1
NURS 6501 Advanced Pathophysiology Walden
University Midterm Exam 2026/2027 Actual Exam |
120 Questions with Verified Answers | Pass
Guaranteed - A+ Graded
Section 1: Cellular Biology and Genetics (15 Questions)
Q1
A patient has a tumor that destroys the cells of the adrenal medulla. As a result, you would expect
a decrease in which of the following responses?
A. Fight-or-flight response [CORRECT]
B. Rest-and-digest response
C. Long-term stress response via cortisol
D. Blood glucose regulation via insulin
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The adrenal medulla secretes epinephrine and norepinephrine, which are responsible
for the fight-or-flight response. Option B is mediated by the parasympathetic nervous system.
Option C involves the adrenal cortex. Option D involves the pancreas.
Q2
A 72-year-old patient with osteoporosis fractures their femoral neck after a fall from standing
height. This type of fracture is classified as:
A. Pathologic fracture [CORRECT]
B. Stress fracture
C. Greenstick fracture
D. Comminuted fracture
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A pathologic fracture occurs when a bone breaks in an area weakened by disease
(e.g., osteoporosis, cancer). Option B results from repetitive microtrauma. Option C is an
incomplete fracture in children. Option D involves bone shattered into multiple fragments.
,2
Q3
A patient with chronic alcohol abuse presents with jaundice, ascites, and hepatic encephalopathy.
Which of the following is the most likely underlying pathophysiological process?
A. Hepatic steatosis
B. Cirrhosis [CORRECT]
C. Cholecystitis
D. Pancreatitis
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Cirrhosis is characterized by fibrosis and nodule formation, leading to liver
dysfunction, portal hypertension, jaundice, ascites, and hepatic encephalopathy. Option A is
reversible fatty liver. Options C and D are unrelated to these symptoms.
Q4
A patient with a family history of colon cancer is diagnosed with familial adenomatous polyposis
(FAP). This condition is caused by a mutation in which gene?
A. BRCA1
B. APC [CORRECT]
C. CFTR
D. RB1
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: FAP is caused by mutations in the APC gene, leading to numerous colorectal polyps
and increased cancer risk. Options A, C, and D are associated with breast cancer, cystic fibrosis,
and retinoblastoma, respectively.
Q5
A patient with a history of smoking develops squamous cell carcinoma of the lung. Which of the
following genetic alterations is most commonly associated with this type of cancer?
A. BRAF mutation
B. EGFR mutation
,3
C. TP53 mutation [CORRECT]
D. HER2 amplification
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: TP53 mutations are commonly associated with smoking-related lung cancers,
including squamous cell carcinoma. Options A and B are more common in non-smokers. Option
D is associated with breast cancer.
Q6
A patient presents with muscle weakness, fatigue, and dark urine. Lab tests reveal elevated
creatine kinase (CK) and myoglobinuria. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?
A. Rhabdomyolysis [CORRECT]
B. Myasthenia gravis
C. Muscular dystrophy
D. Polymyositis
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Rhabdomyolysis is characterized by muscle breakdown, elevated CK, and
myoglobinuria, leading to dark urine. Options B, C, and D have different clinical presentations
and lab findings.
Q7
A patient with a history of sun exposure develops multiple basal cell carcinomas. Which of the
following cellular pathways is most commonly mutated in this cancer?
A. Wnt signaling
B. Hedgehog signaling [CORRECT]
C. Notch signaling
D. TGF-beta signaling
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Hedgehog signaling pathway is frequently mutated in basal cell carcinoma,
especially in sun-exposed areas. Options A, C, and D are less commonly associated with BCC.
, 4
Q8
A patient with a genetic disorder presents with tall stature, long limbs, and joint hypermobility.
Which of the following conditions is most likely?
A. Marfan syndrome [CORRECT]
B. Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
C. Osteogenesis imperfecta
D. Achondroplasia
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Marfan syndrome is characterized by tall stature, long limbs, joint hypermobility, and
cardiovascular abnormalities. Options B, C, and D have different clinical features.
Q9
A patient with a history of breast cancer is found to have a BRCA1 mutation. Which of the
following cancer risks is increased in this patient?
A. Ovarian cancer [CORRECT]
B. Lung cancer
C. Prostate cancer
D. Thyroid cancer
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: BRCA1 mutations significantly increase the risk of ovarian cancer, as well as breast
cancer. Options B, C, and D are not strongly associated with BRCA1.
Q10
A patient presents with fatigue, weight loss, and night sweats. Lab tests reveal leukocytosis with
a left shift. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?
A. Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) [CORRECT]
B. Iron deficiency anemia
C. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)
D. Polycythemia vera
NURS 6501 Advanced Pathophysiology Walden
University Midterm Exam 2026/2027 Actual Exam |
120 Questions with Verified Answers | Pass
Guaranteed - A+ Graded
Section 1: Cellular Biology and Genetics (15 Questions)
Q1
A patient has a tumor that destroys the cells of the adrenal medulla. As a result, you would expect
a decrease in which of the following responses?
A. Fight-or-flight response [CORRECT]
B. Rest-and-digest response
C. Long-term stress response via cortisol
D. Blood glucose regulation via insulin
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The adrenal medulla secretes epinephrine and norepinephrine, which are responsible
for the fight-or-flight response. Option B is mediated by the parasympathetic nervous system.
Option C involves the adrenal cortex. Option D involves the pancreas.
Q2
A 72-year-old patient with osteoporosis fractures their femoral neck after a fall from standing
height. This type of fracture is classified as:
A. Pathologic fracture [CORRECT]
B. Stress fracture
C. Greenstick fracture
D. Comminuted fracture
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A pathologic fracture occurs when a bone breaks in an area weakened by disease
(e.g., osteoporosis, cancer). Option B results from repetitive microtrauma. Option C is an
incomplete fracture in children. Option D involves bone shattered into multiple fragments.
,2
Q3
A patient with chronic alcohol abuse presents with jaundice, ascites, and hepatic encephalopathy.
Which of the following is the most likely underlying pathophysiological process?
A. Hepatic steatosis
B. Cirrhosis [CORRECT]
C. Cholecystitis
D. Pancreatitis
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Cirrhosis is characterized by fibrosis and nodule formation, leading to liver
dysfunction, portal hypertension, jaundice, ascites, and hepatic encephalopathy. Option A is
reversible fatty liver. Options C and D are unrelated to these symptoms.
Q4
A patient with a family history of colon cancer is diagnosed with familial adenomatous polyposis
(FAP). This condition is caused by a mutation in which gene?
A. BRCA1
B. APC [CORRECT]
C. CFTR
D. RB1
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: FAP is caused by mutations in the APC gene, leading to numerous colorectal polyps
and increased cancer risk. Options A, C, and D are associated with breast cancer, cystic fibrosis,
and retinoblastoma, respectively.
Q5
A patient with a history of smoking develops squamous cell carcinoma of the lung. Which of the
following genetic alterations is most commonly associated with this type of cancer?
A. BRAF mutation
B. EGFR mutation
,3
C. TP53 mutation [CORRECT]
D. HER2 amplification
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: TP53 mutations are commonly associated with smoking-related lung cancers,
including squamous cell carcinoma. Options A and B are more common in non-smokers. Option
D is associated with breast cancer.
Q6
A patient presents with muscle weakness, fatigue, and dark urine. Lab tests reveal elevated
creatine kinase (CK) and myoglobinuria. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?
A. Rhabdomyolysis [CORRECT]
B. Myasthenia gravis
C. Muscular dystrophy
D. Polymyositis
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Rhabdomyolysis is characterized by muscle breakdown, elevated CK, and
myoglobinuria, leading to dark urine. Options B, C, and D have different clinical presentations
and lab findings.
Q7
A patient with a history of sun exposure develops multiple basal cell carcinomas. Which of the
following cellular pathways is most commonly mutated in this cancer?
A. Wnt signaling
B. Hedgehog signaling [CORRECT]
C. Notch signaling
D. TGF-beta signaling
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Hedgehog signaling pathway is frequently mutated in basal cell carcinoma,
especially in sun-exposed areas. Options A, C, and D are less commonly associated with BCC.
, 4
Q8
A patient with a genetic disorder presents with tall stature, long limbs, and joint hypermobility.
Which of the following conditions is most likely?
A. Marfan syndrome [CORRECT]
B. Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
C. Osteogenesis imperfecta
D. Achondroplasia
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Marfan syndrome is characterized by tall stature, long limbs, joint hypermobility, and
cardiovascular abnormalities. Options B, C, and D have different clinical features.
Q9
A patient with a history of breast cancer is found to have a BRCA1 mutation. Which of the
following cancer risks is increased in this patient?
A. Ovarian cancer [CORRECT]
B. Lung cancer
C. Prostate cancer
D. Thyroid cancer
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: BRCA1 mutations significantly increase the risk of ovarian cancer, as well as breast
cancer. Options B, C, and D are not strongly associated with BRCA1.
Q10
A patient presents with fatigue, weight loss, and night sweats. Lab tests reveal leukocytosis with
a left shift. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?
A. Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) [CORRECT]
B. Iron deficiency anemia
C. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)
D. Polycythemia vera
