NURS 5315 Advanced Pathophysiology Exam 3
2026/2027 | 150 Verified Questions & Answers |
UT Arlington Nursing Prep | 6 Core Domains |
Instant Download
Questions 1–150
Domain 1: Cardiovascular Pathophysiology
1. Which mechanism is primarily responsible for reduced cardiac output in systolic heart failure?
A) Impaired ventricular filling
B) Decreased myocardial contractility
C) Increased afterload
D) Pericardial constriction
Answer: B
Rationale: Systolic HF involves reduced ejection fraction due to impaired contractility.
2. What is the primary cause of essential hypertension?
A) Renal artery stenosis
B) Multifactorial genetic and environmental factors
C) Pheochromocytoma
D) Coarctation of the aorta
Answer: B
Rationale: Essential hypertension has no single identifiable cause; it is multifactorial.
3. Which atherosclerotic change is most characteristic of unstable angina?
A) Stable fibrous plaque
,B) Plaque rupture with thrombus formation
C) Calcified plaque
D) Eccentric plaque without thrombosis
Answer: B
Rationale: Unstable angina involves plaque rupture and partial thrombosis.
4. What is the primary electrolyte disturbance in metabolic alkalosis associated with heart failure?
A) Hyperkalemia
B) Hypokalemia
C) Hypernatremia
D) Hypocalcemia
Answer: B
Rationale: Loop diuretics cause potassium loss in heart failure patients.
5. Which type of shock is characterized by massive vasodilation and increased capillary
permeability?
A) Cardiogenic shock
B) Hypovolemic shock
C) Distributive shock
D) Obstructive shock
Answer: C
Rationale: Distributive shock (septic, anaphylactic) causes vasodilation and capillary leak.
6. What is the primary cause of right-sided heart failure?
A) Left-sided heart failure
B) Left-sided heart failure
C) Mitral stenosis
D) Aortic stenosis
2
,Answer: B
Rationale: Right HF often results from left HF causing pulmonary congestion and increased right-sided
workload.
7. Which compensatory mechanism in heart failure leads to increased preload?
A) Tachycardia
B) Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system activation
C) Vasodilation
D) Natriuresis
Answer: B
Rationale: RAAS activation causes sodium and water retention, increasing preload.
8. Which arrhythmia is most associated with sudden cardiac death?
A) Atrial fibrillation
B) Ventricular fibrillation
C) Sinus bradycardia
D) First-degree heart block
Answer: B
Rationale: V-fib causes ineffective cardiac output and is lethal without defibrillation.
9. What is the primary pathology in atherosclerosis?
A) Medial calcification
B) Intimal lipid accumulation and inflammation
C) Adventitial fibrosis
D) Aneurysm formation
Answer: B
Rationale: Atherosclerosis begins with endothelial injury and lipid deposition in the intima.
3
, 10. Which finding indicates left-sided heart failure?
A) Peripheral edema
B) Pulmonary crackles
C) Jugular vein distention
D) Hepatomegaly
Answer: B
Rationale: Left HF causes pulmonary congestion with crackles.
11. What is the primary cause of cardiogenic shock?
A) Severe hemorrhage
B) Myocardial infarction
C) Sepsis
D) Anaphylaxis
Answer: B
Rationale: Cardiogenic shock results from pump failure, often due to MI.
12. Which condition is characterized by increased pulmonary vascular resistance?
A) Left heart failure
B) Pulmonary hypertension
C) Aortic stenosis
D) Mitral regurgitation
Answer: B
Rationale: Pulmonary hypertension involves elevated pressure in pulmonary arteries.
13. What is the primary mechanism of action of ACE inhibitors in heart failure?
A) Increased contractility
B) Reduced afterload and preload
4
2026/2027 | 150 Verified Questions & Answers |
UT Arlington Nursing Prep | 6 Core Domains |
Instant Download
Questions 1–150
Domain 1: Cardiovascular Pathophysiology
1. Which mechanism is primarily responsible for reduced cardiac output in systolic heart failure?
A) Impaired ventricular filling
B) Decreased myocardial contractility
C) Increased afterload
D) Pericardial constriction
Answer: B
Rationale: Systolic HF involves reduced ejection fraction due to impaired contractility.
2. What is the primary cause of essential hypertension?
A) Renal artery stenosis
B) Multifactorial genetic and environmental factors
C) Pheochromocytoma
D) Coarctation of the aorta
Answer: B
Rationale: Essential hypertension has no single identifiable cause; it is multifactorial.
3. Which atherosclerotic change is most characteristic of unstable angina?
A) Stable fibrous plaque
,B) Plaque rupture with thrombus formation
C) Calcified plaque
D) Eccentric plaque without thrombosis
Answer: B
Rationale: Unstable angina involves plaque rupture and partial thrombosis.
4. What is the primary electrolyte disturbance in metabolic alkalosis associated with heart failure?
A) Hyperkalemia
B) Hypokalemia
C) Hypernatremia
D) Hypocalcemia
Answer: B
Rationale: Loop diuretics cause potassium loss in heart failure patients.
5. Which type of shock is characterized by massive vasodilation and increased capillary
permeability?
A) Cardiogenic shock
B) Hypovolemic shock
C) Distributive shock
D) Obstructive shock
Answer: C
Rationale: Distributive shock (septic, anaphylactic) causes vasodilation and capillary leak.
6. What is the primary cause of right-sided heart failure?
A) Left-sided heart failure
B) Left-sided heart failure
C) Mitral stenosis
D) Aortic stenosis
2
,Answer: B
Rationale: Right HF often results from left HF causing pulmonary congestion and increased right-sided
workload.
7. Which compensatory mechanism in heart failure leads to increased preload?
A) Tachycardia
B) Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system activation
C) Vasodilation
D) Natriuresis
Answer: B
Rationale: RAAS activation causes sodium and water retention, increasing preload.
8. Which arrhythmia is most associated with sudden cardiac death?
A) Atrial fibrillation
B) Ventricular fibrillation
C) Sinus bradycardia
D) First-degree heart block
Answer: B
Rationale: V-fib causes ineffective cardiac output and is lethal without defibrillation.
9. What is the primary pathology in atherosclerosis?
A) Medial calcification
B) Intimal lipid accumulation and inflammation
C) Adventitial fibrosis
D) Aneurysm formation
Answer: B
Rationale: Atherosclerosis begins with endothelial injury and lipid deposition in the intima.
3
, 10. Which finding indicates left-sided heart failure?
A) Peripheral edema
B) Pulmonary crackles
C) Jugular vein distention
D) Hepatomegaly
Answer: B
Rationale: Left HF causes pulmonary congestion with crackles.
11. What is the primary cause of cardiogenic shock?
A) Severe hemorrhage
B) Myocardial infarction
C) Sepsis
D) Anaphylaxis
Answer: B
Rationale: Cardiogenic shock results from pump failure, often due to MI.
12. Which condition is characterized by increased pulmonary vascular resistance?
A) Left heart failure
B) Pulmonary hypertension
C) Aortic stenosis
D) Mitral regurgitation
Answer: B
Rationale: Pulmonary hypertension involves elevated pressure in pulmonary arteries.
13. What is the primary mechanism of action of ACE inhibitors in heart failure?
A) Increased contractility
B) Reduced afterload and preload
4
