Pathophysiology Final UPDATED Actual
Exam Questions and CORRECT Answers
D. Impaired arterial blood supply to your toe - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- A client with
diabetes and severe peripheral vascular disease has developed signs of dry gangrene on the
great toe of one foot. The client asks, "How this can happen?" Which of the following
pathophysiologic processes should the nurse explain to this client? "More than likely, your
gangrene is caused by:
A. Bacterial invasion into the foot and toe."
B. Inappropriate activation of apoptosis, which means death of your cells."
C. Metaplastic cellular changes in your toe."
D. Impaired arterial blood supply to your toe."
B. Disuse atrophy of muscle cells during a prolonged period of immobility - CORRECT
ANSWER✔✔- A client has experienced significant decreases in mobility and stamina during
a 3-week hospital stay for the treatment of a femoral head fracture. Which of the following
phenomena most likely accounts for the client's decrease in muscle function?
A. Ischemic atrophy resulting from vascular changes while on bedrest
B. Disuse atrophy of muscle cells during a prolonged period of immobility
C. Impaired muscle cell metabolism resulting from metaplasia
D. Dysplasia as a consequence of inflammation during bone remodeling
A. Changes in cell shape, size, and organization - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- A client
presents for a scheduled Papanicolaou (Pap) smear. The clinician who will interpret the smear
will examine cell samples for evidence of:
A. Changes in cell shape, size, and organization
B. The presence of unexpected cell types
C. Ischemic changes in cell samples
D. Abnormally high numbers of cells in a specified field
,apoptosis - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- What is defined as programmed cell death?
B. Granulation tissue - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- A nursing student is cleaning and
changing the dressing on a client's sacral ulcer. The student has vigorously cleansed the
wound bed to remove all traces of the beefy, red tissue that existed in the wound bed. The
student has most likely removed:
A. The extracellular matrix
B. Granulation tissue
C. Stem cells
D. Necrotic tissue
A. Stimulate rapid proliferation of RBCs by the blood-forming progenitor cells of the bone
marrow - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- A client has arrived in the emergency department with
massive blood loss from a lacerated liver. Knowing the physiological principles behind the
capacity for cells to regenerate, the client's body will likely:
A. Stimulate rapid proliferation of RBCs by the blood-forming progenitor cells of the bone
marrow
B. Pull fluid from the tissues to maintain a reasonable blood pressure
C. Activate the tissue cells to start producing stem cells
D. Begin a cell cycle so stem cells can undergo numerous mitotic divisions
A. Hepatitis B related to IV drug use as a teenager - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- A 40-year-
old female has been diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma. When asked what causes this
cancer, the physician looks at the history and responds, "I see in your history, you have had:
A. Hepatitis B related to IV drug use as a teenager."
B. Three miscarriages with no live births."
C. Numerous admissions for COPD exacerbations requiring steroids."
D. Your uterus and ovaries removed for endometriosis."
,C. Neutrophils - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- During a lecture on inflammation, the
physiology instructor discusses the major cellular components involved in the inflammation
response. The instructor asks, "Which of the following cells arrives early in great numbers?"
The student with the correct response is:
A. Basophils
B. Lymphocytes
C. Neutrophils
D. Monocytes
B. A client with a diagnosis of type 1 diabetes and a history of poor blood sugar control -
CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- Which of the following clients is most likely to experience
impaired wound healing?
A. A child whose severe cleft lip and palate have required a series of surgeries over several
months
B. A client with a diagnosis of type 1 diabetes and a history of poor blood sugar control
C. A client with persistent hypertension who takes a β-adrenergic blocker and a potassium-
wasting diuretic daily
D. A client who takes nebulized bronchodilators several times daily to treat chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease
D. The cells will not proliferate and will be replaced with scar tissue - CORRECT
ANSWER✔✔- A client has experienced a myocardial infarction with accompanying
necrosis of cardiac muscle, a permanent tissue. What are the ramifications of the fact that
cardiac muscle is a permanent tissue?
