NSG 3850 Pathophysiology for Nurses II Exam 2
Review of 250 latest exam questions and correct
answers with Rationales | Galen NSG 3850 Exam
2 Pathophysiology 2 review test bank 2026-2027
1. Allergic (extrinsic) asthma is associated with
a. hyporesponsiveness of airways.
b. unknown precipitating factors.
c. IgE-mediated airway inflammation.
d. irreversible airway obstruction.
ANS: C
Extrinsic (allergic) asthma is mediated by IgE triggers. Allergic (extrinsic) asthma
involves hyperresponsiveness of the airways. Antigens are the precipitating factors.
Airway obstruction is reversible.
2. Copious amounts of foul-smelling sputum are generally associated with
a. emphysema.
b. epiglottitis.
c. pulmonary edema.
d. bronchiectasis.
ANS: D
Copious, foul-smelling respiratory secretions are associated with bronchiectasis.
Copious, foul-smelling respiratory secretions are not associated with emphysema,
epiglottitis, or pulmonary edema.
3. Emphysema results from destruction of alveolar walls and capillaries, which is
due to
a. release of proteolytic enzymes from immune cells.
b. air trapping with resultant excessive alveolar pressure.
c. excessive 1-antitrypsin.
d. autoantibodies against pulmonary basement membrane.
1
,ANS: A
The pathologic changes leading to alveolar destruction are associated with the
release of proteolytic enzymes from inflammatory cells such as neutrophils and
macrophages. While air trap-ping occurs in emphysema, the destruction of alveolar
walls and capillaries is due to release of proteolytic enzymes. Lack of 1-antitrypsin
can result in emphysema. Autoantibodies are not involved in destruction of
alveolar walls and capillaries in emphysema.
4. Chronic bronchitis often leads to cor pulmonale because of
a. ventricular hypoxia.
b. increased pulmonary vascular resistance.
c. left ventricular strain.
d. hypervolemia.
ANS: B
Chronic bronchitis often leads to cor pulmonale due to increased pulmonary
vascular resistance when right ventricular end-diastolic pressure increases.
Ventricular hypoxia, left ventricular strain, and hypervolemia do not lead to cor
pulmonale.
5. All obstructive pulmonary disorders are characterized by
a. resistance to airflow.
b. hyperresponsiveness.
c. decreased residual volumes.
d. decreased lung compliance.
ANS: A
Obstructive lung diseases are characterized by increased resistance to airflow. Only
asthma is characterized by hyperresponsiveness. Increased residual volume is
common in obstructive pulmonary disorders. Emphysema is characterized by
increased lung compliance due to loss of alveoli and elastic tissue.
6. Asthma is categorized as a(n)
a. restrictive pulmonary disorder.
b. infective pulmonary disorder.
c. obstructive pulmonary disorder.
d. type of acute tracheobronchial obstruction
ANS: C
Asthma is an obstructive pulmonary disorder. Asthma is not a restrictive
2
,pulmonary disorder or a type of tracheobronchial obstruction. Although asthma can
be associated with infection, it is not an infective pulmonary disorder.
7. Which pulmonary function test result is consistent with a diagnosis of asthma?
a. Reduced forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1)
b. Decreased functional residual capacity
c. Increased FEV1
d. Reduced total lung volume
ANS: A
Forced expiratory volumes (FEV1) decrease during asthma attacks. Functional
residual capacity is not used to diagnose asthma. Reduced (not increased) FEV1 is
found in asthma. Total lung volume is not used to diagnose asthma.
8. After evaluation, a child's asthma is characterized as "extrinsic." This means that
the asthma is
a. of unknown pathogenesis.
b. associated with specific allergic triggers.
c. associated with respiratory infections.
d. induced by psychological factors (stress).
ANS: B
Extrinsic asthma is also referred to as allergic asthma, which is triggered by
antigens. The un-derlying pathogenesis of extrinsic asthma is an allergic in nature.
Intrinsic asthma is associated with respiratory infections. Intrinsic asthma is
associated with psychological factors.
9. Cystic fibrosis is associated with
a. asthma.
b. chronic bronchitis.
c. bronchiectasis.
d. emphysema.
ANS: C
Fifty percent of cases of bronchiectasis are associated with cystic fibrosis. Cystic
fibrosis is not associated with asthma, chronic bronchitis, or emphysema.
10. Croup is characterized by
a. a productive cough.
b. a barking cough.
3
, c. an inability to cough.
d. drooling, sore throat, and difficulty swal-lowing.
ANS: B
Croup is characterized by a barking cough with stridor. A productive cough is not
characteristic of croup. Croup is associated with coughing. Drooling, sore throat,
and difficulty swallowing are not characteristics of croup.
11. Obstructive disorders are associated with
a. low residual volumes.
b. low expiratory flow rates.
c. increased expiratory reserve volume.
d. decreased total lung capacity.
ANS: B
Obstructive disorders are associated with low expiratory flow rates. Obstructive
disorders are associated with high residual volume. Increased expiratory reserve
volume and decreased total lung capacity is not characteristic of obstructive
disorders.
12. COPD leads to a barrel chest, because it causes
a. pulmonary edema.
b. muscle atrophy.
c. prolonged inspiration.
d. air trapping.
ANS: D
Destruction of alveolar walls reduces lung elastic recoil, which allows airway
collapse during exhalation. Air enters the alveoli during inhalation, but has
difficulty escaping during exhala-tion. When air is trapped in the alveoli, residual
volume increases, causing a barrel chest. De-struction of alveolar walls does not
cause pulmonary edema, muscle atrophy, or prolonged in-spiration.
13. When exposed to inhaled allergens, a patient with asthma produces large
quantities of
a. IgG.
b. IgE.
c. IgA.
d. IgM.
