BANK
Course
Pathophysiology 2 edition
Question 1:
A patient is diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). What
primary pathophysiological change occurs in this disease?
A) Inflammation and narrowing of the airways
B) Increased mucus production and fibrosis in the lungs
C) Acute bronchospasms
D) Autoimmune destruction of lung tissue
Answer: B) Increased mucus production and fibrosis in the lungs
Rationale: COPD involves chronic inflammation that leads to increased mucus production
and fibrosis, which obstructs airflow and damages alveolar walls, reducing lung elasticity.
Question 2:
In a patient with congestive heart failure (CHF), which of the following compensatory
mechanisms may lead to worsening of the condition?
A) Activation of the sympathetic nervous system
B) Release of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP)
C) Increase in renal perfusion
D) Increased cardiac output
Answer: A) Activation of the sympathetic nervous system
Rationale: In CHF, sympathetic nervous system activation increases heart rate and constricts
blood vessels, which initially compensates but eventually worsens the condition by increasing
the workload on the heart.
Question 3:
A patient with type 1 diabetes presents with symptoms of ketoacidosis. Which of the
following laboratory findings is expected?
A) Elevated blood pH
B) Increased ketone levels
C) Decreased blood glucose levels
D) Increased insulin levels
Answer: B) Increased ketone levels
Rationale: Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is caused by insufficient insulin, leading the body to
break down fat for energy, which produces ketones and results in acidosis.
,Question 4:
Which of the following is a common characteristic of chronic inflammation?
A) Increased vascular permeability
B) Formation of granulomas
C) Absence of immune cells
D) Rapid healing of tissue
Answer: B) Formation of granulomas
Rationale: Chronic inflammation often involves granuloma formation, where immune cells
attempt to "wall off" and isolate the persistent irritant or pathogen, leading to tissue damage
over time.
Question 5:
In myocardial infarction (MI), the initial damage to heart tissue is caused by which
process?
A) Autoimmune attack on cardiac tissue
B) Atherosclerotic plaque rupture and subsequent thrombus formation
C) Pulmonary embolism
D) Genetic mutation
Answer: B) Atherosclerotic plaque rupture and subsequent thrombus formation
Rationale: Myocardial infarctions commonly occur when an atherosclerotic plaque ruptures,
leading to clot formation that blocks blood flow, causing ischemia and damage to cardiac
tissue.
Question 6:
What pathophysiological process is primarily involved in the development of
hypertension?
A) Narrowing of the coronary arteries
B) Increased resistance in peripheral arterioles
C) Decrease in sympathetic nervous system activity
D) Reduced sodium reabsorption by the kidneys
Answer: B) Increased resistance in peripheral arterioles
Rationale: Hypertension often results from increased peripheral resistance due to arteriolar
narrowing, which raises systemic blood pressure and workload on the heart.
Question 7:
,A patient with cirrhosis is at risk for which of the following complications due to
impaired liver function?
A) Hypercoagulability
B) Decreased bilirubin levels
C) Ascites
D) Elevated cholesterol
Answer: C) Ascites
Rationale: Cirrhosis impairs liver function, leading to portal hypertension and reduced
protein production, which can result in fluid accumulation in the abdomen (ascites).
Question 8:
In patients with chronic renal failure, anemia is often present due to which of the
following reasons?
A) Increased erythropoietin production
B) Decreased iron absorption in the gastrointestinal tract
C) Reduced erythropoietin production by the kidneys
D) Overproduction of red blood cells
Answer: C) Reduced erythropoietin production by the kidneys
Rationale: The kidneys produce erythropoietin, a hormone that stimulates red blood cell
production; chronic kidney disease leads to reduced erythropoietin and subsequent anemia.
Question 9:
Which of the following is a typical finding in a patient with Cushing’s syndrome?
A) Decreased cortisol levels
B) Weight loss and hypoglycemia
C) Hypertension and hyperglycemia
D) Hyperkalemia and hypotension
Answer: C) Hypertension and hyperglycemia
Rationale: Cushing's syndrome is characterized by elevated cortisol levels, leading to
symptoms like hypertension and hyperglycemia due to the metabolic effects of excess
cortisol.
Question 10:
A patient is diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). What is the primary
pathophysiological change seen in this condition?
A) Autoimmune destruction of myelin in the central nervous system
B) Degeneration of motor neurons in the peripheral nervous system
, C) Accumulation of amyloid plaques in the brain
D) Increased production of neurotransmitters
Answer: A) Autoimmune destruction of myelin in the central nervous system
Rationale: MS is an autoimmune disease in which immune cells attack the myelin sheath of
nerve fibers in the CNS, disrupting nerve signal transmission.
Question 11:
Which of the following is a characteristic finding in acute respiratory distress syndrome
(ARDS)?
A) Decreased alveolar permeability
B) Pulmonary edema without cardiac involvement
C) Decreased respiratory rate
D) Increased oxygen diffusion across the alveolar membrane
Answer: B) Pulmonary edema without cardiac involvement
Rationale: In ARDS, inflammatory damage to alveolar membranes leads to pulmonary
edema, but it is non-cardiogenic and primarily results from increased capillary permeability.
Question 12:
What is the main cause of tissue damage in rheumatoid arthritis (RA)?
A) Viral infection of the synovial fluid
B) Autoimmune attack on synovial membranes
C) Bacterial infection of the joints
D) Excess production of synovial fluid
Answer: B) Autoimmune attack on synovial membranes
Rationale: RA is an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks the synovial
membrane, leading to chronic inflammation, joint damage, and pain.
Question 13:
In iron deficiency anemia, which of the following lab findings is most likely?
A) Elevated hematocrit
B) Low hemoglobin levels
C) High serum ferritin levels
D) Macrocytic red blood cells
Answer: B) Low hemoglobin levels
Rationale: Iron is essential for hemoglobin production; iron deficiency leads to low
hemoglobin, resulting in reduced oxygen-carrying capacity and anemia.