NR 283 Pathophysiology Exam 1 (Latest
2026/2027 Update) Questions and Verified
Answers | 100% Correct | Grade A
This NR 283 Pathophysiology Exam 1 covers foundational concepts of altered health
states, primarily focusing on cellular biology, fluid and electrolyte imbalances, acid-base balance,
inflammation, and immunity. This 76 practice questions tests your ability to apply these
concepts to clinical scenarios and nursing interventions.
Key Concepts on Exam 1
• Cellular Adaptation: Atrophy, hypertrophy, hyperplasia, metaplasia, and dysplasia.
• Cell Injury: Hypoxia, ischemia, free radicals, and apoptosis.
• Fluid & Electrolytes: Distribution of body water, hyponatremia, hypernatremia,
hyperkalemia, and hypokalemia.
• Acid-Base Balance: Interpreting ABGs (respiratory/metabolic acidosis and alkalosis).
• Inflammation & Healing: Cardinal signs of inflammation, acute vs. chronic, and stages
of tissue repair.
• Immunity: Hypersensitivity reactions and autoimmune disorders.
Top Practice Question Themes
1. Fluid Compartments: Understanding intracellular vs. extracellular fluid shifts and the
role of the hypothalamus and antidiuretic hormone (ADH).
2. Edema: Identifying the causes of localized and systemic edema, such as increased
capillary hydrostatic pressure and decreased plasma proteins.
3. Electrolyte Imbalances: Recognizing the cardiac effects of potassium imbalances and
neurological effects of sodium imbalances.
4. Inflammatory Response: Differentiating the roles of histamine, prostaglandins, and
leukocytes during an acute injury.
5. Lab Values: Interpreting normal ranges for complete blood counts (CBC), basic
metabolic panels (BMP), and arterial blood gases (ABGs).
1
,Q1. Which statement correctly describes autosomal dominant disorders? [Multiple
Choice]
A) Only takes one gene for disease to show. There are no carriers, either have disease
or don't.
B) Has to have two recessive genes to have disease, only one recessive gene to be carrier
C) New growth, commonly a tumor. May be malignant or benign
D) Disorder carried on the x chromosome
Answer: Only takes one gene for disease to show. There are no carriers, either have
disease or don't.
Explanation: Autosomal dominant disorders require only a single copy of the altered gene for the
disease to be expressed; therefore, individuals either have the disease or they do not, and the
concept of 'carrier' (healthy person carrying a recessive gene) does not apply. The autosomal
recessive pattern requires two recessive genes and does have carriers. X‑linked disorders are
carried on the X chromosome and follow a different inheritance pattern. Neoplasia is new growth
(tumor) and unrelated to inheritance patterns described here.
Q2. Which term denotes a deficit of oxygen in the cells? [Multiple Choice]
A) Ischemia
B) Hypoxia
C) Etiology
D) Iatrogenic
Answer: Ischemia
Explanation: Ischemia specifically means a deficit of oxygen in the cells, usually due to reduced
blood flow that deprives the cells of oxygen and nutrients. Hypoxia describes reduced oxygen in
tissues more generally but ischemia emphasizes the cellular oxygen deficit often caused by
inadequate perfusion. Iatrogenic denotes disease caused by medical care, not a shortage of
oxygen. Etiology names a cause in general, not specifically an oxygen deficit at the cellular level.
Q3. Which label is used when an illness occurs because a medical process was
done (for example, CAUTI)? [Multiple Choice]
A) Pathogenesis
B) Etiology
2
, C) Ischemia
D) Iatrogenic
Answer: Iatrogenic
Explanation: Iatrogenic refers to an illness or disease process that results from a medical
procedure or treatment (for example, a catheter-associated urinary tract infection). Pathogenesis
describes how a disease develops over time, not causation by medical care. Etiology is the
general cause of disease at a microscopic level, not specifically caused by medical intervention.
Ischemia is a lack of oxygen in cells and unrelated to whether a medical action caused the
disease.
Q4. Which disorder is an autosomal recessive condition that causes an inability
to metabolize phenylalanine and requires a very low‑protein diet? [Multiple Choice]
A) Tay-Sachs
B) Marfan syndrome
C) PKU (phenylketonuria)
D) Cystic fibrosis
Answer: PKU (phenylketonuria)
Explanation: Phenylketonuria (PKU) is an autosomal recessive disorder that prevents normal
metabolism of phenylalanine; affected patients require a very low‑protein diet to avoid
accumulation that can cause intellectual disability. Cystic fibrosis causes thick mucus rather than
a metabolic block of phenylalanine. Tay-Sachs involves enzyme deficiency causing fatty buildup in
nerve cells, not phenylalanine metabolism. Marfan syndrome is autosomal dominant and affects
connective tissue (long extremities and heart defects), not amino acid metabolism.
Q5. Explain why a person with a single recessive gene is a carrier but usually not
affected in autosomal recessive disorders, and what genetic combination causes
the disease. [Short Answer]
Answer: Autosomal recessive disorders require two recessive alleles for the disease to
appear; an individual with only one recessive allele and one normal allele is a carrier
who typically does not show the disease, while inheriting two recessive alleles (one from
each parent) produces the disorder.
Explanation: A complete answer states that two recessive genes are needed for expression and
explains the carrier state: one recessive plus one normal allele leaves the person unaffected but
able to pass the recessive allele to offspring. This explains how inheritance determines whether
someone is affected or only a carrier.
3
2026/2027 Update) Questions and Verified
Answers | 100% Correct | Grade A
This NR 283 Pathophysiology Exam 1 covers foundational concepts of altered health
states, primarily focusing on cellular biology, fluid and electrolyte imbalances, acid-base balance,
inflammation, and immunity. This 76 practice questions tests your ability to apply these
concepts to clinical scenarios and nursing interventions.
Key Concepts on Exam 1
• Cellular Adaptation: Atrophy, hypertrophy, hyperplasia, metaplasia, and dysplasia.
• Cell Injury: Hypoxia, ischemia, free radicals, and apoptosis.
• Fluid & Electrolytes: Distribution of body water, hyponatremia, hypernatremia,
hyperkalemia, and hypokalemia.
• Acid-Base Balance: Interpreting ABGs (respiratory/metabolic acidosis and alkalosis).
• Inflammation & Healing: Cardinal signs of inflammation, acute vs. chronic, and stages
of tissue repair.
• Immunity: Hypersensitivity reactions and autoimmune disorders.
Top Practice Question Themes
1. Fluid Compartments: Understanding intracellular vs. extracellular fluid shifts and the
role of the hypothalamus and antidiuretic hormone (ADH).
2. Edema: Identifying the causes of localized and systemic edema, such as increased
capillary hydrostatic pressure and decreased plasma proteins.
3. Electrolyte Imbalances: Recognizing the cardiac effects of potassium imbalances and
neurological effects of sodium imbalances.
4. Inflammatory Response: Differentiating the roles of histamine, prostaglandins, and
leukocytes during an acute injury.
5. Lab Values: Interpreting normal ranges for complete blood counts (CBC), basic
metabolic panels (BMP), and arterial blood gases (ABGs).
1
,Q1. Which statement correctly describes autosomal dominant disorders? [Multiple
Choice]
A) Only takes one gene for disease to show. There are no carriers, either have disease
or don't.
B) Has to have two recessive genes to have disease, only one recessive gene to be carrier
C) New growth, commonly a tumor. May be malignant or benign
D) Disorder carried on the x chromosome
Answer: Only takes one gene for disease to show. There are no carriers, either have
disease or don't.
Explanation: Autosomal dominant disorders require only a single copy of the altered gene for the
disease to be expressed; therefore, individuals either have the disease or they do not, and the
concept of 'carrier' (healthy person carrying a recessive gene) does not apply. The autosomal
recessive pattern requires two recessive genes and does have carriers. X‑linked disorders are
carried on the X chromosome and follow a different inheritance pattern. Neoplasia is new growth
(tumor) and unrelated to inheritance patterns described here.
Q2. Which term denotes a deficit of oxygen in the cells? [Multiple Choice]
A) Ischemia
B) Hypoxia
C) Etiology
D) Iatrogenic
Answer: Ischemia
Explanation: Ischemia specifically means a deficit of oxygen in the cells, usually due to reduced
blood flow that deprives the cells of oxygen and nutrients. Hypoxia describes reduced oxygen in
tissues more generally but ischemia emphasizes the cellular oxygen deficit often caused by
inadequate perfusion. Iatrogenic denotes disease caused by medical care, not a shortage of
oxygen. Etiology names a cause in general, not specifically an oxygen deficit at the cellular level.
Q3. Which label is used when an illness occurs because a medical process was
done (for example, CAUTI)? [Multiple Choice]
A) Pathogenesis
B) Etiology
2
, C) Ischemia
D) Iatrogenic
Answer: Iatrogenic
Explanation: Iatrogenic refers to an illness or disease process that results from a medical
procedure or treatment (for example, a catheter-associated urinary tract infection). Pathogenesis
describes how a disease develops over time, not causation by medical care. Etiology is the
general cause of disease at a microscopic level, not specifically caused by medical intervention.
Ischemia is a lack of oxygen in cells and unrelated to whether a medical action caused the
disease.
Q4. Which disorder is an autosomal recessive condition that causes an inability
to metabolize phenylalanine and requires a very low‑protein diet? [Multiple Choice]
A) Tay-Sachs
B) Marfan syndrome
C) PKU (phenylketonuria)
D) Cystic fibrosis
Answer: PKU (phenylketonuria)
Explanation: Phenylketonuria (PKU) is an autosomal recessive disorder that prevents normal
metabolism of phenylalanine; affected patients require a very low‑protein diet to avoid
accumulation that can cause intellectual disability. Cystic fibrosis causes thick mucus rather than
a metabolic block of phenylalanine. Tay-Sachs involves enzyme deficiency causing fatty buildup in
nerve cells, not phenylalanine metabolism. Marfan syndrome is autosomal dominant and affects
connective tissue (long extremities and heart defects), not amino acid metabolism.
Q5. Explain why a person with a single recessive gene is a carrier but usually not
affected in autosomal recessive disorders, and what genetic combination causes
the disease. [Short Answer]
Answer: Autosomal recessive disorders require two recessive alleles for the disease to
appear; an individual with only one recessive allele and one normal allele is a carrier
who typically does not show the disease, while inheriting two recessive alleles (one from
each parent) produces the disorder.
Explanation: A complete answer states that two recessive genes are needed for expression and
explains the carrier state: one recessive plus one normal allele leaves the person unaffected but
able to pass the recessive allele to offspring. This explains how inheritance determines whether
someone is affected or only a carrier.
3
