Page 1 of 146
UT TYLER FNP NURS 5350 ADV
PATHO/NUR6203 EXAM 1 | 2026/2027 EDITION |
VERIFIED QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED
ANSWERS AND RATIONALES | BRAND NEW!
1. A 58-year-old male with a 20-year history of poorly controlled
hypertension presents with progressive dyspnea on exertion and
orthopnea. Echocardiography reveals left ventricular hypertrophy with
preserved ejection fraction. Which pathophysiologic mechanism best
explains this patient's diastolic dysfunction?
A. Impaired myocardial contractility due to ischemic injury
B. Increased ventricular wall stiffness impairing diastolic filling
C. Reduced preload due to excessive venous pooling
D. Pericardial effusion restricting ventricular expansion
B. Increased ventricular wall stiffness impairing diastolic filling
Chronic hypertension increases afterload, leading to compensatory left
ventricular hypertrophy. The hypertrophied myocardium becomes stiffer
and less compliant, impairing diastolic relaxation and filling, which is
characteristic of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).
2. A 34-year-old female presents with fatigue, weight gain, cold
intolerance, and constipation. Laboratory findings reveal elevated TSH
and low free T4. Which cellular adaptation is most likely occurring in the
thyroid gland?
,Page 2 of 146
A. Atrophy
B. Hyperplasia
C. Metaplasia
D. Dysplasia
B. Hyperplasia
In primary hypothyroidism, the thyroid gland undergoes hyperplasia in
response to elevated TSH stimulation. This compensatory mechanism
attempts to increase hormone production but ultimately fails, resulting
in glandular enlargement and hormonal deficiency.
3. During a lecture on cellular injury, the FNP student learns that
hypoxia leads to ATP depletion. Which cellular pump is most directly
impaired by ATP depletion, leading to cellular swelling?
A. Sodium-potassium ATPase pump
B. Calcium ATPase pump
C. Proton pump
D. Glucose transporter
A. Sodium-potassium ATPase pump
The Na⁺/K⁺ ATPase pump requires ATP to maintain the electrochemical
gradient. When ATP is depleted during hypoxia, the pump fails, causing
intracellular sodium and water accumulation, resulting in cellular
swelling (hydropic degeneration).
,Page 3 of 146
4. A 45-year-old male with a history of chronic alcohol abuse presents
with jaundice, ascites, and asterixis. Which type of cellular death is
primarily responsible for his hepatic dysfunction?
A. Apoptosis
B. Coagulative necrosis
C. Liquefactive necrosis
D. Fat necrosis
B. Coagulative necrosis
Chronic alcohol abuse leads to hepatocyte injury and cell death. In the
liver, ischemic and toxic injury typically produces coagulative necrosis,
characterized by preservation of tissue architecture with loss of nuclei.
This contributes to cirrhosis and hepatic failure.
5. A 62-year-old female is diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ
(DCIS) of the breast. Which characteristic distinguishes this lesion from
invasive ductal carcinoma?
A. Presence of distant metastasis
B. Invasion through the basement membrane
C. Confinement to the ductal system without stromal invasion
D. Anaplastic cellular features
C. Confinement to the ductal system without stromal invasion
DCIS is a non-invasive proliferation of malignant cells confined to the
ductal system. The basement membrane remains intact, and there is no
stromal invasion. This distinction is critical because DCIS has an excellent
prognosis with appropriate treatment.
, Page 4 of 146
6. A 28-year-old male presents with fever, leukocytosis, and a purulent
wound infection. Which cell type is the primary phagocyte in acute
bacterial infection?
A. Eosinophil
B. Basophil
C. Neutrophil
D. Lymphocyte
C. Neutrophil
Neutrophils are the first responders in acute bacterial infection. They
migrate to the site of injury via chemotaxis, phagocytose bacteria, and
release enzymes and reactive oxygen species to destroy pathogens.
Their presence is a hallmark of acute purulent inflammation.
7. A 52-year-old female with rheumatoid arthritis is started on
methotrexate. Which mechanism of action best explains its therapeutic
effect in this autoimmune condition?
A. Inhibition of dihydrofolate reductase, reducing lymphocyte
proliferation
B. Blockade of tumor necrosis factor-alpha
C. Depletion of B cells
D. Inhibition of calcineurin
A. Inhibition of dihydrofolate reductase, reducing lymphocyte
proliferation
UT TYLER FNP NURS 5350 ADV
PATHO/NUR6203 EXAM 1 | 2026/2027 EDITION |
VERIFIED QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED
ANSWERS AND RATIONALES | BRAND NEW!
