Page 1 of 73
20 May 2026
APEA Pathophysiology EXAM 2026/2027 AND
PRACTICE EXAM TESTBANK | ACCURATE AND
VERIFIED 350 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FOR
GUARANTEED PASS | LATEST UPDATE
Which of the following statements accurately describes the primary physiologic effect of
emphysema?
Airway constriction and hyperresponsiveness of the bronchi
Hyperplasia and thickening of the brachial wall lining
Impedance of airflow due to bronchiole inflammation
Air trapping and loss of elastic recoil in the lungs - CORRECT ANSWER-Air trapping and loss of
elastic recoil in the lungs
Emphysema is a lung disease characterized by enlargement of the alveolar ducts and air spaces distal
to the terminal bronchioles. The mechanism by which alveolar walls are destroyed is incompletely
understood, but results in air trapping and loss of elastic recoil of the lungs.
Cystic fibrosis is:
autosomal recessive.
autosomal dominant.
caused by complex inheritance.
caused by X-linked recessive inheritance. - CORRECT ANSWER-autosomal recessive.
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal-recessive disease of exocrine gland function involving multiple
organs and characterized by chronic respiratory infections, pancreatic enzyme insufficiency, elevated
chloride concentration in sweat, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
A hallmark assessment finding in a patient with moderate to severe croup is:
rhinorrhea.
sore throat.
stridor.
wheezing. - CORRECT ANSWER-stridor.
An acute onset of marked inspiratory stridor is the hallmark of moderate to severe croup.
Patients with mild croup do not present with stridor at rest. However, depending on the timing
within the respiratory cycle, stridor in a patient with croup can be heard on inspiration, expiration,
or both (biphasic).
Inspiratory stridor suggests a laryngeal obstruction, whereas expiratory stridor suggests
tracheobronchial obstruction. Biphasic stridor indicates either a subglottic or glottic anomaly.
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20 May 2026
The system that tries to compensate for acute respiratory acidosis is:
the cardiac system.
the renal system.
the gastrointestinal system.
the hepatic system. - CORRECT ANSWER-the renal system.
With renal compensation, renal excretion of carbonic acid is increased, and bicarbonate
reabsorption is increased.
The presence of air or gas in the intrapleural cavity is called:
pneumonia.
atelectasis.
pleurodynia.
pneumothorax. - CORRECT ANSWER-pneumothorax.
An incentive spirometer is used to determine:
forced expiratory volume in 1 second.
peak expiratory flow.
forced vital capacity.
partial pressure of oxygen. - CORRECT ANSWER-peak expiratory flow.
A lung disease characterized by enlargement of the alveolar ducts and air spaces distal to the
terminal bronchioles is:
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
emphysema.
cystic fibrosis.
asthma. - CORRECT ANSWER-emphysema.
The mechanism by which alveolar walls are destroyed results in the trapping of air and loss of elastic
recoil in the lungs.
A finding NOT associated with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection is:
regeneration of epithelial cells lining the alveoli.
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20 May 2026
infiltration of monocytes and T cells on bronchial arterioles.
penetration of neutrophils between the vascular structures.
proliferation of the bronchiolar epithelium. - CORRECT ANSWER-regeneration of epithelial cells
lining the alveoli.
Atelectasis is defined as:
diminished volume in all or a portion of a lung.
bronchial spasms.
chronic obstruction of airflow in the lungs.
bacterial lung inflammation. - CORRECT ANSWER-diminished volume in all or a portion of a lung.
A highly contagious acute respiratory illness characterized by paroxysmal cough is:
respiratory syncytial virus.
pertussis.
bronchitis.
influenza. - CORRECT ANSWER-pertussis.
The mechanism that prevents the collapse of alveoli by maintaining surface tension is:
frequent coughing.
shallow breathing.
surfactant.
carbon dioxide exchange. - CORRECT ANSWER-surfactant.
In the United States, the leading cause of mortality in infants younger than 1 year is:
respiratory syncytial virus.
drowning.
motor vehicle crashes.
sudden unexplained infant death. - CORRECT ANSWER-sudden unexplained infant death.
Sudden unexplained infant death (SUID) is the leading cause of mortality in U.S. infants prior to age 1
year. An exact cause has not been identified. Respiratory control abnormality and deficiency in
asphyxial arousal are possible contributors.
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20 May 2026
Inspiratory stridor with croup suggests narrowing of the:
bronchioles.
supraglottis.
larynx.
pharynx. - CORRECT ANSWER-larynx.
Inspiratory stridor suggests a laryngeal obstruction, whereas expiratory stridor suggests
tracheobronchial obstruction. Biphasic stridor indicates a subglottic or glottic anomaly.
Respiratory alkalosis is most commonly caused by:
hyperventilation.
expiratory wheezing.
bradypnea.
chemical exposure. - CORRECT ANSWER-hyperventilation.
Respiratory alkalosis is a primary decrease in pCO2 (hypocapnia) due to an increase in respiratory
rate and/or volume (hyperventilation).
An Infection of the tracheobronchial tree that causes reversible bronchial inflammation is:
upper respiratory disease.
bronchitis.
tuberculosis.
pneumonia. - CORRECT ANSWER-bronchitis.
Bronchitis develops when mucous membranes in the tracheobronchial tree become hyperemic and
edematous. This increases bronchial secretions and causes destruction of epithelium-impaired
mucociliary activity. In most cases, the infection has a nonbacterial cause. Viral illness is frequently
associated with this lower respiratory tract disease.
What is the most common virus associated with bronchiolitis?
