NURS 6501 Advanced Pathophysiology
Final Exam 2024/2025 Questions and
Answers
1. Which of the following best describes the pathophysiology of Type 1 diabetes
mellitus?
A. Increased insulin resistance
B. Autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells
C. Excessive hepatic glucose production
D. Decreased glucose uptake in muscles
Answer: B
Rationale: Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition in which T-cells attack and
destroy insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas, resulting in little or no insulin
production.
2. Which compensatory mechanism is activated first in hypovolemic shock?
A. Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system
B. Parasympathetic nervous system
C. Baroreceptor-mediated sympathetic activation
D. Antidiuretic hormone release
Answer: C
Rationale: The sympathetic nervous system is rapidly activated via baroreceptors
in response to decreased blood pressure, increasing heart rate and
vasoconstriction to maintain perfusion.
,3. What is the primary cause of cellular injury in ischemia?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Increased lactic acid production
C. Free radical damage
D. Loss of ATP production
Answer: D
Rationale: Ischemia results in decreased oxygen delivery, impairing mitochondrial
function and leading to decreased ATP, which disrupts ion transport and cell
integrity.
4. Which condition is most associated with left ventricular hypertrophy?
A. Mitral stenosis
B. Aortic regurgitation
C. Systemic hypertension
D. Pulmonary hypertension
Answer: C
Rationale: Systemic hypertension increases afterload on the left ventricle, causing
the myocardium to thicken in compensation (left ventricular hypertrophy).
5. In chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which of the following
occurs?
A. Increased elastic recoil of the lungs
B. Decreased residual volume
C. Air trapping and hyperinflation
D. Decreased compliance
Answer: C
Rationale: In COPD, particularly emphysema, destruction of alveolar walls
reduces elastic recoil, leading to air trapping and lung hyperinflation.
,6. What is the underlying defect in cystic fibrosis?
A. Impaired surfactant production
B. Dysfunction of sodium-glucose transporters
C. Mutation of the CFTR chloride channel
D. Autoimmune destruction of epithelial cells
Answer: C
Rationale: Cystic fibrosis is caused by mutations in the CFTR gene, which disrupt
chloride ion transport and lead to thick, sticky mucus in lungs and pancreas.
7. A client with nephrotic syndrome will likely have which lab finding?
A. Hematuria
B. Hyperkalemia
C. Hypoalbuminemia
D. Hypernatremia
Answer: C
Rationale: Nephrotic syndrome is characterized by increased glomerular
permeability leading to protein loss, especially albumin, resulting in
hypoalbuminemia and edema.
8. Which neurotransmitter is primarily decreased in Parkinson’s disease?
A. Acetylcholine
B. Serotonin
C. Dopamine
D. GABA
Answer: C
Rationale: Parkinson’s disease involves degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in
the substantia nigra, leading to motor symptoms due to dopamine deficiency.
9. Which hormone increases in response to low serum calcium?
, A. Calcitonin
B. Aldosterone
C. Parathyroid hormone
D. Thyroid hormone
Answer: C
Rationale: Parathyroid hormone (PTH) is released when serum calcium levels fall,
stimulating bone resorption, renal calcium reabsorption, and vitamin D activation.
10. What is the primary defect in myasthenia gravis?
A. Dopamine deficiency in basal ganglia
B. Autoantibodies to acetylcholine receptors
C. Demyelination of peripheral nerves
D. Excessive glutamate release
Answer: B
Rationale: Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disorder where antibodies block
or destroy acetylcholine receptors at the neuromuscular junction, causing muscle
weakness.
11. Which inflammatory mediator is most responsible for fever?
A. Interleukin-1 (IL-1)
B. Histamine
C. Leukotriene B4
D. Tumor necrosis factor-beta (TNF-β)
Answer: A
Rationale: IL-1, along with TNF-α, is a key endogenous pyrogen that stimulates
the hypothalamus to raise body temperature during inflammation.
12. What electrolyte disturbance is commonly associated with tumor lysis
syndrome?
