1|Page
APEA PATHOPHYSIOLOGY EXAM REVIEW BANK
(MASTER 1 & 2) | {LATEST 2026/ 2027 UPDATE}
COMPLETE ACTUAL AND AUTHENTIC EXAM |
BRAND NEW!
A common cause of diastolic heart failure is:
myocarditis
myocardial infarction
dilated cardiomyopathy
hypertension ......ANSWER......Hypertension
long-term hypertension is a common cause of diastolic heart failure.
Diastolic dysfunction occurs when the filling of one or both ventricles is
impaired because the ventricle has become less compliant.
The heart must pump more forcefully in order to push blood into
circulation against increased vascular resistance.
Which type of angina results from coronary artery vasospasm and
occurs in atypical patterns?
Classic angina
Prinzmetal's angina
Unstable angina
Pleuritic chest pain ......ANSWER......Prinzmetal's angina
pg. 1
,2|Page
Results from coronary artery vasospasm and occurs in an atypical
pattern. It is usually at a single site. It can occur in a normal or disease
vessel. Pain is usually resolved with angina medication.
Classic (stable angina) occurs when the heart is stressed, lasts less than
5 minutes, and usually resolves with rest.
Unstable angina is considered a medical emergency because it lasts
longer than 5 minutes, does not follow the normal pain pattern, and
may not resolve with rest or angina medication. It is often associated or
signals a MI.
A patient who is in cardiogenic shock will present with:
a high cardiac index
decreased vascular resistance
increased ventricular ejection fraction
mixed venous oxygen saturation ......ANSWER......mixed venous oxygen
saturation
Patients will have a low cardiac index, elevated filling pressures of the
left, right, or both ventricles, and a decreased mixed venous oxygen
saturation.
With each heart beat, blood within the left and right ventricle is ejected
into the:
left atrium only
aorta and pulmonary artery
pg. 2
,3|Page
anterior descending artery
right coronary artery ......ANSWER......aorta and pulmonary artery
The primary cause of cardiogenic shock in a patient with an acute MI is:
failure of the ventricle to pump blood adequately
failure of the aortic valve to pump blood adequately
regurgitation of the tricuspid valve
regurgitation of the mitral valve ......ANSWER......failure of the ventricle
to pump adequately
Unstable angina is characterized by:
angina with prolonged activity
angina symptoms lasting >6 months.
increasing crescendo angina
angina with elevated cardiac markers ......ANSWER......increased
crescendo angina
unstable angina is characterized by prolonged angina at rest (usually
>20 minutes at rest), and increasing crescendo angina (now more
frequent & longer duration)
Which one of the following produces visible evidence of an underlying
problem with reverse venous flow?
pg. 3
, 4|Page
cellulitis
bruising
stasis dermatitis
varicose veins ......ANSWER......varicose veins
Which one of the following is NOT an assessment finding in a patient
who is experiencing shock?
low urine output
end-organ hyperperfusion
poor mentation
hypotension ......ANSWER......end-organ hyperperfusion
A progressive disease of heart muscle that is characterized by
ventricular chamber enlargement and contractile dysfunction is:
acute coronary syndrome
cardiac tamponade
dilated cardiomyopathy
thyrotoxicosis ......ANSWER......dilated cardiomyopathy
Patients with acute coronary syndrome may experience chest pain
secondary to:
arterial vasodilation
oxygen demand
pg. 4
APEA PATHOPHYSIOLOGY EXAM REVIEW BANK
(MASTER 1 & 2) | {LATEST 2026/ 2027 UPDATE}
COMPLETE ACTUAL AND AUTHENTIC EXAM |
BRAND NEW!
A common cause of diastolic heart failure is:
myocarditis
myocardial infarction
dilated cardiomyopathy
hypertension ......ANSWER......Hypertension
long-term hypertension is a common cause of diastolic heart failure.
Diastolic dysfunction occurs when the filling of one or both ventricles is
impaired because the ventricle has become less compliant.
The heart must pump more forcefully in order to push blood into
circulation against increased vascular resistance.
Which type of angina results from coronary artery vasospasm and
occurs in atypical patterns?
Classic angina
Prinzmetal's angina
Unstable angina
Pleuritic chest pain ......ANSWER......Prinzmetal's angina
pg. 1
,2|Page
Results from coronary artery vasospasm and occurs in an atypical
pattern. It is usually at a single site. It can occur in a normal or disease
vessel. Pain is usually resolved with angina medication.
Classic (stable angina) occurs when the heart is stressed, lasts less than
5 minutes, and usually resolves with rest.
Unstable angina is considered a medical emergency because it lasts
longer than 5 minutes, does not follow the normal pain pattern, and
may not resolve with rest or angina medication. It is often associated or
signals a MI.
A patient who is in cardiogenic shock will present with:
a high cardiac index
decreased vascular resistance
increased ventricular ejection fraction
mixed venous oxygen saturation ......ANSWER......mixed venous oxygen
saturation
Patients will have a low cardiac index, elevated filling pressures of the
left, right, or both ventricles, and a decreased mixed venous oxygen
saturation.
With each heart beat, blood within the left and right ventricle is ejected
into the:
left atrium only
aorta and pulmonary artery
pg. 2
,3|Page
anterior descending artery
right coronary artery ......ANSWER......aorta and pulmonary artery
The primary cause of cardiogenic shock in a patient with an acute MI is:
failure of the ventricle to pump blood adequately
failure of the aortic valve to pump blood adequately
regurgitation of the tricuspid valve
regurgitation of the mitral valve ......ANSWER......failure of the ventricle
to pump adequately
Unstable angina is characterized by:
angina with prolonged activity
angina symptoms lasting >6 months.
increasing crescendo angina
angina with elevated cardiac markers ......ANSWER......increased
crescendo angina
unstable angina is characterized by prolonged angina at rest (usually
>20 minutes at rest), and increasing crescendo angina (now more
frequent & longer duration)
Which one of the following produces visible evidence of an underlying
problem with reverse venous flow?
pg. 3
, 4|Page
cellulitis
bruising
stasis dermatitis
varicose veins ......ANSWER......varicose veins
Which one of the following is NOT an assessment finding in a patient
who is experiencing shock?
low urine output
end-organ hyperperfusion
poor mentation
hypotension ......ANSWER......end-organ hyperperfusion
A progressive disease of heart muscle that is characterized by
ventricular chamber enlargement and contractile dysfunction is:
acute coronary syndrome
cardiac tamponade
dilated cardiomyopathy
thyrotoxicosis ......ANSWER......dilated cardiomyopathy
Patients with acute coronary syndrome may experience chest pain
secondary to:
arterial vasodilation
oxygen demand
pg. 4
