ATI MED SURG ENDOCRINE ATI FINAL EXAM
2025/2026 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS 2
VERSIONS CURRENTLY TESTING COMPLETE
QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED VERIFIED ANSWERS
/ALREADY GRADED A+
1. What is the primary function of the endocrine system?
...ANSWER... To regulate bodily functions through the secretion of hormones into the
bloodstream.
2. Name the master gland of the endocrine system.
...ANSWER... The pituitary gland.
3. What hormone, released by the posterior pituitary, is responsible for water reabsorption in the
kidneys?
...ANSWER... Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) or Vasopressin.
4. A patient with syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) would exhibit what
primary laboratory abnormality?
...ANSWER... Hyponatremia (low serum sodium).
5. What is the most common cause of Cushing's syndrome?
...ANSWER... Prolonged use of exogenous glucocorticoid medications.
6. Describe the skin characteristics often seen in a patient with Cushing's syndrome.
...ANSWER... Thin, fragile, easily bruised skin with purple striae.
7. What is the hallmark metabolic abnormality in Diabetes Mellitus?
...ANSWER... Hyperglycemia.
8. Differentiate between Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus based on etiology.
,...ANSWER... Type 1 is an autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells leading to an
absolute insulin deficiency. Type 2 is characterized by insulin resistance and a relative insulin
deficiency.
9. What is the classic triad of symptoms for hyperthyroidism?
...ANSWER... Tachycardia, heat intolerance, and weight loss.
10. What life-threatening complication can result from untreated hyperthyroidism, often
triggered by stress or infection?
...ANSWER... Thyroid storm (or thyrotoxic crisis).
11. What is the primary diagnostic test for assessing long-term glycemic control?
...ANSWER... Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c).
12. List three acute complications of diabetes.
...ANSWER... Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA), Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic State (HHS), and
Hypoglycemia.
13. What is the first sign of hypoglycemia a patient should be taught to recognize?
...ANSWER... Sweating and tremors.
14. What is the recommended immediate treatment for a conscious patient with hypoglycemia?
...ANSWER... 15-20 grams of a fast-acting carbohydrate (e.g., 4 oz fruit juice, 6-8 hard candies,
3-4 glucose tablets).
15. In Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA), what causes the characteristic metabolic acidosis?
...ANSWER... The accumulation of ketone bodies in the blood.
16. What electrolyte imbalance is a critical concern during the initial treatment of DKA?
...ANSWER... Hypokalemia.
,17. What is the primary clinical manifestation of hypothyroidism?
...ANSWER... Fatigue and sluggishness (generalized slowing of body processes).
18. What is myxedema coma?
...ANSWER... A life-threatening, severe form of hypothyroidism characterized by hypothermia,
bradycardia, and altered mental status.
19. What is the name of the autoimmune disorder that is the most common cause of
hyperthyroidism?
...ANSWER... Graves' disease.
20. What distinctive ocular finding is associated with Graves' disease?
...ANSWER... Exophthalmos (protrusion of the eyeballs).
21. What is the role of calcium in the body?
...ANSWER... It is essential for bone health, nerve transmission, muscle contraction, and blood
clotting.
22. Which gland regulates calcium balance in the blood?
...ANSWER... The parathyroid glands.
23. What is the function of parathyroid hormone (PTH)?
...ANSWER... To increase blood calcium levels by stimulating bone resorption, increasing renal
reabsorption of calcium, and activating vitamin D to increase intestinal absorption.
24. A patient with chronic hypercalcemia is at risk for developing what?
...ANSWER... Kidney stones.
25. What is Trousseau's sign an indicator of?
...ANSWER... Hypocalcemia.
, 26. Describe how to elicit Trousseau's sign.
...ANSWER... Inflate a blood pressure cuff on the upper arm to a pressure above systolic
pressure for 1-3 minutes. A positive sign is carpopedal spasm (hand contracts).
27. What is Chvostek's sign?
...ANSWER... A twitching of the facial muscles when the facial nerve is tapped just anterior to
the ear.
28. What is the most common cause of primary adrenal insufficiency?
...ANSWER... Autoimmune adrenalitis (Addison's disease).
29. What is the life-threatening crisis associated with adrenal insufficiency?
...ANSWER... Addisonian crisis (adrenal crisis).
30. What are the key manifestations of an Addisonian crisis?
...ANSWER... Hypotension, hyponatremia, hyperkalemia, hypoglycemia, and profound
weakness.
31. What is the primary treatment for an Addisonian crisis?
...ANSWER... Immediate intravenous administration of glucocorticoids (e.g., hydrocortisone)
and fluid resuscitation with normal saline.
32. What is pheochromocytoma?
...ANSWER... A rare tumor of the adrenal medulla that secretes excessive catecholamines
(epinephrine and norepinephrine).
33. What is the classic triad of symptoms associated with a pheochromocytoma?
...ANSWER... Episodic headache, sweating, and tachycardia.
34. What diagnostic test is considered the best for confirming pheochromocytoma?
...ANSWER... Measurement of plasma-free metanephrines or 24-hour urinary fractionated
metanephrines.
