NURS 8022 - PATHO – EXAM 200 ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS WITH RATIONALE LATEST 2026
ALREADY GRADED A+
The NURS 8022 Advanced Pathophysiology Exam is a comprehensive
graduate-level assessment in a Doctor of Nursing Practice program, focusing
on the complex mechanisms underlying disease processes across the lifespan.
The exam covers cellular adaptation, injury, and death; membrane transport
and ion channel physiology; the inflammatory and immune responses; acid-
base and electrolyte imbalances; and systemic pathophysiological alterations
including cardiovascular, pulmonary, renal, neurologic, and endocrine
disorders. Students are expected to apply molecular and cellular concepts to
clinical scenarios, linking pathophysiology to clinical manifestations,
complications, and treatment strategies. The exam emphasizes clinical
reasoning, integration of advanced scientific knowledge, and understanding of
disease prevention and management. Success requires mastery of
foundational pathophysiology and the ability to critically analyze complex
patient conditions from a scientific perspective.
1. A patient is found to have liver disease, resulting in the removal of a lobe of his
liver. Adaptation to the reduced size of the liver leads to which cellular change in
the remaining liver cells?
A) Metaplasia
B) Organ atrophy
C) Compensatory hyperplasia
D) Physiologic hypertrophy
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Compensatory hyperplasia is an adaptive response that enables organs
to regenerate. The liver has a remarkable capacity for regeneration; removal of a
lobe stimulates the remaining liver cells to divide and restore liver mass .
2. During hypoxia, what is the main cause of cellular injury?
A) Increased ATP production
B) Sodium accumulation leading to cellular swelling
C) Potassium influx into the cell
D) Calcium efflux from the mitochondria
Correct Answer: B
,Rationale: During hypoxic injury, ATP decreases, causing failure of the sodium-
potassium pump. Sodium accumulates inside the cell, and water follows, leading to
cellular swelling .
3. Maximum ATP is formed under which conditions?
A) Anaerobic conditions
B) Aerobic conditions
C) Ischemic conditions
D) Hypoxic conditions
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A maximum of 38 molecules of ATP are formed during aerobic
conditions, compared to only 2 ATP molecules formed under anaerobic conditions
.
4. Which of the following is the major intracellular ion?
A) Sodium
B) Calcium
C) Potassium
D) Chloride
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Potassium, magnesium, and phosphate are in the intracellular fluid
(ICF), with potassium being the most abundant ICF ion .
5. When a molecule moves against its concentration gradient and directly uses
energy, this describes which type of transport?
A) Diffusion
B) Osmosis
C) Primary Active Transport
D) Facilitated Diffusion
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Primary active transport is when molecules are pumped against a
concentration gradient at the expense of energy .
6. Which electrolyte moves by counter-transport when sodium moves into the cell?
A) Potassium
B) Chloride
C) Calcium
D) Magnesium
Correct Answer: C
,Rationale: Counter-transport (antiport) involves substances moving in the opposite
direction as the driver ion (Na+). The sodium-calcium exchanger moves calcium
out of the cell as sodium moves in .
7. In the neuromuscular junction, where does acetylcholine bind?
A) Presynaptic sodium channels
B) Presynaptic nicotinic receptors
C) Postsynaptic nicotinic receptors
D) Postsynaptic voltage-gated calcium channels
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Acetylcholine binds to nicotinic receptors on the motor end plate
(postsynaptic membrane), initiating depolarization .
8. Positive feedback results in:
A) A result that is opposite to the initiating stimulus
B) A result that is the same as the initiating stimulus
C) Maintenance of homeostasis
D) Cancellation of the original response
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Positive feedback promotes a change in one direction and exaggerates
the original response. Examples include labor contractions and blood clotting .
9. Lead poisoning in children affects which branch of the nervous system?
A) Peripheral nervous system
B) Central nervous system
C) Autonomic nervous system
D) Somatic nervous system
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Lead toxicity in children affects the central nervous system and can lead
to learning disorders, hyperactivity, and attention problems .
10. What causes depolarization in an action potential?
A) Sodium moves out of the cell
B) Potassium moves into the cell
C) Sodium moves into the cell
D) Potassium moves out of the cell
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A flow of positive charge into the cell through sodium channels
depolarizes the membrane potential .
, 11. Which term best describes hyperpolarization?
A) The inside of the cell becomes more positive
B) The inside of the cell becomes more negative
C) The cell reaches threshold potential
D) Sodium channels are inactivated
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hyperpolarization is defined as the process of making the membrane
potential more negative .
12. Hyperplasia represents what type of change in the cell?
A) Increase in cell size
B) Decrease in cell size
C) Decrease in cell number
D) Increase in cell number
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Hyperplasia is an increase in the number of cells in an organ or tissue. It
can only occur in tissues capable of mitotic division .
13. What is the resting membrane potential (RMP) of a typical neuron?
A) +30 mV
B) 0 mV
C) -70 mV
D) -90 mV
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The resting membrane potential is typically -70 mV in neurons,
maintained by the Na+/K+ ATPase pump and potassium leak channels .
14. Which component of the cell is capable of cellular autodigestion when released
during cell injury?
A) Ribosomes
B) Lysosomes
C) Peroxisomes
D) Golgi complex
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Lysosomes contain hydrolytic enzymes capable of cellular
autodigestion when released during injury .
15. A patient is diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Which neurotransmitter is
deficient in this condition?