A. The necrotic cells will be replaced with muscle cells that have limited metabolism.
B. The cardiac muscle cells will remain perpetually in the G1 stage of mitosis.
C. Regeneration of the client's cardiac muscle will be exceptionally slow.
D. The cells will not proliferate and will be replaced with scar tissue.
D. "Try to minimize fat and maximize fiber when you're planning your meals." - CORRECT
ANSWER✔✔- Which of the following dietary guidelines should a nurse provide to a group
of older adults to possibly decrease their risks of developing colon cancer?
, A. "Regular vitamin supplements and a low-carbohydrate diet are beneficial."
B. "As much as possible, try to eat organic foods."
C. "Eat enough fiber in your diet that you have bowel movement at least once daily."
D. "Try to minimize fat and maximize fiber when you're planning your meals."
A. Not crossed the basement membrane, so it can be surgically removed with little chance of
growing back - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- A client had a positive Pap smear. The surgeon
diagnosed "cancer in situ of the cervix." The client asks, "What does this mean?" From the
following statements, which is most appropriate in response to this question? The tumor has:
A. Not crossed the basement membrane, so it can be surgically removed with little chance of
growing back
B. Been walled off within a strong fibrous capsule
C. Developed a distant infiltration
D. Grown undifferentiated cells that no longer look like the tissue from which it arose
C. Tumor is large and at least two lymph nodes are positive for cancer cells. - CORRECT
ANSWER✔✔- A breast cancer client has just learned that her tumor clinical stage is T3, N2,
M0. After the physician leaves, the client asks the nurse to explain this to her again. The
nurse will use which of the following statements in his or her answer? Your:
A. Extent of disease is unknown, but it looks like your cancer has stayed intact and not spread
to the bloodstream.
B. Tumor has metastasized to at least three distal sites and you have cancer in your lymph
nodes.
C. Tumor is large and at least two lymph nodes are positive for cancer cells.
D. Tumor is very small and has zero number of mitoses.
D. Cellular breakage - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- A client with diabetes has impaired
sensation, circulation, and oxygenation of his feet. He steps on a piece of glass, the wound
does not heal, and the tissue area becomes necrotic. The necrotic cell death is characterized
by:
Exam Questions and CORRECT Answers
D. Impaired arterial blood supply to your toe - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- A client with
diabetes and severe peripheral vascular disease has developed signs of dry gangrene on the
great toe of one foot. The client asks, "How this can happen?" Which of the following
pathophysiologic processes should the nurse explain to this client? "More than likely, your
gangrene is caused by:
A. Bacterial invasion into the foot and toe."
B. Inappropriate activation of apoptosis, which means death of your cells."
C. Metaplastic cellular changes in your toe."
D. Impaired arterial blood supply to your toe."
B. Disuse atrophy of muscle cells during a prolonged period of immobility - CORRECT
ANSWER✔✔- A client has experienced significant decreases in mobility and stamina during
a 3-week hospital stay for the treatment of a femoral head fracture. Which of the following
phenomena most likely accounts for the client's decrease in muscle function?
A. Ischemic atrophy resulting from vascular changes while on bedrest
B. Disuse atrophy of muscle cells during a prolonged period of immobility
C. Impaired muscle cell metabolism resulting from metaplasia
D. Dysplasia as a consequence of inflammation during bone remodeling
A. Changes in cell shape, size, and organization - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- A client
presents for a scheduled Papanicolaou (Pap) smear. The clinician who will interpret the smear
will examine cell samples for evidence of:
A. Changes in cell shape, size, and organization
B. The presence of unexpected cell types
C. Ischemic changes in cell samples
D. Abnormally high numbers of cells in a specified field
,apoptosis - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- What is defined as programmed cell death?