2025/2026 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS 2
VERSIONS CURRENTLY TESTING COMPLETE
QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED VERIFIED ANSWERS
/ALREADY GRADED A+
1. What is the primary function of the endocrine system?
...ANSWER... To regulate bodily functions through the secretion of hormones into the
bloodstream.
2. Name the master gland of the endocrine system.
...ANSWER... The pituitary gland.
3. What hormone, released by the posterior pituitary, is responsible for water reabsorption in the
kidneys?
...ANSWER... Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) or Vasopressin.
4. A patient with syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) would exhibit what
primary laboratory abnormality?
...ANSWER... Hyponatremia (low serum sodium).
5. What is the most common cause of Cushing's syndrome?
...ANSWER... Prolonged use of exogenous glucocorticoid medications.
6. Describe the skin characteristics often seen in a patient with Cushing's syndrome.
...ANSWER... Thin, fragile, easily bruised skin with purple striae.
7. What is the hallmark metabolic abnormality in Diabetes Mellitus?
...ANSWER... Hyperglycemia.
8. Differentiate between Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus based on etiology.
,...ANSWER... Type 1 is an autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells leading to an
absolute insulin deficiency. Type 2 is characterized by insulin resistance and a relative insulin
deficiency.
9. What is the classic triad of symptoms for hyperthyroidism?
...ANSWER... Tachycardia, heat intolerance, and weight loss.
10. What life-threatening complication can result from untreated hyperthyroidism, often
triggered by stress or infection?
...ANSWER... Thyroid storm (or thyrotoxic crisis).
11. What is the primary diagnostic test for assessing long-term glycemic control?
...ANSWER... Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c).
12. List three acute complications of diabetes.
...ANSWER... Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA), Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic State (HHS), and
Hypoglycemia.
13. What is the first sign of hypoglycemia a patient should be taught to recognize?
...ANSWER... Sweating and tremors.
14. What is the recommended immediate treatment for a conscious patient with hypoglycemia?
...ANSWER... 15-20 grams of a fast-acting carbohydrate (e.g., 4 oz fruit juice, 6-8 hard candies,
3-4 glucose tablets).
15. In Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA), what causes the characteristic metabolic acidosis?
...ANSWER... The accumulation of ketone bodies in the blood.
16. What electrolyte imbalance is a critical concern during the initial treatment of DKA?
...ANSWER... Hypokalemia.
,17. What is the primary clinical manifestation of hypothyroidism?
...ANSWER... Fatigue and sluggishness (generalized slowing of body processes).
18. What is myxedema coma?
...ANSWER... A life-threatening, severe form of hypothyroidism characterized by hypothermia,
bradycardia, and altered mental status.
19. What is the name of the autoimmune disorder that is the most common cause of
hyperthyroidism?
...ANSWER... Graves' disease.
20. What distinctive ocular finding is associated with Graves' disease?
...ANSWER... Exophthalmos (protrusion of the eyeballs).
21. What is the role of calcium in the body?
...ANSWER... It is essential for bone health, nerve transmission, muscle contraction, and blood
clotting.
22. Which gland regulates calcium balance in the blood?
...ANSWER... The parathyroid glands.
23. What is the function of parathyroid hormone (PTH)?
...ANSWER... To increase blood calcium levels by stimulating bone resorption, increasing renal
reabsorption of calcium, and activating vitamin D to increase intestinal absorption.
24. A patient with chronic hypercalcemia is at risk for developing what?
...ANSWER... Kidney stones.
25. What is Trousseau's sign an indicator of?
...ANSWER... Hypocalcemia.
, 26. Describe how to elicit Trousseau's sign.
...ANSWER... Inflate a blood pressure cuff on the upper arm to a pressure above systolic
pressure for 1-3 minutes. A positive sign is carpopedal spasm (hand contracts).
27. What is Chvostek's sign?
...ANSWER... A twitching of the facial muscles when the facial nerve is tapped just anterior to
the ear.
28. What is the most common cause of primary adrenal insufficiency?
...ANSWER... Autoimmune adrenalitis (Addison's disease).
29. What is the life-threatening crisis associated with adrenal insufficiency?
...ANSWER... Addisonian crisis (adrenal crisis).
30. What are the key manifestations of an Addisonian crisis?
...ANSWER... Hypotension, hyponatremia, hyperkalemia, hypoglycemia, and profound
weakness.
31. What is the primary treatment for an Addisonian crisis?
...ANSWER... Immediate intravenous administration of glucocorticoids (e.g., hydrocortisone)
and fluid resuscitation with normal saline.
32. What is pheochromocytoma?
...ANSWER... A rare tumor of the adrenal medulla that secretes excessive catecholamines
(epinephrine and norepinephrine).
33. What is the classic triad of symptoms associated with a pheochromocytoma?
...ANSWER... Episodic headache, sweating, and tachycardia.
34. What diagnostic test is considered the best for confirming pheochromocytoma?
...ANSWER... Measurement of plasma-free metanephrines or 24-hour urinary fractionated
metanephrines.
