NURS6202 (CU-AGPCNP) Advanced Pathophysiology
Midterm Exam 2026
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
1. Multiple Choice: Which of the following is the primary pathophysiological mechanism of type 2
diabetes mellitus?
• A. Autoimmune destruction of beta cells
• B. Insulin resistance
• C. Genetic mutations
• D. Viral infection
• Answer: B. Insulin resistance
• Rationale: Type 2 diabetes mellitus is primarily caused by insulin resistance, where the
body's cells do not respond effectively to insulin, leading to elevated blood glucose levels .
2. Multiple Choice: What is the most common cause of acute pancreatitis?
• A. Gallstones
• B. Alcohol abuse
• C. Hyperlipidemia
• D. Viral infections
• Answer: A. Gallstones
• Rationale: Gallstones are the most common cause of acute pancreatitis, as they can block
the pancreatic duct and lead to inflammation .
,3. Fill-in-the-Blank: The primary pathological feature of Alzheimer's disease is the accumulation of
__________ in the brain.
• Answer: Amyloid plaques
• Rationale: Alzheimer's disease is characterized by the accumulation of amyloid plaques and
neurofibrillary tangles in the brain, leading to neuronal damage and cognitive decline .
4. Multiple Choice: A 70-year-old male with chronic renal failure presents with edema. Which of
the following is the most likely cause of this condition?
• A. Decreased capillary permeability
• B. Increased capillary hydrostatic pressure
• C. Decreased interstitial oncotic pressure
• D. Increased plasma albumin
• Answer: B. Increased capillary hydrostatic pressure
• Rationale: In chronic renal failure, fluid retention leads to increased capillary hydrostatic
pressure, which forces fluid out of the capillaries and into the interstitial space, causing
edema .
5. Multiple Choice: A patient's anemia is described as having erythrocytes that demonstrate
anisocytosis. The nurse would recognize the erythrocytes would be:
• A. Able to assume various shapes
• B. Abnormally large
• C. Abnormally small
• D. Unable to carry oxygen
• Answer: A. Able to assume various shapes
• Rationale: Anisocytosis refers to a condition where red blood cells are of unequal size. The
term itself indicates a variation in shape and size .
6. Multiple Response: Which of the following are risk factors for developing hypertension? (Select
all that apply)
• A. Obesity
• B. Smoking
• C. Regular exercise
• D. Excessive alcohol consumption
• Answer: A, B, D
• Rationale: Obesity, smoking, and excessive alcohol intake are known contributors to
hypertension, while regular exercise is protective .
7. Multiple Choice: Which of the following is a common symptom of hyperthyroidism?
, • A. Weight gain
• B. Fatigue
• C. Heat intolerance
• D. Bradycardia
• Answer: C. Heat intolerance
• Rationale: Common symptoms of hyperthyroidism include heat intolerance, weight loss, and
tachycardia. Weight gain and bradycardia are more commonly associated with
hypothyroidism .
8. Multiple Choice: The leading cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is:
• A. Genetic predisposition
• B. Air pollution
• C. Smoking
• D. Occupational exposure
• Answer: C
• Rationale: Smoking is the primary cause of COPD, as it damages the airways and alveoli,
leading to airflow obstruction .
9. Multiple Choice: A common complication of hypertension is:
• A. Osteoporosis
• B. Chronic kidney disease
• C. Asthma
• D. Rheumatoid arthritis
• Answer: B
• Rationale: Hypertension can damage the blood vessels in the kidneys, leading to chronic
kidney disease .
10. Fill-in-the-Blank: __________ is an autoimmune condition characterized by the inflammation
and destruction of the myelin sheath in the central nervous system.
• Answer: Multiple sclerosis
• Rationale: Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks
the myelin sheath, impairing nerve conduction .
11. True or False: Atherosclerosis is primarily caused by the buildup of cholesterol and fatty
deposits in the arterial walls.
• Answer: True
• Rationale: This is the fundamental definition of atherosclerosis, where plaques form and
narrow the arteries .
, 12. Multiple Response: Which of the following are risk factors for developing osteoporosis? (Select
all that apply)
• A. Advanced age
• B. Physical inactivity
• C. High calcium intake
• D. Smoking
• Answer: A, B, D
• Rationale: Advanced age, inactivity, and smoking are risk factors. High calcium intake is
protective .
13. Multiple Response: Common symptoms of congestive heart failure include: (Select all that
apply)
• A. Shortness of breath
• B. Edema
• C. Chest pain
• D. Weight loss
• Answer: A, B, C
• Rationale: Shortness of breath, edema, and chest pain are classic signs. Weight loss is not
typical .
14. Multiple Choice: The most specific cardiac biomarker for myocardial infarction is:
• A. CK-MB
• B. Myoglobin
• C. LDH
• D. Troponin I and T
• Answer: D
• Rationale: Troponins are released only from myocardial tissue and are the most specific
markers for MI .
