SUNY DowNState MeDical ceNter NrMS 5190 aDvaNceD
PathoPhYSiologY exaM 2 | QUeStioNS aND aNSwerS PlUS
ratioNale | New UPDate 2026| graDeD a+ | | jUSt
releaSeD .
SECTION 1: Fluid and Electrolyte Balance (Questions 1–25)
Question 1: A nurse is reviewing lab reports. Blood plasma is located in which of the following
fluid compartments?
A. Intracellular fluid
B. Interstitial fluid
C. Intravascular fluid
D. Transcellular fluid
correct aNSwer: C. Intravascular fluid.
ratioNale: Blood plasma is the liquid component of blood and is located within the
intravascular fluid compartment, which is part of the extracellular fluid (ECF) .
Question 2: A 35-year-old male weighs 70 kg. Approximately how much of this weight is
intracellular fluid (ICF)?
A. 14 L
B. 28 L
C. 42 L
D. 56 L
correct aNSwer: C. 42 L.
ratioNale: The total volume of body water for a 70 kg person is about 42 L (60% of body
weight). Approximately two-thirds of this is intracellular fluid (ICF), which equates to about 28 L.
However, the question asks for the total body water, which is approximately 42 L .
Question 3: While planning care for elderly individuals, the nurse remembers the elderly are at
a higher risk for developing dehydration because they have a(n):
A. Increased muscle mass
B. Decreased muscle mass
C. Increased total body water
D. Decreased renal function
,correct aNSwer: B. Decreased muscle mass.
ratioNale: Elderly individuals have decreased muscle mass, which contains a high
proportion of water. With less muscle mass, total body water is reduced, increasing the risk for
dehydration .
Question 4: Which of the following patients should the nurse assess for a decreased oncotic
pressure in the capillaries?
A. A patient with liver failure
B. A patient with hypertension
C. A patient with diabetes mellitus
D. A patient with chronic kidney disease
correct aNSwer: A. A patient with liver failure.
ratioNale: Oncotic pressure is primarily maintained by plasma proteins, especially albumin,
which is synthesized by the liver. Liver failure leads to decreased albumin production, resulting
in decreased capillary oncotic pressure and edema .
Question 5: Water movement between the ICF and ECF compartments is determined by:
A. Capillary hydrostatic pressure
B. Osmotic forces
C. Interstitial oncotic pressure
D. Plasma oncotic pressure
correct aNSwer: B. Osmotic forces.
ratioNale: Water movement between the intracellular and extracellular fluid compartments is
determined by osmotic forces, particularly the concentration of electrolytes such as sodium .
Question 6: An experiment was designed to test the effects of Starling forces on fluid
movement. Which alteration would result in fluid moving into the interstitial space?
A. Increased capillary hydrostatic pressure
B. Decreased capillary hydrostatic pressure
C. Increased plasma oncotic pressure
D. Decreased interstitial oncotic pressure
correct aNSwer: A. Increased capillary hydrostatic pressure.
ratioNale: Increased capillary hydrostatic pressure pushes fluid out of the capillary into the
interstitial space, leading to edema .
, Question 7: When planning care for a dehydrated patient, the nurse remembers the principle of
water balance is closely related to _____ balance.
A. Potassium
B. Sodium
C. Calcium
D. Magnesium
correct aNSwer: B. Sodium.
ratioNale: Water balance is closely related to sodium balance because sodium is the
primary determinant of extracellular fluid osmolality. Water follows sodium osmotically .
Question 8: A 70-year-old male with chronic renal failure presents with edema. Which is the
most likely cause of this condition?
A. Increased capillary hydrostatic pressure
B. Decreased capillary hydrostatic pressure
C. Increased plasma oncotic pressure
D. Decreased interstitial oncotic pressure
correct aNSwer: A. Increased capillary hydrostatic pressure.
ratioNale: In chronic renal failure, fluid retention leads to increased capillary hydrostatic
pressure, which pushes fluid into the interstitial space and causes edema .
Question 9: A 10-year-old male is brought to the emergency room because he is incoherent
and semiconscious. CT scan reveals cerebral edema. This type of edema is referred to as:
A. Localized edema
B. Generalized edema
C. Dependent edema
D. Pitting edema
correct aNSwer: A. Localized edema.
ratioNale: Cerebral edema is a type of localized edema confined to the brain tissue .
Question 10: A nurse is teaching the staff about antidiuretic hormone (ADH). Secretion of ADH
is stimulated by:
A. Decreased plasma osmolality
B. Increased plasma osmolality
C. Decreased blood volume
D. Increased blood pressure
correct aNSwer: B. Increased plasma osmolality.