B. Granulation tissue - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- A nursing student is cleaning and
changing the dressing on a client's sacral ulcer. The student has vigorously cleansed the
wound bed to remove all traces of the beefy, red tissue that existed in the wound bed. The
student has most likely removed:
A. The extracellular matrix
B. Granulation tissue
C. Stem cells
D. Necrotic tissue
A. Stimulate rapid proliferation of RBCs by the blood-forming progenitor cells of the bone
marrow - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- A client has arrived in the emergency department with
massive blood loss from a lacerated liver. Knowing the physiological principles behind the
capacity for cells to regenerate, the client's body will likely:
A. Stimulate rapid proliferation of RBCs by the blood-forming progenitor cells of the bone
marrow
B. Pull fluid from the tissues to maintain a reasonable blood pressure
C. Activate the tissue cells to start producing stem cells
D. Begin a cell cycle so stem cells can undergo numerous mitotic divisions
A. Hepatitis B related to IV drug use as a teenager - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- A 40-year-
old female has been diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma. When asked what causes this
cancer, the physician looks at the history and responds, "I see in your history, you have had:
A. Hepatitis B related to IV drug use as a teenager."
B. Three miscarriages with no live births."
C. Numerous admissions for COPD exacerbations requiring steroids."
D. Your uterus and ovaries removed for endometriosis."
,C. Neutrophils - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- During a lecture on inflammation, the
physiology instructor discusses the major cellular components involved in the inflammation
response. The instructor asks, "Which of the following cells arrives early in great numbers?"
The student with the correct response is:
A. Basophils
B. Lymphocytes
C. Neutrophils
D. Monocytes
B. A client with a diagnosis of type 1 diabetes and a history of poor blood sugar control -
CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- Which of the following clients is most likely to experience
impaired wound healing?
A. A child whose severe cleft lip and palate have required a series of surgeries over several
months
B. A client with a diagnosis of type 1 diabetes and a history of poor blood sugar control
C. A client with persistent hypertension who takes a β-adrenergic blocker and a potassium-
wasting diuretic daily
D. A client who takes nebulized bronchodilators several times daily to treat chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease
D. The cells will not proliferate and will be replaced with scar tissue - CORRECT
ANSWER✔✔- A client has experienced a myocardial infarction with accompanying
necrosis of cardiac muscle, a permanent tissue. What are the ramifications of the fact that
cardiac muscle is a permanent tissue?
A. The necrotic cells will be replaced with muscle cells that have limited metabolism.
B. The cardiac muscle cells will remain perpetually in the G1 stage of mitosis.
C. Regeneration of the client's cardiac muscle will be exceptionally slow.
D. The cells will not proliferate and will be replaced with scar tissue.
D. "Try to minimize fat and maximize fiber when you're planning your meals." - CORRECT
ANSWER✔✔- Which of the following dietary guidelines should a nurse provide to a group
of older adults to possibly decrease their risks of developing colon cancer?
, A. "Regular vitamin supplements and a low-carbohydrate diet are beneficial."
B. "As much as possible, try to eat organic foods."
C. "Eat enough fiber in your diet that you have bowel movement at least once daily."
D. "Try to minimize fat and maximize fiber when you're planning your meals."
A. Not crossed the basement membrane, so it can be surgically removed with little chance of
growing back - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- A client had a positive Pap smear. The surgeon
diagnosed "cancer in situ of the cervix." The client asks, "What does this mean?" From the
following statements, which is most appropriate in response to this question? The tumor has:
A. Not crossed the basement membrane, so it can be surgically removed with little chance of
growing back
B. Been walled off within a strong fibrous capsule
C. Developed a distant infiltration
D. Grown undifferentiated cells that no longer look like the tissue from which it arose
C. Tumor is large and at least two lymph nodes are positive for cancer cells. - CORRECT
ANSWER✔✔- A breast cancer client has just learned that her tumor clinical stage is T3, N2,
M0. After the physician leaves, the client asks the nurse to explain this to her again. The
nurse will use which of the following statements in his or her answer? Your:
A. Extent of disease is unknown, but it looks like your cancer has stayed intact and not spread
to the bloodstream.
B. Tumor has metastasized to at least three distal sites and you have cancer in your lymph
nodes.
C. Tumor is large and at least two lymph nodes are positive for cancer cells.
D. Tumor is very small and has zero number of mitoses.
D. Cellular breakage - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- A client with diabetes has impaired
sensation, circulation, and oxygenation of his feet. He steps on a piece of glass, the wound
does not heal, and the tissue area becomes necrotic. The necrotic cell death is characterized
by:
