WCU PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
MIDTERM
Actual Questions and Answers
Expert-Verified Explanation
This Exam contains:
✪ 40 Questions and Answers
✪ Multiple-choice and True/False Format
✪ Expert-Verified Explanations
✪ Verified with Trusted Textbooks
1. A patient is diagnosed with heart failure with normal ejection fraction. This patient is
most likely characterized by:
A. A young male with prior MI
B. Elderly woman without a previous history of MI
C. Male with long-standing hypertension
D. Young woman with diabetes
Answer: B
EXPLANATION: Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is more common in
elderly women without prior myocardial infarction, typically associated with diastolic
dysfunction.
2. In which dysrhythmias should treatment be instituted immediately?
A. Sinus bradycardia at 60 bpm
B. Atrial fibrillation with a ventricular rate of 220 bpm
C. First-degree AV block
D. Premature atrial contractions
Answer: B
EXPLANATION: Atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular response (>150 bpm) can
compromise cardiac output and requires urgent rate control or rhythm management.
3. Aortic regurgitation is associated with:
A. Diastolic murmur
B. Systolic murmur
C. Continuous murmur
D. Opening snap
Answer: A
, EXPLANATION: Aortic regurgitation results in blood flowing back into the left ventricle
during diastole, producing a high-pitched, blowing diastolic murmur.
4. Mitral stenosis is associated with:
A. Widened pulse pressure
B. Systolic murmur
C. A pressure gradient across the mitral valve
D. Decreased pulmonary venous pressure
Answer: C
EXPLANATION: Mitral stenosis causes a narrowing of the mitral valve orifice, leading to a
pressure gradient between the left atrium and left ventricle during diastole.
5. First-degree heart block is characterized by:
A. Dropped QRS complexes
B. Prolonged PR interval
C. Absent P waves
D. Shortened PR interval
Answer: B
EXPLANATION: In first-degree AV block, every impulse is conducted, but with a prolonged
PR interval (>200 ms).
6. Which blood pressure reading is considered indicative of prehypertension?
A. 135/85
B. 128/82
C. 142/92
D. 150/95
Answer: B
EXPLANATION: According to JNC-7, prehypertension is defined as systolic BP 120–139 mm
Hg or diastolic BP 80–89 mm Hg.
7. Increased preload of the cardiac chambers may lead to which patient symptom?
A. Hypotension
B. Bradycardia
C. Edema
D. Dry skin
Answer: C
EXPLANATION: Increased preload raises venous pressure, which can result in fluid
accumulation and peripheral edema.
MIDTERM
Actual Questions and Answers
Expert-Verified Explanation
This Exam contains:
✪ 40 Questions and Answers
✪ Multiple-choice and True/False Format
✪ Expert-Verified Explanations
✪ Verified with Trusted Textbooks
1. A patient is diagnosed with heart failure with normal ejection fraction. This patient is
most likely characterized by:
A. A young male with prior MI
B. Elderly woman without a previous history of MI
C. Male with long-standing hypertension
D. Young woman with diabetes
Answer: B
EXPLANATION: Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is more common in
elderly women without prior myocardial infarction, typically associated with diastolic
dysfunction.
2. In which dysrhythmias should treatment be instituted immediately?
A. Sinus bradycardia at 60 bpm
B. Atrial fibrillation with a ventricular rate of 220 bpm
C. First-degree AV block
D. Premature atrial contractions
Answer: B
EXPLANATION: Atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular response (>150 bpm) can
compromise cardiac output and requires urgent rate control or rhythm management.
3. Aortic regurgitation is associated with:
A. Diastolic murmur
B. Systolic murmur
C. Continuous murmur
D. Opening snap
Answer: A
, EXPLANATION: Aortic regurgitation results in blood flowing back into the left ventricle
during diastole, producing a high-pitched, blowing diastolic murmur.
4. Mitral stenosis is associated with:
A. Widened pulse pressure
B. Systolic murmur
C. A pressure gradient across the mitral valve
D. Decreased pulmonary venous pressure
Answer: C
EXPLANATION: Mitral stenosis causes a narrowing of the mitral valve orifice, leading to a
pressure gradient between the left atrium and left ventricle during diastole.
5. First-degree heart block is characterized by:
A. Dropped QRS complexes
B. Prolonged PR interval
C. Absent P waves
D. Shortened PR interval
Answer: B
EXPLANATION: In first-degree AV block, every impulse is conducted, but with a prolonged
PR interval (>200 ms).
6. Which blood pressure reading is considered indicative of prehypertension?
A. 135/85
B. 128/82
C. 142/92
D. 150/95
Answer: B
EXPLANATION: According to JNC-7, prehypertension is defined as systolic BP 120–139 mm
Hg or diastolic BP 80–89 mm Hg.
7. Increased preload of the cardiac chambers may lead to which patient symptom?
A. Hypotension
B. Bradycardia
C. Edema
D. Dry skin
Answer: C
EXPLANATION: Increased preload raises venous pressure, which can result in fluid
accumulation and peripheral edema.