Coxsackie virus
Influenza B
Respiratory syncytial virus
Enterovirus - CORRECT ANSWER-Respiratory syncytial virus
20 May 2026
APEA Pathophysiology EXAM 2026/2027 AND
PRACTICE EXAM TESTBANK | ACCURATE AND
VERIFIED 350 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FOR
GUARANTEED PASS | LATEST UPDATE
Which of the following statements accurately describes the primary physiologic effect of
emphysema?
Airway constriction and hyperresponsiveness of the bronchi
Hyperplasia and thickening of the brachial wall lining
Impedance of airflow due to bronchiole inflammation
Air trapping and loss of elastic recoil in the lungs - CORRECT ANSWER-Air trapping and loss of
elastic recoil in the lungs
Emphysema is a lung disease characterized by enlargement of the alveolar ducts and air spaces distal
to the terminal bronchioles. The mechanism by which alveolar walls are destroyed is incompletely
understood, but results in air trapping and loss of elastic recoil of the lungs.
Cystic fibrosis is:
autosomal recessive.
autosomal dominant.
caused by complex inheritance.
caused by X-linked recessive inheritance. - CORRECT ANSWER-autosomal recessive.
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal-recessive disease of exocrine gland function involving multiple
organs and characterized by chronic respiratory infections, pancreatic enzyme insufficiency, elevated
chloride concentration in sweat, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
A hallmark assessment finding in a patient with moderate to severe croup is:
rhinorrhea.
sore throat.
stridor.
wheezing. - CORRECT ANSWER-stridor.
An acute onset of marked inspiratory stridor is the hallmark of moderate to severe croup.
Patients with mild croup do not present with stridor at rest. However, depending on the timing
within the respiratory cycle, stridor in a patient with croup can be heard on inspiration, expiration,
or both (biphasic).
Inspiratory stridor suggests a laryngeal obstruction, whereas expiratory stridor suggests
tracheobronchial obstruction. Biphasic stridor indicates either a subglottic or glottic anomaly.
, Page 2 of 73
20 May 2026
The system that tries to compensate for acute respiratory acidosis is:
the cardiac system.
the renal system.
the gastrointestinal system.
the hepatic system. - CORRECT ANSWER-the renal system.
With renal compensation, renal excretion of carbonic acid is increased, and bicarbonate
reabsorption is increased.
The presence of air or gas in the intrapleural cavity is called:
pneumonia.
atelectasis.
pleurodynia.
pneumothorax. - CORRECT ANSWER-pneumothorax.
An incentive spirometer is used to determine:
forced expiratory volume in 1 second.
peak expiratory flow.
forced vital capacity.
partial pressure of oxygen. - CORRECT ANSWER-peak expiratory flow.
A lung disease characterized by enlargement of the alveolar ducts and air spaces distal to the
terminal bronchioles is:
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
emphysema.
cystic fibrosis.
asthma. - CORRECT ANSWER-emphysema.
The mechanism by which alveolar walls are destroyed results in the trapping of air and loss of elastic
recoil in the lungs.
A finding NOT associated with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection is:
regeneration of epithelial cells lining the alveoli.
, Page 3 of 73
20 May 2026
infiltration of monocytes and T cells on bronchial arterioles.
penetration of neutrophils between the vascular structures.
proliferation of the bronchiolar epithelium. - CORRECT ANSWER-regeneration of epithelial cells
lining the alveoli.
Atelectasis is defined as:
diminished volume in all or a portion of a lung.
bronchial spasms.
chronic obstruction of airflow in the lungs.
bacterial lung inflammation. - CORRECT ANSWER-diminished volume in all or a portion of a lung.
A highly contagious acute respiratory illness characterized by paroxysmal cough is:
respiratory syncytial virus.
pertussis.
bronchitis.
influenza. - CORRECT ANSWER-pertussis.
The mechanism that prevents the collapse of alveoli by maintaining surface tension is:
frequent coughing.
shallow breathing.
surfactant.
carbon dioxide exchange. - CORRECT ANSWER-surfactant.
In the United States, the leading cause of mortality in infants younger than 1 year is:
respiratory syncytial virus.
drowning.
motor vehicle crashes.
sudden unexplained infant death. - CORRECT ANSWER-sudden unexplained infant death.
Sudden unexplained infant death (SUID) is the leading cause of mortality in U.S. infants prior to age 1
year. An exact cause has not been identified. Respiratory control abnormality and deficiency in
asphyxial arousal are possible contributors.
, Page 4 of 73
20 May 2026
Inspiratory stridor with croup suggests narrowing of the:
bronchioles.
supraglottis.
larynx.
pharynx. - CORRECT ANSWER-larynx.
Inspiratory stridor suggests a laryngeal obstruction, whereas expiratory stridor suggests
tracheobronchial obstruction. Biphasic stridor indicates a subglottic or glottic anomaly.
Respiratory alkalosis is most commonly caused by:
hyperventilation.
expiratory wheezing.
bradypnea.
chemical exposure. - CORRECT ANSWER-hyperventilation.
Respiratory alkalosis is a primary decrease in pCO2 (hypocapnia) due to an increase in respiratory
rate and/or volume (hyperventilation).
An Infection of the tracheobronchial tree that causes reversible bronchial inflammation is:
upper respiratory disease.
bronchitis.
tuberculosis.
pneumonia. - CORRECT ANSWER-bronchitis.
Bronchitis develops when mucous membranes in the tracheobronchial tree become hyperemic and
edematous. This increases bronchial secretions and causes destruction of epithelium-impaired
mucociliary activity. In most cases, the infection has a nonbacterial cause. Viral illness is frequently
associated with this lower respiratory tract disease.
What is the most common virus associated with bronchiolitis?
Coxsackie virus
Influenza B
Respiratory syncytial virus
Enterovirus - CORRECT ANSWER-Respiratory syncytial virus
