NUR 635 FINAL EXAM – ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY (GRAND CANYON UNIVERSITY) EXAM
– QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | VERIFIED AND WELL DETAILED ANSWERS | PLUS RATIONALES |
GUARANTEED PASS | LATEST EXAM UPDATE | EXAM PREP | STUDY GUIDE | PRACTICE TEST
1. A patient with chronic heart failure presents with dyspnea, bilateral crackles, and lower
extremity edema. Which pathophysiologic mechanism most directly contributes to these
findings?
A. Decreased systemic vascular resistance
B. Increased hydrostatic pressure in pulmonary capillaries
C. Decreased oncotic pressure due to liver failure
D. Increased erythropoietin secretion
────────────────────────────
Correct Answer: B. Increased hydrostatic pressure in pulmonary capillaries
Rationale:
Left-sided heart failure increases pulmonary venous pressure, elevating hydrostatic pressure
in pulmonary capillaries and leading to fluid leakage into alveoli (pulmonary edema). Options
A, C, and D do not directly explain pulmonary congestion in heart failure.
────────────────────────────
2. Which mechanism is primarily responsible for type 2 diabetes mellitus?
A. Autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells
B. Peripheral insulin resistance with relative insulin deficiency
C. Excess glucagon secretion only
D. Absolute absence of insulin production
────────────────────────────
Correct Answer: B. Peripheral insulin resistance with relative insulin deficiency
Rationale:
Type 2 diabetes is characterized by insulin resistance in peripheral tissues and progressive
beta-cell dysfunction. Option A and D describe type 1 diabetes, while C is not the primary
mechanism.
────────────────────────────
3. A patient with COPD retains CO₂ chronically. What renal compensation is expected?
A. Increased bicarbonate excretion
B. Increased hydrogen retention
,C. Increased bicarbonate retention
D. Decreased carbonic acid production
────────────────────────────
Correct Answer: C. Increased bicarbonate retention
Rationale:
In chronic respiratory acidosis, the kidneys compensate by retaining bicarbonate to buffer
excess hydrogen ions. The other options contradict compensatory physiology.
────────────────────────────
4. Which condition is most associated with an increased risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT)?
A. Hyperthyroidism
B. Prolonged immobility
C. Hypercalcemia
D. Hypoglycemia
────────────────────────────
Correct Answer: B. Prolonged immobility
Rationale:
Venous stasis from immobility promotes clot formation as part of Virchow’s triad. The other
conditions are not primary contributors to thrombosis risk.
────────────────────────────
5. A patient develops metabolic acidosis due to diabetic ketoacidosis. What is the primary
cause of the acidosis?
A. Excess insulin production
B. Accumulation of ketone bodies
C. Increased bicarbonate retention
D. Decreased lactic acid clearance
────────────────────────────
Correct Answer: B. Accumulation of ketone bodies
Rationale:
In DKA, fat breakdown produces ketone bodies, leading to acid accumulation and metabolic
acidosis. The other options do not reflect the primary mechanism.
────────────────────────────
,6. Which electrolyte imbalance is most likely in acute kidney injury?
A. Hypokalemia
B. Hyperkalemia
C. Hypocalcemia only
D. Hypernatremia only
────────────────────────────
Correct Answer: B. Hyperkalemia
Rationale:
Reduced renal excretion of potassium in AKI leads to dangerous potassium accumulation.
Other imbalances may occur but are less immediate threats.
────────────────────────────
7. What is the primary pathophysiologic feature of asthma?
A. Alveolar fibrosis
B. Reversible airway inflammation and bronchoconstriction
C. Permanent destruction of alveolar walls
D. Decreased surfactant production
────────────────────────────
Correct Answer: B. Reversible airway inflammation and bronchoconstriction
Rationale:
Asthma is characterized by reversible airway obstruction due to inflammation and
bronchospasm. Options A and C describe restrictive or emphysematous conditions.
────────────────────────────
8. Which laboratory finding is most consistent with hemolytic anemia?
A. Decreased LDH
B. Increased indirect bilirubin
C. Increased hemoglobin A1C
D. Decreased reticulocyte count
────────────────────────────
Correct Answer: B. Increased indirect bilirubin
, Rationale:
Hemolysis increases breakdown of RBCs, elevating indirect bilirubin and LDH while increasing
reticulocyte count. Other options are inconsistent.
────────────────────────────
9. A patient with cirrhosis develops ascites. What is the primary mechanism?
A. Increased albumin synthesis
B. Decreased portal venous pressure
C. Decreased plasma oncotic pressure
D. Increased erythrocyte production
────────────────────────────
Correct Answer: C. Decreased plasma oncotic pressure
Rationale:
Liver dysfunction reduces albumin production, lowering oncotic pressure and allowing fluid to
shift into the peritoneal cavity.
────────────────────────────
10. Which condition is characterized by autoimmune destruction of myelin in the CNS?
A. Myasthenia gravis
B. Multiple sclerosis
C. Parkinson disease
D. Guillain-Barré syndrome
────────────────────────────
Correct Answer: B. Multiple sclerosis
Rationale:
Multiple sclerosis involves immune-mediated demyelination in the central nervous system.
Guillain-Barré affects peripheral nerves.