A) Serotonin
CORRECT ANSWERS WITH RATIONALE LATEST 2026
ALREADY GRADED A+
The NURS 8022 Advanced Pathophysiology Exam is a comprehensive
graduate-level assessment in a Doctor of Nursing Practice program, focusing
on the complex mechanisms underlying disease processes across the lifespan.
The exam covers cellular adaptation, injury, and death; membrane transport
and ion channel physiology; the inflammatory and immune responses; acid-
base and electrolyte imbalances; and systemic pathophysiological alterations
including cardiovascular, pulmonary, renal, neurologic, and endocrine
disorders. Students are expected to apply molecular and cellular concepts to
clinical scenarios, linking pathophysiology to clinical manifestations,
complications, and treatment strategies. The exam emphasizes clinical
reasoning, integration of advanced scientific knowledge, and understanding of
disease prevention and management. Success requires mastery of
foundational pathophysiology and the ability to critically analyze complex
patient conditions from a scientific perspective.
1. A patient is found to have liver disease, resulting in the removal of a lobe of his
liver. Adaptation to the reduced size of the liver leads to which cellular change in
the remaining liver cells?
A) Metaplasia
B) Organ atrophy
C) Compensatory hyperplasia
D) Physiologic hypertrophy
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Compensatory hyperplasia is an adaptive response that enables organs
to regenerate. The liver has a remarkable capacity for regeneration; removal of a
lobe stimulates the remaining liver cells to divide and restore liver mass .
2. During hypoxia, what is the main cause of cellular injury?
A) Increased ATP production
B) Sodium accumulation leading to cellular swelling
C) Potassium influx into the cell
D) Calcium efflux from the mitochondria
Correct Answer: B
,Rationale: During hypoxic injury, ATP decreases, causing failure of the sodium-
potassium pump. Sodium accumulates inside the cell, and water follows, leading to
cellular swelling .
3. Maximum ATP is formed under which conditions?
A) Anaerobic conditions
B) Aerobic conditions
C) Ischemic conditions
D) Hypoxic conditions
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A maximum of 38 molecules of ATP are formed during aerobic
conditions, compared to only 2 ATP molecules formed under anaerobic conditions
.
4. Which of the following is the major intracellular ion?
A) Sodium
B) Calcium
C) Potassium
D) Chloride
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Potassium, magnesium, and phosphate are in the intracellular fluid
(ICF), with potassium being the most abundant ICF ion .
5. When a molecule moves against its concentration gradient and directly uses
energy, this describes which type of transport?
A) Diffusion
B) Osmosis
C) Primary Active Transport
D) Facilitated Diffusion
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Primary active transport is when molecules are pumped against a
concentration gradient at the expense of energy .
6. Which electrolyte moves by counter-transport when sodium moves into the cell?
A) Potassium
B) Chloride
C) Calcium
D) Magnesium
Correct Answer: C
,Rationale: Counter-transport (antiport) involves substances moving in the opposite
direction as the driver ion (Na+). The sodium-calcium exchanger moves calcium
out of the cell as sodium moves in .
7. In the neuromuscular junction, where does acetylcholine bind?
A) Presynaptic sodium channels
B) Presynaptic nicotinic receptors
C) Postsynaptic nicotinic receptors
D) Postsynaptic voltage-gated calcium channels
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Acetylcholine binds to nicotinic receptors on the motor end plate
(postsynaptic membrane), initiating depolarization .
8. Positive feedback results in:
A) A result that is opposite to the initiating stimulus
B) A result that is the same as the initiating stimulus
C) Maintenance of homeostasis
D) Cancellation of the original response
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Positive feedback promotes a change in one direction and exaggerates
the original response. Examples include labor contractions and blood clotting .
9. Lead poisoning in children affects which branch of the nervous system?
A) Peripheral nervous system
B) Central nervous system
C) Autonomic nervous system
D) Somatic nervous system
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Lead toxicity in children affects the central nervous system and can lead
to learning disorders, hyperactivity, and attention problems .
10. What causes depolarization in an action potential?
A) Sodium moves out of the cell
B) Potassium moves into the cell
C) Sodium moves into the cell
D) Potassium moves out of the cell
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A flow of positive charge into the cell through sodium channels
depolarizes the membrane potential .
, 11. Which term best describes hyperpolarization?
A) The inside of the cell becomes more positive
B) The inside of the cell becomes more negative
C) The cell reaches threshold potential
D) Sodium channels are inactivated
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hyperpolarization is defined as the process of making the membrane
potential more negative .
12. Hyperplasia represents what type of change in the cell?
A) Increase in cell size
B) Decrease in cell size
C) Decrease in cell number
D) Increase in cell number
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Hyperplasia is an increase in the number of cells in an organ or tissue. It
can only occur in tissues capable of mitotic division .
13. What is the resting membrane potential (RMP) of a typical neuron?
A) +30 mV
B) 0 mV
C) -70 mV
D) -90 mV
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The resting membrane potential is typically -70 mV in neurons,
maintained by the Na+/K+ ATPase pump and potassium leak channels .
14. Which component of the cell is capable of cellular autodigestion when released
during cell injury?
A) Ribosomes
B) Lysosomes
C) Peroxisomes
D) Golgi complex
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Lysosomes contain hydrolytic enzymes capable of cellular
autodigestion when released during injury .
15. A patient is diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Which neurotransmitter is
deficient in this condition?
A) Serotonin
