SCI 225 Pathophysiology Midterm Exam Study
Guide | Complete Practice Exam Questions with
Verified Answers and Detailed Rationales | Latest
Update 2026/2027 | Already Graded A+
Question 1
When a nurse is checking a urinalysis, the finding that would alert the nurse to
cellular injury is the presence of:
A. Excessive carbohydrate
B. Excessive fat
C. Slight glucose
D. Excessive protein
Answer: D
Rationale: Protein in the urine (proteinuria) indicates glomerular injury or
increased permeability of the glomerular membrane, which is a sign of cellular
injury.
Question 2
A patient has a recent spinal cord injury. Which term should the nurse use to
describe the loss of reflex function below the level of injury/lesion?
A. Paralysis
B. Concussion
C. Fatigue
D. Spinal shock
Answer: D
Rationale: Spinal shock is the temporary loss of all spinal cord function, including
reflexes, below the level of injury. It can last days to weeks.
pg. 1
,Question 3
Water balance is regulated by:
A. The sensation of hunger and by the hormone insulin
B. The regulation of body temperature and by aldosterone
C. Sensation of thirst and by antidiuretic hormone (ADH)
D. The control of blood pressure and by renin
Answer: C
Rationale: Thirst prompts water intake, and ADH regulates water reabsorption in
the kidneys. Together they maintain water balance.
Question 4
A child suffers from sudden apparent arousals in which she expresses intense fear.
Her mother reports she wakes screaming but is difficult to awaken completely. The
child most likely suffers from:
A. Night terrors
B. Lucid dreams
C. Somnambulism
D. Sleep apnea
Answer: A
Rationale: Night terrors occur during non-REM sleep, often with screaming and
intense fear, and the child is difficult to arouse.
Question 5
A 54-year-old male with a long history of smoking complains of excessive
tiredness, shortness of breath, and overall ill feelings. Lab results reveal decreased
pH, increased CO2, and normal bicarbonate. These findings confirm:
A. Metabolic acidosis
B. Mixed acidosis
C. Metabolic alkalosis
D. Respiratory acidosis
Answer: D
Rationale: Decreased pH with increased CO2 and normal bicarbonate indicates
respiratory acidosis due to inadequate ventilation.
pg. 2
,Question 6
A 50-year-old female became infected with Clostridium bacteria and died a week
later. Examination revealed lysis of blood cell membranes. The most likely cause
of death was:
A. Huntington disease
B. Gas gangrene
C. Concussion
D. Expressivity
Answer: B
Rationale: Clostridium infection can cause gas gangrene, which produces toxins
that lyse cell membranes and cause rapid tissue destruction.
Question 7
When a nurse cares for a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the
nurse remembers this disease is an example of:
A. Autoimmunity
B. Alloimmunity
C. Expressivity
D. Homoimmunity
Answer: A
Rationale: SLE is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the
body’s own tissues.
Question 8
A disease that results in the accumulation of lipids in the nerve cells of the brain is:
A. Huntington disease
B. Niemann-Pick disease
C. Tay-Sachs disease
D. Parkinson disease
Answer: C
pg. 3
, Rationale: Tay-Sachs disease is a lysosomal storage disorder with accumulation of
GM2 ganglioside in neurons, leading to neurodegeneration.
Question 9
Which information should the nurse include when teaching about angiogenic
factors? In cancer, angiogenic factors stimulate:
A. Brain swelling
B. Release of growth factors
C. New blood vessel growth
D. Both new blood vessel growth and tumor growth
Answer: D
Rationale: Angiogenic factors promote new blood vessel growth, which supplies
oxygen and nutrients to the growing tumor, supporting tumor growth.
Question 10
A nurse is reviewing lab reports. The nurse recalls blood plasma is located in
which fluid compartment?
A. Extracellular fluid
B. Diuretic fluid
C. Intravascular fluid
D. Interstitial fluid
Answer: C
Rationale: Blood plasma is the liquid component of blood and is located within
the intravascular compartment.
Question 11
A child suffers from sudden apparent arousals in which she expresses intense fear.
