ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY NRSG 605
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM STUDY GUIDE —
VASCULAR, CARDIAC, AND BLOOD DISEASES
1,050 Exam-Style Questions with Answers & Detailed
Rationales
University of Nebraska Medical Center | Exam Prep
Edition
All Chapters Included | Sequential Numbering
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter Topic Questions
Chapter 1 Vascular Pathophysiology Q1–Q350
Chapter 2 Cardiac Pathophysiology Q351–Q700
Chapter 3 Hematologic Pathophysiology Q701–Q1050
TOTAL QUESTIONS: 1,050
,CHAPTER 1: VASCULAR PATHOPHYSIOLOGY (Q1–
Q350)
Section 1A: Vascular Anatomy and Physiology (Q1–
Q60)
Q1. The innermost layer of an artery is called the:
A. Tunica adventitia
B. Tunica media
C. Tunica intima
D. Tunica externa
Answer: C
Rationale: The tunica intima is the innermost layer of an artery and is in
direct contact with blood flow. It consists of a single layer of endothelial cells
supported by a thin basement membrane. The tunica media is the middle
layer, and the tunica adventitia is the outermost layer.
Q2. The middle layer of an artery is called the:
A. Tunica intima
B. Tunica media
C. Tunica adventitia
D. Tunica externa
Answer: B
Rationale: The tunica media is the middle layer of an artery and is
composed primarily of smooth muscle and elastic fibers. It is responsible for
regulating vessel diameter through vasoconstriction and vasodilation.
Q3. The outermost layer of an artery is called the:
,A. Tunica intima
B. Tunica media
C. Tunica adventitia
D. Tunica interna
Answer: C
Rationale: The tunica adventitia (also called tunica externa) is the
outermost layer of an artery. It is composed of connective tissue that
provides structural support and anchors the vessel to surrounding tissues.
Q4. Which layer of the artery produces heparin?
A. Tunica intima
B. Tunica media
C. Tunica adventitia
D. All layers equally
Answer: A
Rationale: The tunica intima produces heparin, which prevents blood
clotting. The endothelial cells of the intima also release nitric oxide, which
promotes vasodilation.
Q5. Which layer of the artery releases nitric oxide?
A. Tunica media
B. Tunica intima
C. Tunica adventitia
D. Tunica externa
Answer: B
Rationale: The tunica intima releases nitric oxide (NO), a potent vasodilator
that relaxes vascular smooth muscle and inhibits platelet aggregation.
, Q6. Which layer of the artery allows vessel diameters to change without
injury?
A. Tunica intima
B. Tunica media
C. Tunica adventitia
D. Endothelium
Answer: C
Rationale: The tunica adventitia allows vessel diameters to change without
injury because its connective tissue composition provides flexibility and
support.
Q7. Which layer of the artery produces elastin?
A. Tunica intima
B. Tunica media
C. Tunica adventitia
D. Endothelium
Answer: B
Rationale: The tunica media produces elastin, which allows the artery to
stretch and recoil in response to pressure changes during the cardiac cycle.
Q8. Which layer of the artery produces collagen?
A. Tunica intima
B. Tunica media
C. Tunica adventitia
D. Endothelium
Answer: B
Rationale: The tunica media produces collagen, which provides tensile
strength to the vessel wall.
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM STUDY GUIDE —
VASCULAR, CARDIAC, AND BLOOD DISEASES
1,050 Exam-Style Questions with Answers & Detailed
Rationales
University of Nebraska Medical Center | Exam Prep
Edition
All Chapters Included | Sequential Numbering
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter Topic Questions
Chapter 1 Vascular Pathophysiology Q1–Q350
Chapter 2 Cardiac Pathophysiology Q351–Q700
Chapter 3 Hematologic Pathophysiology Q701–Q1050
TOTAL QUESTIONS: 1,050
,CHAPTER 1: VASCULAR PATHOPHYSIOLOGY (Q1–
Q350)
Section 1A: Vascular Anatomy and Physiology (Q1–
Q60)
Q1. The innermost layer of an artery is called the:
A. Tunica adventitia
B. Tunica media
C. Tunica intima
D. Tunica externa
Answer: C
Rationale: The tunica intima is the innermost layer of an artery and is in
direct contact with blood flow. It consists of a single layer of endothelial cells
supported by a thin basement membrane. The tunica media is the middle
layer, and the tunica adventitia is the outermost layer.
Q2. The middle layer of an artery is called the:
A. Tunica intima
B. Tunica media
C. Tunica adventitia
D. Tunica externa
Answer: B
Rationale: The tunica media is the middle layer of an artery and is
composed primarily of smooth muscle and elastic fibers. It is responsible for
regulating vessel diameter through vasoconstriction and vasodilation.
Q3. The outermost layer of an artery is called the:
,A. Tunica intima
B. Tunica media
C. Tunica adventitia
D. Tunica interna
Answer: C
Rationale: The tunica adventitia (also called tunica externa) is the
outermost layer of an artery. It is composed of connective tissue that
provides structural support and anchors the vessel to surrounding tissues.
Q4. Which layer of the artery produces heparin?
A. Tunica intima
B. Tunica media
C. Tunica adventitia
D. All layers equally
Answer: A
Rationale: The tunica intima produces heparin, which prevents blood
clotting. The endothelial cells of the intima also release nitric oxide, which
promotes vasodilation.
Q5. Which layer of the artery releases nitric oxide?
A. Tunica media
B. Tunica intima
C. Tunica adventitia
D. Tunica externa
Answer: B
Rationale: The tunica intima releases nitric oxide (NO), a potent vasodilator
that relaxes vascular smooth muscle and inhibits platelet aggregation.
, Q6. Which layer of the artery allows vessel diameters to change without
injury?
A. Tunica intima
B. Tunica media
C. Tunica adventitia
D. Endothelium
Answer: C
Rationale: The tunica adventitia allows vessel diameters to change without
injury because its connective tissue composition provides flexibility and
support.
Q7. Which layer of the artery produces elastin?
A. Tunica intima
B. Tunica media
C. Tunica adventitia
D. Endothelium
Answer: B
Rationale: The tunica media produces elastin, which allows the artery to
stretch and recoil in response to pressure changes during the cardiac cycle.
Q8. Which layer of the artery produces collagen?
A. Tunica intima
B. Tunica media
C. Tunica adventitia
D. Endothelium
Answer: B
Rationale: The tunica media produces collagen, which provides tensile
strength to the vessel wall.
