NU 606 Exam 3 Advanced
Pathophysiology Review 2026/2027 –
Questions & Answers with Detailed
Rationales Guaranteed Pass (GRADED
A+)
Question 1
A patient with chronic heart failure develops worsening
peripheral edema. Which mechanism most directly contributes
to the edema?
A. Decreased aldosterone secretion
B. Increased renal sodium and water retention
C. Increased plasma oncotic pressure
D. Decreased sympathetic nervous system activity
Answer: B. Increased renal sodium and water retention
Rationale: R
educed effective circulating volume in heart failure activates the
renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, promoting sodium and
water retention and increasing hydrostatic pressure, which
contributes to edema.
,Question 2
Which finding is most characteristic of left-sided heart failure?
A. Ascites
B. Hepatomegaly
C. Pulmonary congestion
D. Dependent peripheral edema
Answer: C. Pulmonary congestion
Rationale: Left ventricular dysfunction causes blood to back up
into the pulmonary circulation, increasing pulmonary capillary
hydrostatic pressure and promoting pulmonary edema and
congestion.
Question 3
A patient experiences an acute myocardial infarction. Which
laboratory marker is most specific for myocardial injury?
A. Serum amylase
B. Cardiac troponin
C. Alkaline phosphatase
D. Bilirubin
Answer: B. Cardiac troponin
Rationale: Cardiac troponins are highly sensitive and specific
biomarkers of myocardial injury and are central to the
evaluation of acute coronary syndromes.
,Question 4
Which pathophysiologic process is primarily responsible for the
development of atherosclerosis?
A. Destruction of red blood cells
B. Chronic endothelial injury and lipid accumulation
C. Acute platelet destruction
D. Increased erythropoietin production
Answer: B. Chronic endothelial injury and lipid accumulation
Rationale: Atherosclerosis involves endothelial dysfunction,
entry and oxidation of lipids within the arterial wall,
inflammatory cell recruitment, and formation of an
atherosclerotic plaque.
Question 5
A patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease has
difficulty exhaling. Which mechanism is primarily responsible?
A. Increased airway resistance
B. Decreased pulmonary blood flow only
C. Increased alveolar surfactant production
D. Increased chest wall compliance alone
_Answer: A. Increased airway resistance
, Rationale: Airway inflammation, mucus production, and loss of
elastic recoil can increase expiratory airway resistance and
cause airflow limitation in COPD.
Question 6
Which physiologic abnormality is most characteristic of
emphysema?
A. Increased elastic recoil
B. Destruction of alveolar walls
C. Increased alveolar surface area
D. Reduced lung compliance
_Answer: B. Destruction of alveolar walls
Rationale: Emphysema involves destruction of alveolar septa
and loss of elastic recoil, reducing the surface area available for
gas exchange and causing air trapping.
Question 7
A patient with asthma develops wheezing after exposure to an
allergen. Which mechanism contributes most directly to the
acute airway obstruction?
A. Bronchial smooth-muscle constriction
B. Destruction of alveolar septa
C. Pulmonary fibrosis
D. Reduced mucus production
Pathophysiology Review 2026/2027 –
Questions & Answers with Detailed
Rationales Guaranteed Pass (GRADED
A+)
Question 1
A patient with chronic heart failure develops worsening
peripheral edema. Which mechanism most directly contributes
to the edema?
A. Decreased aldosterone secretion
B. Increased renal sodium and water retention
C. Increased plasma oncotic pressure
D. Decreased sympathetic nervous system activity
Answer: B. Increased renal sodium and water retention
Rationale: R
educed effective circulating volume in heart failure activates the
renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, promoting sodium and
water retention and increasing hydrostatic pressure, which
contributes to edema.
,Question 2
Which finding is most characteristic of left-sided heart failure?
A. Ascites
B. Hepatomegaly
C. Pulmonary congestion
D. Dependent peripheral edema
Answer: C. Pulmonary congestion
Rationale: Left ventricular dysfunction causes blood to back up
into the pulmonary circulation, increasing pulmonary capillary
hydrostatic pressure and promoting pulmonary edema and
congestion.
Question 3
A patient experiences an acute myocardial infarction. Which
laboratory marker is most specific for myocardial injury?
A. Serum amylase
B. Cardiac troponin
C. Alkaline phosphatase
D. Bilirubin
Answer: B. Cardiac troponin
Rationale: Cardiac troponins are highly sensitive and specific
biomarkers of myocardial injury and are central to the
evaluation of acute coronary syndromes.
,Question 4
Which pathophysiologic process is primarily responsible for the
development of atherosclerosis?
A. Destruction of red blood cells
B. Chronic endothelial injury and lipid accumulation
C. Acute platelet destruction
D. Increased erythropoietin production
Answer: B. Chronic endothelial injury and lipid accumulation
Rationale: Atherosclerosis involves endothelial dysfunction,
entry and oxidation of lipids within the arterial wall,
inflammatory cell recruitment, and formation of an
atherosclerotic plaque.
Question 5
A patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease has
difficulty exhaling. Which mechanism is primarily responsible?
A. Increased airway resistance
B. Decreased pulmonary blood flow only
C. Increased alveolar surfactant production
D. Increased chest wall compliance alone
_Answer: A. Increased airway resistance
, Rationale: Airway inflammation, mucus production, and loss of
elastic recoil can increase expiratory airway resistance and
cause airflow limitation in COPD.
Question 6
Which physiologic abnormality is most characteristic of
emphysema?
A. Increased elastic recoil
B. Destruction of alveolar walls
C. Increased alveolar surface area
D. Reduced lung compliance
_Answer: B. Destruction of alveolar walls
Rationale: Emphysema involves destruction of alveolar septa
and loss of elastic recoil, reducing the surface area available for
gas exchange and causing air trapping.
Question 7
A patient with asthma develops wheezing after exposure to an
allergen. Which mechanism contributes most directly to the
acute airway obstruction?
A. Bronchial smooth-muscle constriction
B. Destruction of alveolar septa
C. Pulmonary fibrosis
D. Reduced mucus production
