NSG 120 / NSG120 Nursing
Pathophysiology Exam 2 V3 | Questions
and Verified Answers | Detailed Rationales
| Latest Edition | A+ Graded
Study Guide & Test Bank
Question 1
A patient with chronic heart failure develops peripheral edema. Which
pathophysiologic mechanism best explains this finding?
A. Decreased capillary hydrostatic pressure
B. Increased plasma oncotic pressure
C. Increased venous hydrostatic pressure
D. Decreased sodium and water retention
Answer: _C. Increased venous hydrostatic pressure_
In heart failure, impaired cardiac pumping increases venous pressure. Elevated
capillary hydrostatic pressure promotes movement of fluid from the intravascular
space into surrounding tissues, producing peripheral edema.
Question 2
A patient with iron-deficiency anemia reports fatigue and shortness of breath with
activity. Which mechanism primarily contributes to these manifestations?
A. Increased oxygen-carrying capacity
B. Reduced hemoglobin-mediated oxygen transport
C. Increased arterial oxygen saturation
D. Excessive production of erythrocytes
Answer: _B. Reduced hemoglobin-mediated oxygen transport_
,Iron is necessary for hemoglobin synthesis. Iron deficiency reduces hemoglobin
concentration and therefore decreases the blood's ability to transport oxygen to
tissues.
Question 3
Which finding is most characteristic of metabolic acidosis?
A. Increased blood pH
B. Decreased hydrogen ion concentration
C. Decreased bicarbonate concentration
D. Increased bicarbonate concentration
Answer: _C. Decreased bicarbonate concentration_
Metabolic acidosis results from an accumulation of acids or loss of bicarbonate.
The primary laboratory change is a decreased serum bicarbonate level,
accompanied by a decreased blood pH.
Question 4
A patient develops respiratory alkalosis after hyperventilating during an episode of
severe anxiety. Which change should the nurse expect?
A. Increased PaCO₂
B. Decreased PaCO₂
C. Increased bicarbonate from the primary disturbance
D. Increased hydrogen ion concentration
Answer: _B. Decreased PaCO₂_
Hyperventilation causes excessive elimination of carbon dioxide. Because CO₂
contributes to carbonic acid formation, its reduction produces respiratory
alkalosis.
Question 5
Which mechanism is primarily responsible for the development of fever during an
infection?
A. Decreased hypothalamic temperature set point
B. Increased production of pyrogen-mediated prostaglandins
C. Suppression of inflammatory cytokines
D. Increased heat loss through vasodilation
,Answer: _B. Increased production of pyrogen-mediated prostaglandins_
Exogenous and endogenous pyrogens stimulate inflammatory pathways that
increase prostaglandin E₂ activity in the hypothalamus, raising the body's
temperature set point.
Question 6
A patient with prolonged vomiting is at risk for which acid-base imbalance?
A. Respiratory acidosis
B. Respiratory alkalosis
C. Metabolic acidosis
D. Metabolic alkalosis
Answer: _D. Metabolic alkalosis_
Gastric secretions contain hydrochloric acid. Prolonged vomiting causes loss of
hydrogen and chloride ions, which can result in metabolic alkalosis.
Question 7
Which physiologic response occurs during the early inflammatory response?
A. Decreased vascular permeability
B. Vasodilation and increased vascular permeability
C. Suppression of leukocyte migration
D. Reduced blood flow to the injured tissue
Answer: _B. Vasodilation and increased vascular permeability_
Inflammatory mediators cause local vasodilation and increase vascular
permeability. These changes allow plasma proteins and leukocytes to move toward
the site of tissue injury.
Question 8
A patient with nephrotic syndrome develops generalized edema. Which alteration
is most directly responsible?
A. Increased serum albumin
B. Decreased plasma oncotic pressure
C. Increased erythrocyte production
D. Increased intracellular sodium concentration
, Answer: _B. Decreased plasma oncotic pressure_
Protein loss through the kidneys decreases serum albumin. Reduced plasma
oncotic pressure allows fluid to move from the vascular space into the interstitial
tissues, producing edema.
Question 9
Which finding is most consistent with left-sided heart failure?
A. Pulmonary crackles
B. Ascites only
C. Jugular venous distention without pulmonary findings
D. Dependent peripheral edema as the only manifestation
Answer: _A. Pulmonary crackles_
Left-sided heart failure causes blood to back up into the pulmonary circulation.
Increased pulmonary capillary pressure can lead to pulmonary edema, producing
crackles and dyspnea.
Question 10
A patient with diabetes mellitus develops polyuria. Which mechanism best
explains this manifestation when blood glucose levels are markedly elevated?
A. Decreased glomerular filtration
B. Osmotic diuresis caused by glucose in the filtrate
C. Increased renal sodium reabsorption
D. Suppression of urine formation
Answer: _B. Osmotic diuresis caused by glucose in the filtrate_
When blood glucose exceeds the renal threshold, glucose remains in the filtrate
and draws water into the urine by osmosis. This produces increased urine volume.
Question 11
Which hormone is primarily responsible for increasing blood glucose during a
fasting state?