Her mother reports she seems to wake screaming but is difficult to awaken
completely. The child most likely suffers from:
A. Night terrors
B. Lucid dreams
C. Somnambulism
pg. 4
Guide | Complete Practice Exam Questions with
Verified Answers and Detailed Rationales | Latest
Update 2026/2027 | Already Graded A+
Question 1
When a nurse is checking a urinalysis, the finding that would alert the nurse to
cellular injury is the presence of:
A. Excessive carbohydrate
B. Excessive fat
C. Slight glucose
D. Excessive protein
Answer: D
Rationale: Protein in the urine (proteinuria) indicates glomerular injury or
increased permeability of the glomerular membrane, which is a sign of cellular
injury.
Question 2
A patient has a recent spinal cord injury. Which term should the nurse use to
describe the loss of reflex function below the level of injury/lesion?
A. Paralysis
B. Concussion
C. Fatigue
D. Spinal shock
Answer: D
Rationale: Spinal shock is the temporary loss of all spinal cord function, including
reflexes, below the level of injury. It can last days to weeks.
pg. 1
,Question 3
Water balance is regulated by:
A. The sensation of hunger and by the hormone insulin
B. The regulation of body temperature and by aldosterone
C. Sensation of thirst and by antidiuretic hormone (ADH)
D. The control of blood pressure and by renin
Answer: C
Rationale: Thirst prompts water intake, and ADH regulates water reabsorption in
the kidneys. Together they maintain water balance.
Question 4
A child suffers from sudden apparent arousals in which she expresses intense fear.
Her mother reports she wakes screaming but is difficult to awaken completely. The
child most likely suffers from:
A. Night terrors
B. Lucid dreams
C. Somnambulism
D. Sleep apnea
Answer: A
Rationale: Night terrors occur during non-REM sleep, often with screaming and
intense fear, and the child is difficult to arouse.
Question 5
A 54-year-old male with a long history of smoking complains of excessive
tiredness, shortness of breath, and overall ill feelings. Lab results reveal decreased
pH, increased CO2, and normal bicarbonate. These findings confirm:
A. Metabolic acidosis
B. Mixed acidosis
C. Metabolic alkalosis
D. Respiratory acidosis
Answer: D
Rationale: Decreased pH with increased CO2 and normal bicarbonate indicates
respiratory acidosis due to inadequate ventilation.
pg. 2
,Question 6
A 50-year-old female became infected with Clostridium bacteria and died a week
later. Examination revealed lysis of blood cell membranes. The most likely cause
of death was:
A. Huntington disease
B. Gas gangrene
C. Concussion
D. Expressivity
Answer: B
Rationale: Clostridium infection can cause gas gangrene, which produces toxins
that lyse cell membranes and cause rapid tissue destruction.
Question 7
When a nurse cares for a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the
nurse remembers this disease is an example of:
A. Autoimmunity
B. Alloimmunity
C. Expressivity
D. Homoimmunity
Answer: A
Rationale: SLE is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the
body’s own tissues.
Question 8
A disease that results in the accumulation of lipids in the nerve cells of the brain is:
A. Huntington disease
B. Niemann-Pick disease
C. Tay-Sachs disease
D. Parkinson disease
Answer: C
pg. 3
, Rationale: Tay-Sachs disease is a lysosomal storage disorder with accumulation of
GM2 ganglioside in neurons, leading to neurodegeneration.
Question 9
Which information should the nurse include when teaching about angiogenic
factors? In cancer, angiogenic factors stimulate:
A. Brain swelling
B. Release of growth factors
C. New blood vessel growth
D. Both new blood vessel growth and tumor growth
Answer: D
Rationale: Angiogenic factors promote new blood vessel growth, which supplies
oxygen and nutrients to the growing tumor, supporting tumor growth.
Question 10
A nurse is reviewing lab reports. The nurse recalls blood plasma is located in
which fluid compartment?
A. Extracellular fluid
B. Diuretic fluid
C. Intravascular fluid
D. Interstitial fluid
Answer: C
Rationale: Blood plasma is the liquid component of blood and is located within
the intravascular compartment.
Question 11
A child suffers from sudden apparent arousals in which she expresses intense fear.
Her mother reports she seems to wake screaming but is difficult to awaken
completely. The child most likely suffers from:
A. Night terrors
B. Lucid dreams
C. Somnambulism
pg. 4
