• NURS 6501EXAM 09/13/2026
NURS 6501 Advanced Pathophysiology Exam
| QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS RATED
A+ | 2026/2027 GUIDE | GCU| 2026/2027 Latest
Update | Complete Chapter Questions &
Answers with Rationales | Verified Questions &
Answers | Graded A+
1. Which substance is manufactured by the liver and primarily contains cholesterol and protein?
a. Very low-density lipoproteins (VLDLs)
b. Low-density lipoproteins (LDLs)
c. High-density lipoproteins (HDLs)
d. Triglycerides –
P 1
, • NURS 6501EXAM 09/13/2026
Correct Answer :Low-density lipoproteins. A series of chemical reactions in the liver results in the production of
several lipoproteins that vary in density and function. These include VLDLs, primarily triglycerides and protein;
LDLs, mostly cholesterol and protein; and HDLs, mainly phospholipids and protein. LDLs are the only lipoproteins
that are manufactured by the liver and primarily contain cholesterol and protein.
1. Which elevated value may be protective of the development of atherosclerosis?
a. Very low-density lipoproteins (VLDLs)
b. Low-density lipoproteins (LDLs)
c. High-density lipoproteins (HDL)
Triglycerides –
Correct Answer :High-density lipoproteins. Low levels of HDL cholesterol are also a strong indicator of coronary
risk, whereas high levels of HDLs may be more protective for the development of atherosclerosis than low levels
of LDLs.
1. Which laboratory test is an indirect measure of atherosclerotic plaque?
a. Homocysteine
b. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
c. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)
d. C-reactive protein (CRP)
- Correct Answer :C-reactive protein. Highly sensitive CRP (hs-CRP) is an acute phase reactant or protein mostly
synthesized in the liver and, of the available options, is an indirect measure of atherosclerotic plaque-related
inflammation.
1. An individual who is demonstrating elevated levels of troponin, creatine kinase-isoenzyme MB (CK-MB), and
lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) is exhibiting indicators associated with which condition?
a. Myocardial ischemia
b. Myocardial infarction (MI)
c. Hypertension
d. Coronary artery disease (CAD) –
P 2
, • NURS 6501EXAM 09/13/2026
Correct Answer :MI. Cardiac troponins (troponin I and troponin T) are the most specific indicators of MI. Other
biomarkers released by myocardial cells include CK-MB and LDH.
1. How does angiotensin II increase the workload of the heart after a myocardial infarction (MI)?
a. By increasing the peripheral vasoconstriction
b. By causing dysrhythmias as a result of hyperkalemia
c. By reducing the contractility of the myocardium
d. By stimulating the sympathetic nervous system –
Correct Answer :By increasing the peripheral vasoconstriction. Angiotensin II is released during myocardial
ischemia and contributes to the pathogenesis of a myocardial infarction (MI) in several ways. First, it results in
the systemic effects of peripheral vasoconstriction and fluid retention. These homeostatic responses are
counterproductive in that they increase myocardial work and thus exacerbate the effects of the loss of myocyte
contractility. Angiotensin II is also locally released, where it is a growth factor for vascular smooth muscle cells,
myocytes, and cardiac fibroblasts; promotes catecholamine release; and causes coronary artery spasm
1. The pulsus paradoxus that occurs as a result of pericardial effusion is caused by a dysfunction in which
mechanism?
a. Diastolic filling pressures of the right ventricle and reduction of blood volume in both ventricles
b. Blood ejected from the right atrium and reduction of blood volume in the right ventricle
c. Blood ejected from the left atrium and reduction of blood volume in the left ventricle
d. Diastolic filling pressures of the left ventricle and reduction of blood volume in all four heart chambers. -
Correct Answer :D. Pulsus paradoxus means that the arterial blood pressure during expiration exceeds arterial
pressure during inspiration by more than 10 mm Hg. This clinical finding reflects impairment of diastolic filling of
the left ventricle plus a reduction of blood volume within all four cardiac chambers.