A. Insulin
B. Glucagon
Pathophysiology Exam 2 V3 | Questions
and Verified Answers | Detailed Rationales
| Latest Edition | A+ Graded
Study Guide & Test Bank
Question 1
A patient with chronic heart failure develops peripheral edema. Which
pathophysiologic mechanism best explains this finding?
A. Decreased capillary hydrostatic pressure
B. Increased plasma oncotic pressure
C. Increased venous hydrostatic pressure
D. Decreased sodium and water retention
Answer: _C. Increased venous hydrostatic pressure_
In heart failure, impaired cardiac pumping increases venous pressure. Elevated
capillary hydrostatic pressure promotes movement of fluid from the intravascular
space into surrounding tissues, producing peripheral edema.
Question 2
A patient with iron-deficiency anemia reports fatigue and shortness of breath with
activity. Which mechanism primarily contributes to these manifestations?
A. Increased oxygen-carrying capacity
B. Reduced hemoglobin-mediated oxygen transport
C. Increased arterial oxygen saturation
D. Excessive production of erythrocytes
Answer: _B. Reduced hemoglobin-mediated oxygen transport_
,Iron is necessary for hemoglobin synthesis. Iron deficiency reduces hemoglobin
concentration and therefore decreases the blood's ability to transport oxygen to
tissues.
Question 3
Which finding is most characteristic of metabolic acidosis?
A. Increased blood pH
B. Decreased hydrogen ion concentration
C. Decreased bicarbonate concentration
D. Increased bicarbonate concentration
Answer: _C. Decreased bicarbonate concentration_
Metabolic acidosis results from an accumulation of acids or loss of bicarbonate.
The primary laboratory change is a decreased serum bicarbonate level,
accompanied by a decreased blood pH.
Question 4
A patient develops respiratory alkalosis after hyperventilating during an episode of
severe anxiety. Which change should the nurse expect?
A. Increased PaCO₂
B. Decreased PaCO₂
C. Increased bicarbonate from the primary disturbance
D. Increased hydrogen ion concentration
Answer: _B. Decreased PaCO₂_
Hyperventilation causes excessive elimination of carbon dioxide. Because CO₂
contributes to carbonic acid formation, its reduction produces respiratory
alkalosis.
Question 5
Which mechanism is primarily responsible for the development of fever during an
infection?
A. Decreased hypothalamic temperature set point
B. Increased production of pyrogen-mediated prostaglandins
C. Suppression of inflammatory cytokines
D. Increased heat loss through vasodilation
,Answer: _B. Increased production of pyrogen-mediated prostaglandins_
Exogenous and endogenous pyrogens stimulate inflammatory pathways that
increase prostaglandin E₂ activity in the hypothalamus, raising the body's
temperature set point.
Question 6
A patient with prolonged vomiting is at risk for which acid-base imbalance?
A. Respiratory acidosis
B. Respiratory alkalosis
C. Metabolic acidosis
D. Metabolic alkalosis
Answer: _D. Metabolic alkalosis_
Gastric secretions contain hydrochloric acid. Prolonged vomiting causes loss of
hydrogen and chloride ions, which can result in metabolic alkalosis.
Question 7
Which physiologic response occurs during the early inflammatory response?
A. Decreased vascular permeability
B. Vasodilation and increased vascular permeability
C. Suppression of leukocyte migration
D. Reduced blood flow to the injured tissue
Answer: _B. Vasodilation and increased vascular permeability_
Inflammatory mediators cause local vasodilation and increase vascular
permeability. These changes allow plasma proteins and leukocytes to move toward
the site of tissue injury.
Question 8
A patient with nephrotic syndrome develops generalized edema. Which alteration
is most directly responsible?
A. Increased serum albumin
B. Decreased plasma oncotic pressure
C. Increased erythrocyte production
D. Increased intracellular sodium concentration
, Answer: _B. Decreased plasma oncotic pressure_
Protein loss through the kidneys decreases serum albumin. Reduced plasma
oncotic pressure allows fluid to move from the vascular space into the interstitial
tissues, producing edema.
Question 9
Which finding is most consistent with left-sided heart failure?
A. Pulmonary crackles
B. Ascites only
C. Jugular venous distention without pulmonary findings
D. Dependent peripheral edema as the only manifestation
Answer: _A. Pulmonary crackles_
Left-sided heart failure causes blood to back up into the pulmonary circulation.
Increased pulmonary capillary pressure can lead to pulmonary edema, producing
crackles and dyspnea.
Question 10
A patient with diabetes mellitus develops polyuria. Which mechanism best
explains this manifestation when blood glucose levels are markedly elevated?
A. Decreased glomerular filtration
B. Osmotic diuresis caused by glucose in the filtrate
C. Increased renal sodium reabsorption
D. Suppression of urine formation
Answer: _B. Osmotic diuresis caused by glucose in the filtrate_
When blood glucose exceeds the renal threshold, glucose remains in the filtrate
and draws water into the urine by osmosis. This produces increased urine volume.
Question 11
Which hormone is primarily responsible for increasing blood glucose during a
fasting state?
A. Insulin
B. Glucagon