15. Multiple Choice: What type of hypersensitivity reaction is involved in anaphylaxis?
• A. Type I
• B. Type II
• C. Type III
• D. Type IV
• Answer: A
Midterm Exam 2026
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
1. Multiple Choice: Which of the following is the primary pathophysiological mechanism of type 2
diabetes mellitus?
• A. Autoimmune destruction of beta cells
• B. Insulin resistance
• C. Genetic mutations
• D. Viral infection
• Answer: B. Insulin resistance
• Rationale: Type 2 diabetes mellitus is primarily caused by insulin resistance, where the
body's cells do not respond effectively to insulin, leading to elevated blood glucose levels .
2. Multiple Choice: What is the most common cause of acute pancreatitis?
• A. Gallstones
• B. Alcohol abuse
• C. Hyperlipidemia
• D. Viral infections
• Answer: A. Gallstones
• Rationale: Gallstones are the most common cause of acute pancreatitis, as they can block
the pancreatic duct and lead to inflammation .
,3. Fill-in-the-Blank: The primary pathological feature of Alzheimer's disease is the accumulation of
__________ in the brain.
• Answer: Amyloid plaques
• Rationale: Alzheimer's disease is characterized by the accumulation of amyloid plaques and
neurofibrillary tangles in the brain, leading to neuronal damage and cognitive decline .
4. Multiple Choice: A 70-year-old male with chronic renal failure presents with edema. Which of
the following is the most likely cause of this condition?
• A. Decreased capillary permeability
• B. Increased capillary hydrostatic pressure
• C. Decreased interstitial oncotic pressure
• D. Increased plasma albumin
• Answer: B. Increased capillary hydrostatic pressure
• Rationale: In chronic renal failure, fluid retention leads to increased capillary hydrostatic
pressure, which forces fluid out of the capillaries and into the interstitial space, causing
edema .
5. Multiple Choice: A patient's anemia is described as having erythrocytes that demonstrate
anisocytosis. The nurse would recognize the erythrocytes would be:
• A. Able to assume various shapes
• B. Abnormally large
• C. Abnormally small
• D. Unable to carry oxygen
• Answer: A. Able to assume various shapes
• Rationale: Anisocytosis refers to a condition where red blood cells are of unequal size. The
term itself indicates a variation in shape and size .
6. Multiple Response: Which of the following are risk factors for developing hypertension? (Select
all that apply)
• A. Obesity
• B. Smoking
• C. Regular exercise
• D. Excessive alcohol consumption
• Answer: A, B, D
• Rationale: Obesity, smoking, and excessive alcohol intake are known contributors to
hypertension, while regular exercise is protective .
7. Multiple Choice: Which of the following is a common symptom of hyperthyroidism?
, • A. Weight gain
• B. Fatigue
• C. Heat intolerance
• D. Bradycardia
• Answer: C. Heat intolerance
• Rationale: Common symptoms of hyperthyroidism include heat intolerance, weight loss, and
tachycardia. Weight gain and bradycardia are more commonly associated with
hypothyroidism .
8. Multiple Choice: The leading cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is:
• A. Genetic predisposition
• B. Air pollution
• C. Smoking
• D. Occupational exposure
• Answer: C
• Rationale: Smoking is the primary cause of COPD, as it damages the airways and alveoli,
leading to airflow obstruction .
9. Multiple Choice: A common complication of hypertension is:
• A. Osteoporosis
• B. Chronic kidney disease
• C. Asthma
• D. Rheumatoid arthritis
• Answer: B
• Rationale: Hypertension can damage the blood vessels in the kidneys, leading to chronic
kidney disease .
10. Fill-in-the-Blank: __________ is an autoimmune condition characterized by the inflammation
and destruction of the myelin sheath in the central nervous system.
• Answer: Multiple sclerosis
• Rationale: Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks
the myelin sheath, impairing nerve conduction .
11. True or False: Atherosclerosis is primarily caused by the buildup of cholesterol and fatty
deposits in the arterial walls.
• Answer: True
• Rationale: This is the fundamental definition of atherosclerosis, where plaques form and
narrow the arteries .
, 12. Multiple Response: Which of the following are risk factors for developing osteoporosis? (Select
all that apply)
• A. Advanced age
• B. Physical inactivity
• C. High calcium intake
• D. Smoking
• Answer: A, B, D
• Rationale: Advanced age, inactivity, and smoking are risk factors. High calcium intake is
protective .
13. Multiple Response: Common symptoms of congestive heart failure include: (Select all that
apply)
• A. Shortness of breath
• B. Edema
• C. Chest pain
• D. Weight loss
• Answer: A, B, C
• Rationale: Shortness of breath, edema, and chest pain are classic signs. Weight loss is not
typical .
14. Multiple Choice: The most specific cardiac biomarker for myocardial infarction is:
• A. CK-MB
• B. Myoglobin
• C. LDH
• D. Troponin I and T
• Answer: D
• Rationale: Troponins are released only from myocardial tissue and are the most specific
markers for MI .
15. Multiple Choice: What type of hypersensitivity reaction is involved in anaphylaxis?
• A. Type I
• B. Type II
• C. Type III
• D. Type IV
• Answer: A
