NUR-631 Final Exam: Advanced
Pathophysiology Study Guide:
UPDATED ACTUAL Exam
Questions and CORRECT Answers -
GCU
This NUR-631 Final Exam: 195 Practice Questions & Answers study guide is an
essential, comprehensive resource for nursing students mastering advanced pathophysiology. It
features 195 exam-style questions with accurate, verified answers to help you prepare
effectively, avoid exam anxiety, and secure a top grade.
Key Features
• Targeted Content: Focuses on the core concepts of Advanced Physiology and
Pathophysiology for Grand Canyon University (GCU).
• Massive Question Bank: 195 meticulously curated practice questions and test items.
• Detailed Answer Key: Clear, verified responses to help you grasp medical conditions.
Core Topics Covered
• Cellular Biology: Apoptosis, cell injury, and gene regulation.
• Immunology: Innate vs. active acquired immunity, immunoglobulins, and
hypersensitivity.
• Pathological Conditions: Heart failure, COPD, cirrhosis, glomerulonephritis, and
genetic disorders (e.g., Down syndrome, cystic fibrosis).
Why Students should Use This Resource
• Ideal for Cramming & Review: Great for last-minute review or ongoing exam prep.
• Reduces Test Anxiety: Familiarizes you with the exact formats and clinical scenarios
tested on the final exam.
• Boosts Clinical Judgment: Improves your ability to apply pathophysiological concepts
to patient assessments and care plans
1
, Quiz_________________?
A patient is diagnosed with pulmonary disease and elevated pulmonary vascular
resistance. Which of the following heart failures may result from this condition?
a. Right heart failure
b. Left heart failure
c. Low-output failure
d. High-output failure -
Answer
a. Right heart failure
Exp: Right heart failure is defined as the inability of the right ventricle to provide
adequate blood flow into the pulmonary circulation at a normal central venous
pressure. It most often results from the left heart failure when the increase in left
ventricular filling pressure that is reflected back into the pulmonary circulation is
severe enough. As pressure in the pulmonary circulation rises, the resistance to
right ventricular emptying increases.
Quiz_________________?
What physical sign is the result of turbulent blood flow through a vessel?
a. Increased blood pressure during periods of stress
b. Bounding pulse felt on palpation
c. Cyanosis observed on excretion
d. Murmur heard on auscultation -
Answer
d. Murmur heard on auscultation
2
,Exp: Where flow is obstructed the vessel turns or blood flows over rough
surfaces. The flow becomes turbulent with whorls or eddy currents that produce
noise causing a murmur to be heard on auscultation such as occurs during blood
pressure measurement with a sphygomanometer. This selection is the only option
that accurately identifies the physical sign of turbulent vascular blood flow. pg
1113
Quiz_________________?
Which congenital heart defects occur in trisomy 13, trisomy 18 and down
syndrome?
a. Coarctation of the aorta and pulmonary stenosis
b. Tetralogy of Fallot and persistent truncus arteriosus
c. Atrial septal defect and dextrocardia
d. Ventricular septal defect and patent ductus arteriosus -
Answer
d. Ventricular septal defect and patent ductus arteriosus
Exp: Congenital heart defects that are related to dysfunction of trisomy 13,
trisomy 18 and down syndrome include VSD and PDA see Table 33-2 The other
defects are not associated with dysfunction of trisomy 13 or 17 and down
syndrome. pg 1200
Quiz_________________?
An infant has a continuous machine/type murmur best heard at the left upper
sternal border throughout systole and diastole as well as a bounding pulse and a
thrill on palpation. These clinical findings are consistent with which congenital
heart defect?
a. Atrial septal defect
3
, b. Ventricular septal defect
c. Patent ductus arteriosus
d. Atrioventricular canal defect -
Answer
c. Patent ductus arteriosus
Exp: If pulmonary vascular resistance has fallen then infants with will
characteristically have a continuous machine/type murmur best heard at the left
upper sternal border throughout systole and diastole. If the PDA is significant
then the infant also will have bounding pulses an active precordium, a thrill on
palpation and signs and symptoms of pulmonary over circulation. The
presentations of the other congenital heart defects are not consistent with the
described the symptoms pages 1203-1204
Quiz_________________?
Which compensatory mechanism is spontaneously used by children diagnosed
with tetralogy of Fallot to relieve hypoxic spells?
a. Lying on their left side
b. Performing the valsalva maneuver
c. Squatting
d. hyperventilating -
Answer
c. Squatting
Exp: squatting is a spontaneous compensatory mechanism used by older children
to alleviate hypoxic spells. Squatting and its variants increase systemic resistance
while decreasing venous return to the heart from the inferior vena cava. The
other options would not result in these changes. pg 1209
4
Pathophysiology Study Guide:
UPDATED ACTUAL Exam
Questions and CORRECT Answers -
GCU
This NUR-631 Final Exam: 195 Practice Questions & Answers study guide is an
essential, comprehensive resource for nursing students mastering advanced pathophysiology. It
features 195 exam-style questions with accurate, verified answers to help you prepare
effectively, avoid exam anxiety, and secure a top grade.