1. A patient reports sudden onset of severe chest pain that radiates to the back and worsens with respiratory
movement and when lying down. These clinical manifestations describe:
a. Myocardial infarction (MI)
b. Restrictive pericarditis
c. Pericardial effusion
d. Acute pericarditis –
P 3
, • NURS 6501EXAM 09/13/2026
Correct Answer :Acute pericarditis. Most individuals with acute pericarditis describe several days of fever,
myalgias, and malaise, followed by the sudden onset of severe chest pain that worsens with respiratory
movements and with lying down. Although the pain may radiate to the back, it is generally felt in the anterior
chest and may be initially confused with the pain of an acute MI. Individuals with acute pericarditis also may
report dysphagia, restlessness, irritability, anxiety, and weakness.
1. Ventricular dilation and grossly impaired systolic function, leading to dilated heart failure, characterize which
form of cardiomyopathy?
a. Congestive
b. Septal
c. Hypertrophic
d. Dystrophic - Correct Answer :Congestive. Only dilated cardiomyopathy (congestive cardiomyopathy) is
characterized by ventricular dilation and grossly impaired systolic function, leading to dilated heart failure.
1. A disproportionate thickening of the interventricular septum is the hallmark of which form of cardiomyopathy?
a. Dystrophic
b. Restrictive
c. Hypertrophic
d. Dilated –
Correct Answer :Hypertrophic. Only hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is characterized by a thickening of the septal
wall, which may cause outflow obstruction to the left ventricle outflow tract.
1. Amyloidosis, hemochromatosis, or glycogen storage disease usually causes which form of cardiomyopathy?
a. Infiltrative
b. Septal
c. Restrictive
d. Hypertrophic –
Correct Answer :Restrictive. Restrictive cardiomyopathy may occur idiopathically or as a cardiac manifestation
of systemic diseases, such as scleroderma, amyloidosis, sarcoidosis, lymphoma, and hemochromatosis, or a
number of inherited storage diseases.
P 4
NURS 6501 Advanced Pathophysiology Exam
| QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS RATED
A+ | 2026/2027 GUIDE | GCU| 2026/2027 Latest
Update | Complete Chapter Questions &
Answers with Rationales | Verified Questions &
Answers | Graded A+
1. Which substance is manufactured by the liver and primarily contains cholesterol and protein?
a. Very low-density lipoproteins (VLDLs)
b. Low-density lipoproteins (LDLs)
c. High-density lipoproteins (HDLs)
d. Triglycerides –
P 1
, • NURS 6501EXAM 09/13/2026
Correct Answer :Low-density lipoproteins. A series of chemical reactions in the liver results in the production of
several lipoproteins that vary in density and function. These include VLDLs, primarily triglycerides and protein;
LDLs, mostly cholesterol and protein; and HDLs, mainly phospholipids and protein. LDLs are the only lipoproteins
that are manufactured by the liver and primarily contain cholesterol and protein.
1. Which elevated value may be protective of the development of atherosclerosis?
a. Very low-density lipoproteins (VLDLs)
b. Low-density lipoproteins (LDLs)
c. High-density lipoproteins (HDL)
Triglycerides –
Correct Answer :High-density lipoproteins. Low levels of HDL cholesterol are also a strong indicator of coronary
risk, whereas high levels of HDLs may be more protective for the development of atherosclerosis than low levels
of LDLs.
1. Which laboratory test is an indirect measure of atherosclerotic plaque?
a. Homocysteine
b. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
c. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)
d. C-reactive protein (CRP)
- Correct Answer :C-reactive protein. Highly sensitive CRP (hs-CRP) is an acute phase reactant or protein mostly
synthesized in the liver and, of the available options, is an indirect measure of atherosclerotic plaque-related
inflammation.
