated with chronic kidney disease? -
ANSWERHyperkalemia
What pathophysiologic mechanism leads to air trapping in COPD? - ANSWERLoss of elastic recoil and
airway obstruction
pg. 1
,NSG 5140 ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY – MIDTERM EXAM
| QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | VERIFIED LATEST UPDATE 2026
What pathophysiologic process is responsible for the development of emphysema? - ANSWERProtease-
antiprotease imbalance causing alveolar wall destruction
What is the most common cause of secondary hypertension? - ANSWERChronic kidney disease
In systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), which mechanism leads to tissue damage? - ANSWERImmune
complex deposition
What is a hallmark of Crohn's disease? - ANSWERTransmural inflammation and skip lesions
Which mechanism is primarily responsible for hypercapnia in COPD? - ANSWERHypoventilation due to
airflow limitation
In acute pancreatitis, which enzyme contributes most to pancreatic tissue autodigestion? -
ANSWERTrypsin
Which electrolyte abnormality is most characteristic of Addison's disease? - ANSWERHyponatremia and
hyperkalemia
Which hormone is primarily deficient in central diabetes insipidus? - ANSWERAntidiuretic hormone
(ADH)
What mechanism is responsible for edema in heart failure? - ANSWERSodium and water retention due
to neurohormonal activation
Which lab abnormality is most consistent with acute pancreatitis? - ANSWERElevated amylase and lipase
What is the primary mechanism of tissue injury in myocardial infarction? - ANSWERIschemia due to
coronary artery occlusion
What is the hallmark of ulcerative colitis? - ANSWERContinuous mucosal inflammation starting in the
rectum
Which electrolyte disturbance is common in tumor lysis syndrome? - ANSWERHyperkalemia,
hyperphosphatemia, hyperuricemia
What best describes the pathophysiology of multiple sclerosis? - ANSWERAutoimmune demyelination in
CNS
What physiologic process underlies septic shock-induced organ dysfunction? - ANSWERMicrovascular
dysfunction and tissue hypoperfusion
Which type of anemia is characterized by hypersegmented neutrophils and macrocytic RBCs? -
ANSWERVitamin B12 or folate deficiency anemia
Which hormone is elevated in primary hyperaldosteronism? - ANSWERAldosterone
What pathophysiologic process underlies gout? - ANSWERUric acid crystal deposition in joints
Which electrolyte imbalance is characteristic of chronic alcohol use? - ANSWERHypomagnesemia
pg. 2
, NSG 5140 ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY – MIDTERM EXAM
| QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | VERIFIED LATEST UPDATE 2026
What is airway obstruction? - ANSWERA blockage that prevents airflow.
What causes impaired gas exchange in ARDS? - ANSWERAlveolar-capillary membrane damage.
What is hyperventilation? - ANSWERIncreased rate or depth of breathing.
What is bronchospasm? - ANSWERContraction of the smooth muscle in the airways.
What causes pulmonary edema in ARDS? - ANSWERInflammation and increased permeability.
Which laboratory finding is most consistent with hemolytic anemia? - ANSWERHigh reticulocyte count,
high LDH, indirect hyperbilirubinemia.
What primarily causes acute tubular necrosis (ATN)? - ANSWERIschemic or nephrotoxic injury to renal
tubular cells.
What distinguishes hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state (HHS) from DKA? - ANSWERSevere hyperglycemia
without significant ketosis.
What contributes most to the development of varicose veins? - ANSWERVenous valve incompetence
and venous hypertension.
What is the central mechanism in systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS)? - ANSWERExcessive
inflammatory cytokine release causing endothelial injury.
Which vitamin deficiency causes scurvy? - ANSWERVitamin C.
What mechanism is most responsible for edema in liver cirrhosis? - ANSWERPortal hypertension and
decreased albumin synthesis.
What electrolyte abnormality is most common in diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)? - ANSWERHyperkalemia.
What complication in chronic liver disease is caused by portal hypertension? - ANSWEREsophageal
varices.
Which type of shock is associated with massive blood loss? - ANSWERHypovolemic shock.
What process contributes to osteoporosis? - ANSWERIncreased osteoclast activity and decreased bone
formation.
What compensatory mechanism helps maintain cardiac output in heart failure? - ANSWERSympathetic
nervous system and RAAS activation.
What mechanism underlies congestive heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF)? -
ANSWERDiastolic dysfunction due to ventricular stiffness.
What electrolyte imbalance is most associated with acute renal failure? - ANSWERHyperkalemia.
What primarily leads to pulmonary edema in left-sided heart failure? - ANSWERElevated pulmonary
capillary hydrostatic pressure.
pg. 3