Key Features
• Targeted Content: Focuses on the core concepts of Advanced Physiology and
Pathophysiology for Grand Canyon University (GCU).
• Massive Question Bank: 195 meticulously curated practice questions and test items.
• Detailed Answer Key: Clear, verified responses to help you grasp medical conditions.
Core Topics Covered
• Cellular Biology: Apoptosis, cell injury, and gene regulation.
• Immunology: Innate vs. active acquired immunity, immunoglobulins, and
hypersensitivity.
• Pathological Conditions: Heart failure, COPD, cirrhosis, glomerulonephritis, and
genetic disorders (e.g., Down syndrome, cystic fibrosis).
Why Students should Use This Resource
• Ideal for Cramming & Review: Great for last-minute review or ongoing exam prep.
• Reduces Test Anxiety: Familiarizes you with the exact formats and clinical scenarios
tested on the final exam.
• Boosts Clinical Judgment: Improves your ability to apply pathophysiological concepts
to patient assessments and care plans
1
, Quiz_________________?
A patient is diagnosed with pulmonary disease and elevated pulmonary vascular
resistance. Which of the following heart failures may result from this condition?
a. Right heart failure
b. Left heart failure
c. Low-output failure
d. High-output failure -
Answer
a. Right heart failure
Exp: Right heart failure is defined as the inability of the right ventricle to provide
adequate blood flow into the pulmonary circulation at a normal central venous
pressure. It most often results from the left heart failure when the increase in left
ventricular filling pressure that is reflected back into the pulmonary circulation is
severe enough. As pressure in the pulmonary circulation rises, the resistance to
right ventricular emptying increases.
Quiz_________________?
What physical sign is the result of turbulent blood flow through a vessel?
a. Increased blood pressure during periods of stress
b. Bounding pulse felt on palpation
c. Cyanosis observed on excretion
d. Murmur heard on auscultation -
Answer
d. Murmur heard on auscultation
2
,Exp: Where flow is obstructed the vessel turns or blood flows over rough
surfaces. The flow becomes turbulent with whorls or eddy currents that produce
noise causing a murmur to be heard on auscultation such as occurs during blood
pressure measurement with a sphygomanometer. This selection is the only option
that accurately identifies the physical sign of turbulent vascular blood flow. pg
1113
Quiz_________________?
Which congenital heart defects occur in trisomy 13, trisomy 18 and down
syndrome?
a. Coarctation of the aorta and pulmonary stenosis
b. Tetralogy of Fallot and persistent truncus arteriosus
c. Atrial septal defect and dextrocardia
d. Ventricular septal defect and patent ductus arteriosus -
Answer
d. Ventricular septal defect and patent ductus arteriosus
Exp: Congenital heart defects that are related to dysfunction of trisomy 13,
trisomy 18 and down syndrome include VSD and PDA see Table 33-2 The other
defects are not associated with dysfunction of trisomy 13 or 17 and down
syndrome. pg 1200
Quiz_________________?
An infant has a continuous machine/type murmur best heard at the left upper
sternal border throughout systole and diastole as well as a bounding pulse and a
thrill on palpation. These clinical findings are consistent with which congenital
heart defect?
a. Atrial septal defect
3
, b. Ventricular septal defect
c. Patent ductus arteriosus
d. Atrioventricular canal defect -
Answer
c. Patent ductus arteriosus
Exp: If pulmonary vascular resistance has fallen then infants with will
characteristically have a continuous machine/type murmur best heard at the left
upper sternal border throughout systole and diastole. If the PDA is significant
then the infant also will have bounding pulses an active precordium, a thrill on
palpation and signs and symptoms of pulmonary over circulation. The
presentations of the other congenital heart defects are not consistent with the
described the symptoms pages 1203-1204
Quiz_________________?
Which compensatory mechanism is spontaneously used by children diagnosed
with tetralogy of Fallot to relieve hypoxic spells?
a. Lying on their left side
b. Performing the valsalva maneuver
c. Squatting
d. hyperventilating -
Answer
c. Squatting
Exp: squatting is a spontaneous compensatory mechanism used by older children
to alleviate hypoxic spells. Squatting and its variants increase systemic resistance
while decreasing venous return to the heart from the inferior vena cava. The
other options would not result in these changes. pg 1209
4