1. A 58-year-old male with a 20-year history of poorly controlled
hypertension presents with progressive dyspnea on exertion and
orthopnea. Echocardiography reveals left ventricular hypertrophy with
preserved ejection fraction. Which pathophysiologic mechanism best
explains this patient's diastolic dysfunction?
A. Impaired myocardial contractility due to ischemic injury
B. Increased ventricular wall stiffness impairing diastolic filling
C. Reduced preload due to excessive venous pooling
D. Pericardial effusion restricting ventricular expansion
B. Increased ventricular wall stiffness impairing diastolic filling
Chronic hypertension increases afterload, leading to compensatory left
ventricular hypertrophy. The hypertrophied myocardium becomes stiffer
and less compliant, impairing diastolic relaxation and filling, which is
characteristic of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).
2. A 34-year-old female presents with fatigue, weight gain, cold
intolerance, and constipation. Laboratory findings reveal elevated TSH
and low free T4. Which cellular adaptation is most likely occurring in the
thyroid gland?
,Page 2 of 146
A. Atrophy
B. Hyperplasia
C. Metaplasia
D. Dysplasia
B. Hyperplasia
In primary hypothyroidism, the thyroid gland undergoes hyperplasia in
response to elevated TSH stimulation. This compensatory mechanism
attempts to increase hormone production but ultimately fails, resulting
in glandular enlargement and hormonal deficiency.
3. During a lecture on cellular injury, the FNP student learns that
hypoxia leads to ATP depletion. Which cellular pump is most directly
impaired by ATP depletion, leading to cellular swelling?
A. Sodium-potassium ATPase pump
B. Calcium ATPase pump
C. Proton pump
D. Glucose transporter
A. Sodium-potassium ATPase pump
The Na⁺/K⁺ ATPase pump requires ATP to maintain the electrochemical
gradient. When ATP is depleted during hypoxia, the pump fails, causing
intracellular sodium and water accumulation, resulting in cellular
swelling (hydropic degeneration).
,Page 3 of 146
4. A 45-year-old male with a history of chronic alcohol abuse presents
with jaundice, ascites, and asterixis. Which type of cellular death is
primarily responsible for his hepatic dysfunction?
A. Apoptosis
B. Coagulative necrosis
C. Liquefactive necrosis
D. Fat necrosis
B. Coagulative necrosis
Chronic alcohol abuse leads to hepatocyte injury and cell death. In the
liver, ischemic and toxic injury typically produces coagulative necrosis,
characterized by preservation of tissue architecture with loss of nuclei.
This contributes to cirrhosis and hepatic failure.
5. A 62-year-old female is diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ
(DCIS) of the breast. Which characteristic distinguishes this lesion from
invasive ductal carcinoma?
A. Presence of distant metastasis
B. Invasion through the basement membrane
C. Confinement to the ductal system without stromal invasion
D. Anaplastic cellular features
C. Confinement to the ductal system without stromal invasion
DCIS is a non-invasive proliferation of malignant cells confined to the
ductal system. The basement membrane remains intact, and there is no
stromal invasion. This distinction is critical because DCIS has an excellent
prognosis with appropriate treatment.
, Page 4 of 146
6. A 28-year-old male presents with fever, leukocytosis, and a purulent
wound infection. Which cell type is the primary phagocyte in acute
bacterial infection?
A. Eosinophil
B. Basophil
C. Neutrophil
D. Lymphocyte
C. Neutrophil
Neutrophils are the first responders in acute bacterial infection. They
migrate to the site of injury via chemotaxis, phagocytose bacteria, and
release enzymes and reactive oxygen species to destroy pathogens.
Their presence is a hallmark of acute purulent inflammation.
7. A 52-year-old female with rheumatoid arthritis is started on
methotrexate. Which mechanism of action best explains its therapeutic
effect in this autoimmune condition?
A. Inhibition of dihydrofolate reductase, reducing lymphocyte
proliferation
B. Blockade of tumor necrosis factor-alpha
C. Depletion of B cells
D. Inhibition of calcineurin
A. Inhibition of dihydrofolate reductase, reducing lymphocyte
proliferation