1. An individual who is demonstrating elevated levels of troponin, creatine kinase-isoenzyme MB (CK-MB), and
lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) is exhibiting indicators associated with which condition?
a. Myocardial ischemia
b. Myocardial infarction (MI)
c. Hypertension
d. Coronary artery disease (CAD) –
P 2
, • NURS 6501EXAM 09/13/2026
Correct Answer :MI. Cardiac troponins (troponin I and troponin T) are the most specific indicators of MI. Other
biomarkers released by myocardial cells include CK-MB and LDH.
1. How does angiotensin II increase the workload of the heart after a myocardial infarction (MI)?
a. By increasing the peripheral vasoconstriction
b. By causing dysrhythmias as a result of hyperkalemia
c. By reducing the contractility of the myocardium
d. By stimulating the sympathetic nervous system –
Correct Answer :By increasing the peripheral vasoconstriction. Angiotensin II is released during myocardial
ischemia and contributes to the pathogenesis of a myocardial infarction (MI) in several ways. First, it results in
the systemic effects of peripheral vasoconstriction and fluid retention. These homeostatic responses are
counterproductive in that they increase myocardial work and thus exacerbate the effects of the loss of myocyte
contractility. Angiotensin II is also locally released, where it is a growth factor for vascular smooth muscle cells,
myocytes, and cardiac fibroblasts; promotes catecholamine release; and causes coronary artery spasm
1. The pulsus paradoxus that occurs as a result of pericardial effusion is caused by a dysfunction in which
mechanism?
a. Diastolic filling pressures of the right ventricle and reduction of blood volume in both ventricles
b. Blood ejected from the right atrium and reduction of blood volume in the right ventricle
c. Blood ejected from the left atrium and reduction of blood volume in the left ventricle
d. Diastolic filling pressures of the left ventricle and reduction of blood volume in all four heart chambers. -
Correct Answer :D. Pulsus paradoxus means that the arterial blood pressure during expiration exceeds arterial
pressure during inspiration by more than 10 mm Hg. This clinical finding reflects impairment of diastolic filling of
the left ventricle plus a reduction of blood volume within all four cardiac chambers.
1. A patient reports sudden onset of severe chest pain that radiates to the back and worsens with respiratory
movement and when lying down. These clinical manifestations describe:
a. Myocardial infarction (MI)
b. Restrictive pericarditis
c. Pericardial effusion
d. Acute pericarditis –
P 3
, • NURS 6501EXAM 09/13/2026
Correct Answer :Acute pericarditis. Most individuals with acute pericarditis describe several days of fever,
myalgias, and malaise, followed by the sudden onset of severe chest pain that worsens with respiratory
movements and with lying down. Although the pain may radiate to the back, it is generally felt in the anterior
chest and may be initially confused with the pain of an acute MI. Individuals with acute pericarditis also may
report dysphagia, restlessness, irritability, anxiety, and weakness.
1. Ventricular dilation and grossly impaired systolic function, leading to dilated heart failure, characterize which
form of cardiomyopathy?
a. Congestive
b. Septal
c. Hypertrophic
d. Dystrophic - Correct Answer :Congestive. Only dilated cardiomyopathy (congestive cardiomyopathy) is
characterized by ventricular dilation and grossly impaired systolic function, leading to dilated heart failure.
1. A disproportionate thickening of the interventricular septum is the hallmark of which form of cardiomyopathy?
a. Dystrophic
b. Restrictive
c. Hypertrophic
d. Dilated –
Correct Answer :Hypertrophic. Only hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is characterized by a thickening of the septal
wall, which may cause outflow obstruction to the left ventricle outflow tract.
1. Amyloidosis, hemochromatosis, or glycogen storage disease usually causes which form of cardiomyopathy?
a. Infiltrative
b. Septal
c. Restrictive
d. Hypertrophic –
Correct Answer :Restrictive. Restrictive cardiomyopathy may occur idiopathically or as a cardiac manifestation
of systemic diseases, such as scleroderma, amyloidosis, sarcoidosis, lymphoma, and hemochromatosis, or a
number of inherited storage diseases.
P 4