────────────────────────────
11. In septic shock, the primary cause of hypotension is:
A. Increased systemic vascular resistance
B. Widespread vasodilation and capillary leakage
C. Increased myocardial contractility
D. Decreased blood volume from hemorrhage only
– QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | VERIFIED AND WELL DETAILED ANSWERS | PLUS RATIONALES |
GUARANTEED PASS | LATEST EXAM UPDATE | EXAM PREP | STUDY GUIDE | PRACTICE TEST
1. A patient with chronic heart failure presents with dyspnea, bilateral crackles, and lower
extremity edema. Which pathophysiologic mechanism most directly contributes to these
findings?
A. Decreased systemic vascular resistance
B. Increased hydrostatic pressure in pulmonary capillaries
C. Decreased oncotic pressure due to liver failure
D. Increased erythropoietin secretion
────────────────────────────
Correct Answer: B. Increased hydrostatic pressure in pulmonary capillaries
Rationale:
Left-sided heart failure increases pulmonary venous pressure, elevating hydrostatic pressure
in pulmonary capillaries and leading to fluid leakage into alveoli (pulmonary edema). Options
A, C, and D do not directly explain pulmonary congestion in heart failure.
────────────────────────────
2. Which mechanism is primarily responsible for type 2 diabetes mellitus?
A. Autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells
B. Peripheral insulin resistance with relative insulin deficiency
C. Excess glucagon secretion only
D. Absolute absence of insulin production
────────────────────────────
Correct Answer: B. Peripheral insulin resistance with relative insulin deficiency
Rationale:
Type 2 diabetes is characterized by insulin resistance in peripheral tissues and progressive
beta-cell dysfunction. Option A and D describe type 1 diabetes, while C is not the primary
mechanism.
────────────────────────────
3. A patient with COPD retains CO₂ chronically. What renal compensation is expected?
A. Increased bicarbonate excretion
B. Increased hydrogen retention
,C. Increased bicarbonate retention
D. Decreased carbonic acid production
────────────────────────────
Correct Answer: C. Increased bicarbonate retention
Rationale:
In chronic respiratory acidosis, the kidneys compensate by retaining bicarbonate to buffer
excess hydrogen ions. The other options contradict compensatory physiology.
────────────────────────────
4. Which condition is most associated with an increased risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT)?
A. Hyperthyroidism
B. Prolonged immobility
C. Hypercalcemia
D. Hypoglycemia
────────────────────────────
Correct Answer: B. Prolonged immobility
Rationale:
Venous stasis from immobility promotes clot formation as part of Virchow’s triad. The other
conditions are not primary contributors to thrombosis risk.
────────────────────────────
5. A patient develops metabolic acidosis due to diabetic ketoacidosis. What is the primary
cause of the acidosis?
A. Excess insulin production
B. Accumulation of ketone bodies
C. Increased bicarbonate retention
D. Decreased lactic acid clearance
────────────────────────────
Correct Answer: B. Accumulation of ketone bodies
Rationale:
In DKA, fat breakdown produces ketone bodies, leading to acid accumulation and metabolic
acidosis. The other options do not reflect the primary mechanism.
────────────────────────────
,6. Which electrolyte imbalance is most likely in acute kidney injury?
A. Hypokalemia
B. Hyperkalemia
C. Hypocalcemia only
D. Hypernatremia only
────────────────────────────
Correct Answer: B. Hyperkalemia
Rationale:
Reduced renal excretion of potassium in AKI leads to dangerous potassium accumulation.
Other imbalances may occur but are less immediate threats.
────────────────────────────
7. What is the primary pathophysiologic feature of asthma?
A. Alveolar fibrosis
B. Reversible airway inflammation and bronchoconstriction
C. Permanent destruction of alveolar walls
D. Decreased surfactant production
────────────────────────────
Correct Answer: B. Reversible airway inflammation and bronchoconstriction
Rationale:
Asthma is characterized by reversible airway obstruction due to inflammation and
bronchospasm. Options A and C describe restrictive or emphysematous conditions.
────────────────────────────
8. Which laboratory finding is most consistent with hemolytic anemia?
A. Decreased LDH
B. Increased indirect bilirubin
C. Increased hemoglobin A1C
D. Decreased reticulocyte count
────────────────────────────
Correct Answer: B. Increased indirect bilirubin
, Rationale:
Hemolysis increases breakdown of RBCs, elevating indirect bilirubin and LDH while increasing
reticulocyte count. Other options are inconsistent.
────────────────────────────
9. A patient with cirrhosis develops ascites. What is the primary mechanism?
A. Increased albumin synthesis
B. Decreased portal venous pressure
C. Decreased plasma oncotic pressure
D. Increased erythrocyte production
────────────────────────────
Correct Answer: C. Decreased plasma oncotic pressure
Rationale:
Liver dysfunction reduces albumin production, lowering oncotic pressure and allowing fluid to
shift into the peritoneal cavity.
────────────────────────────
10. Which condition is characterized by autoimmune destruction of myelin in the CNS?
A. Myasthenia gravis
B. Multiple sclerosis
C. Parkinson disease
D. Guillain-Barré syndrome
────────────────────────────
Correct Answer: B. Multiple sclerosis
Rationale:
Multiple sclerosis involves immune-mediated demyelination in the central nervous system.
Guillain-Barré affects peripheral nerves.
────────────────────────────
11. In septic shock, the primary cause of hypotension is:
A. Increased systemic vascular resistance
B. Widespread vasodilation and capillary leakage
C. Increased myocardial contractility
D. Decreased blood volume from hemorrhage only