4
Review of 250 latest exam questions and correct
answers with Rationales | Galen NSG 3850 Exam
2 Pathophysiology 2 review test bank 2026-2027
1. Allergic (extrinsic) asthma is associated with
a. hyporesponsiveness of airways.
b. unknown precipitating factors.
c. IgE-mediated airway inflammation.
d. irreversible airway obstruction.
ANS: C
Extrinsic (allergic) asthma is mediated by IgE triggers. Allergic (extrinsic) asthma
involves hyperresponsiveness of the airways. Antigens are the precipitating factors.
Airway obstruction is reversible.
2. Copious amounts of foul-smelling sputum are generally associated with
a. emphysema.
b. epiglottitis.
c. pulmonary edema.
d. bronchiectasis.
ANS: D
Copious, foul-smelling respiratory secretions are associated with bronchiectasis.
Copious, foul-smelling respiratory secretions are not associated with emphysema,
epiglottitis, or pulmonary edema.
3. Emphysema results from destruction of alveolar walls and capillaries, which is
due to
a. release of proteolytic enzymes from immune cells.
b. air trapping with resultant excessive alveolar pressure.
c. excessive 1-antitrypsin.
d. autoantibodies against pulmonary basement membrane.
1
,ANS: A
The pathologic changes leading to alveolar destruction are associated with the
release of proteolytic enzymes from inflammatory cells such as neutrophils and
macrophages. While air trap-ping occurs in emphysema, the destruction of alveolar
walls and capillaries is due to release of proteolytic enzymes. Lack of 1-antitrypsin
can result in emphysema. Autoantibodies are not involved in destruction of
alveolar walls and capillaries in emphysema.
4. Chronic bronchitis often leads to cor pulmonale because of
a. ventricular hypoxia.
b. increased pulmonary vascular resistance.
c. left ventricular strain.
d. hypervolemia.
ANS: B
Chronic bronchitis often leads to cor pulmonale due to increased pulmonary
vascular resistance when right ventricular end-diastolic pressure increases.
Ventricular hypoxia, left ventricular strain, and hypervolemia do not lead to cor
pulmonale.
5. All obstructive pulmonary disorders are characterized by
a. resistance to airflow.
b. hyperresponsiveness.
c. decreased residual volumes.
d. decreased lung compliance.
ANS: A
Obstructive lung diseases are characterized by increased resistance to airflow. Only
asthma is characterized by hyperresponsiveness. Increased residual volume is
common in obstructive pulmonary disorders. Emphysema is characterized by
increased lung compliance due to loss of alveoli and elastic tissue.
6. Asthma is categorized as a(n)
a. restrictive pulmonary disorder.
b. infective pulmonary disorder.
c. obstructive pulmonary disorder.
d. type of acute tracheobronchial obstruction
ANS: C
Asthma is an obstructive pulmonary disorder. Asthma is not a restrictive
2
,pulmonary disorder or a type of tracheobronchial obstruction. Although asthma can
be associated with infection, it is not an infective pulmonary disorder.
7. Which pulmonary function test result is consistent with a diagnosis of asthma?
a. Reduced forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1)
b. Decreased functional residual capacity
c. Increased FEV1
d. Reduced total lung volume
ANS: A
Forced expiratory volumes (FEV1) decrease during asthma attacks. Functional
residual capacity is not used to diagnose asthma. Reduced (not increased) FEV1 is
found in asthma. Total lung volume is not used to diagnose asthma.
8. After evaluation, a child's asthma is characterized as "extrinsic." This means that
the asthma is
a. of unknown pathogenesis.
b. associated with specific allergic triggers.
c. associated with respiratory infections.
d. induced by psychological factors (stress).
ANS: B
Extrinsic asthma is also referred to as allergic asthma, which is triggered by
antigens. The un-derlying pathogenesis of extrinsic asthma is an allergic in nature.
Intrinsic asthma is associated with respiratory infections. Intrinsic asthma is
associated with psychological factors.
9. Cystic fibrosis is associated with
a. asthma.
b. chronic bronchitis.
c. bronchiectasis.
d. emphysema.
ANS: C
Fifty percent of cases of bronchiectasis are associated with cystic fibrosis. Cystic
fibrosis is not associated with asthma, chronic bronchitis, or emphysema.
10. Croup is characterized by
a. a productive cough.
b. a barking cough.
3
, c. an inability to cough.
d. drooling, sore throat, and difficulty swal-lowing.
ANS: B
Croup is characterized by a barking cough with stridor. A productive cough is not
characteristic of croup. Croup is associated with coughing. Drooling, sore throat,
and difficulty swallowing are not characteristics of croup.
11. Obstructive disorders are associated with
a. low residual volumes.
b. low expiratory flow rates.
c. increased expiratory reserve volume.
d. decreased total lung capacity.
ANS: B
Obstructive disorders are associated with low expiratory flow rates. Obstructive
disorders are associated with high residual volume. Increased expiratory reserve
volume and decreased total lung capacity is not characteristic of obstructive
disorders.
12. COPD leads to a barrel chest, because it causes
a. pulmonary edema.
b. muscle atrophy.
c. prolonged inspiration.
d. air trapping.
ANS: D
Destruction of alveolar walls reduces lung elastic recoil, which allows airway
collapse during exhalation. Air enters the alveoli during inhalation, but has
difficulty escaping during exhala-tion. When air is trapped in the alveoli, residual
volume increases, causing a barrel chest. De-struction of alveolar walls does not
cause pulmonary edema, muscle atrophy, or prolonged in-spiration.
13. When exposed to inhaled allergens, a patient with asthma produces large
quantities of
a. IgG.
b. IgE.
c. IgA.
d. IgM.
4