PathoPhYSiologY exaM 2 | QUeStioNS aND aNSwerS PlUS
ratioNale | New UPDate 2026| graDeD a+ | | jUSt
releaSeD .
SECTION 1: Fluid and Electrolyte Balance (Questions 1–25)
Question 1: A nurse is reviewing lab reports. Blood plasma is located in which of the following
fluid compartments?
A. Intracellular fluid
B. Interstitial fluid
C. Intravascular fluid
D. Transcellular fluid
correct aNSwer: C. Intravascular fluid.
ratioNale: Blood plasma is the liquid component of blood and is located within the
intravascular fluid compartment, which is part of the extracellular fluid (ECF) .
Question 2: A 35-year-old male weighs 70 kg. Approximately how much of this weight is
intracellular fluid (ICF)?
A. 14 L
B. 28 L
C. 42 L
D. 56 L
correct aNSwer: C. 42 L.
ratioNale: The total volume of body water for a 70 kg person is about 42 L (60% of body
weight). Approximately two-thirds of this is intracellular fluid (ICF), which equates to about 28 L.
However, the question asks for the total body water, which is approximately 42 L .
Question 3: While planning care for elderly individuals, the nurse remembers the elderly are at
a higher risk for developing dehydration because they have a(n):
A. Increased muscle mass
B. Decreased muscle mass
C. Increased total body water
D. Decreased renal function
,correct aNSwer: B. Decreased muscle mass.
ratioNale: Elderly individuals have decreased muscle mass, which contains a high
proportion of water. With less muscle mass, total body water is reduced, increasing the risk for
dehydration .
Question 4: Which of the following patients should the nurse assess for a decreased oncotic
pressure in the capillaries?
A. A patient with liver failure
B. A patient with hypertension
C. A patient with diabetes mellitus
D. A patient with chronic kidney disease
correct aNSwer: A. A patient with liver failure.
ratioNale: Oncotic pressure is primarily maintained by plasma proteins, especially albumin,
which is synthesized by the liver. Liver failure leads to decreased albumin production, resulting
in decreased capillary oncotic pressure and edema .
Question 5: Water movement between the ICF and ECF compartments is determined by:
A. Capillary hydrostatic pressure
B. Osmotic forces
C. Interstitial oncotic pressure
D. Plasma oncotic pressure
correct aNSwer: B. Osmotic forces.
ratioNale: Water movement between the intracellular and extracellular fluid compartments is
determined by osmotic forces, particularly the concentration of electrolytes such as sodium .
Question 6: An experiment was designed to test the effects of Starling forces on fluid
movement. Which alteration would result in fluid moving into the interstitial space?
A. Increased capillary hydrostatic pressure
B. Decreased capillary hydrostatic pressure
C. Increased plasma oncotic pressure
D. Decreased interstitial oncotic pressure
correct aNSwer: A. Increased capillary hydrostatic pressure.
ratioNale: Increased capillary hydrostatic pressure pushes fluid out of the capillary into the
interstitial space, leading to edema .
, Question 7: When planning care for a dehydrated patient, the nurse remembers the principle of
water balance is closely related to _____ balance.
A. Potassium
B. Sodium
C. Calcium
D. Magnesium
correct aNSwer: B. Sodium.
ratioNale: Water balance is closely related to sodium balance because sodium is the
primary determinant of extracellular fluid osmolality. Water follows sodium osmotically .
Question 8: A 70-year-old male with chronic renal failure presents with edema. Which is the
most likely cause of this condition?
A. Increased capillary hydrostatic pressure
B. Decreased capillary hydrostatic pressure
C. Increased plasma oncotic pressure
D. Decreased interstitial oncotic pressure
correct aNSwer: A. Increased capillary hydrostatic pressure.
ratioNale: In chronic renal failure, fluid retention leads to increased capillary hydrostatic
pressure, which pushes fluid into the interstitial space and causes edema .
Question 9: A 10-year-old male is brought to the emergency room because he is incoherent
and semiconscious. CT scan reveals cerebral edema. This type of edema is referred to as:
A. Localized edema
B. Generalized edema
C. Dependent edema
D. Pitting edema
correct aNSwer: A. Localized edema.
ratioNale: Cerebral edema is a type of localized edema confined to the brain tissue .
Question 10: A nurse is teaching the staff about antidiuretic hormone (ADH). Secretion of ADH
is stimulated by:
A. Decreased plasma osmolality
B. Increased plasma osmolality
C. Decreased blood volume
D. Increased blood pressure
correct aNSwer: B. Increased plasma osmolality.