Final Exam 2024/2025 Questions and
Answers
1. Which of the following best describes the pathophysiology of Type 1 diabetes
mellitus?
A. Increased insulin resistance
B. Autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells
C. Excessive hepatic glucose production
D. Decreased glucose uptake in muscles
Answer: B
Rationale: Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition in which T-cells attack and
destroy insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas, resulting in little or no insulin
production.
2. Which compensatory mechanism is activated first in hypovolemic shock?
A. Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system
B. Parasympathetic nervous system
C. Baroreceptor-mediated sympathetic activation
D. Antidiuretic hormone release
Answer: C
Rationale: The sympathetic nervous system is rapidly activated via baroreceptors
in response to decreased blood pressure, increasing heart rate and
vasoconstriction to maintain perfusion.
,3. What is the primary cause of cellular injury in ischemia?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Increased lactic acid production
C. Free radical damage
D. Loss of ATP production
Answer: D
Rationale: Ischemia results in decreased oxygen delivery, impairing mitochondrial
function and leading to decreased ATP, which disrupts ion transport and cell
integrity.
4. Which condition is most associated with left ventricular hypertrophy?
A. Mitral stenosis
B. Aortic regurgitation
C. Systemic hypertension
D. Pulmonary hypertension
Answer: C
Rationale: Systemic hypertension increases afterload on the left ventricle, causing
the myocardium to thicken in compensation (left ventricular hypertrophy).
5. In chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which of the following
occurs?
A. Increased elastic recoil of the lungs
B. Decreased residual volume
C. Air trapping and hyperinflation
D. Decreased compliance
Answer: C
Rationale: In COPD, particularly emphysema, destruction of alveolar walls
reduces elastic recoil, leading to air trapping and lung hyperinflation.
,6. What is the underlying defect in cystic fibrosis?
A. Impaired surfactant production
B. Dysfunction of sodium-glucose transporters
C. Mutation of the CFTR chloride channel
D. Autoimmune destruction of epithelial cells
Answer: C
Rationale: Cystic fibrosis is caused by mutations in the CFTR gene, which disrupt
chloride ion transport and lead to thick, sticky mucus in lungs and pancreas.
7. A client with nephrotic syndrome will likely have which lab finding?
A. Hematuria
B. Hyperkalemia
C. Hypoalbuminemia
D. Hypernatremia
Answer: C
Rationale: Nephrotic syndrome is characterized by increased glomerular
permeability leading to protein loss, especially albumin, resulting in
hypoalbuminemia and edema.
8. Which neurotransmitter is primarily decreased in Parkinson’s disease?
A. Acetylcholine
B. Serotonin
C. Dopamine
D. GABA
Answer: C
Rationale: Parkinson’s disease involves degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in
the substantia nigra, leading to motor symptoms due to dopamine deficiency.
9. Which hormone increases in response to low serum calcium?
, A. Calcitonin
B. Aldosterone
C. Parathyroid hormone
D. Thyroid hormone
Answer: C
Rationale: Parathyroid hormone (PTH) is released when serum calcium levels fall,
stimulating bone resorption, renal calcium reabsorption, and vitamin D activation.
10. What is the primary defect in myasthenia gravis?
A. Dopamine deficiency in basal ganglia
B. Autoantibodies to acetylcholine receptors
C. Demyelination of peripheral nerves
D. Excessive glutamate release
Answer: B
Rationale: Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disorder where antibodies block
or destroy acetylcholine receptors at the neuromuscular junction, causing muscle
weakness.
11. Which inflammatory mediator is most responsible for fever?
A. Interleukin-1 (IL-1)
B. Histamine
C. Leukotriene B4
D. Tumor necrosis factor-beta (TNF-β)
Answer: A
Rationale: IL-1, along with TNF-α, is a key endogenous pyrogen that stimulates
the hypothalamus to raise body temperature during inflammation.
12. What electrolyte disturbance is commonly associated with tumor lysis
syndrome?
