[NR 283 PATHOPHYSIOLOGY EXAM 3 COMPLETE ATI
PRACTICE EXAMINATION WITH RATIONALES] COMPLETE
EXAM QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS | 2026–2027
LATEST UPDATE | GUARANTEED PASS | DETAILED
RATIONALES | FULL STUDY GUIDE | EXAM PREP | PRACTICE
TEST | CERTIFICATION PREPARATION
1. A nurse is reviewing the inflammatory response with a client who has a soft tissue injury. Which
finding is an expected result of acute inflammation?
A. Decreased capillary permeability
B. Localized redness and warmth
C. Reduced blood flow to the area
D. Tissue atrophy
Correct Answer: B. Localized redness and warmth
Rationale: Acute inflammation causes vasodilation and increased blood flow, producing redness and
warmth. Capillary permeability increases rather than decreases, and tissue atrophy is not a
characteristic feature of acute inflammation.
2. A client with chronic kidney disease develops anemia. What is the primary pathophysiologic
cause?
A. Excessive destruction of erythrocytes
B. Increased plasma volume
C. Decreased erythropoietin production
D. Iron overload
Correct Answer: C. Decreased erythropoietin production
Rationale: The kidneys produce erythropoietin, which stimulates red blood cell production. Impaired
kidney function reduces erythropoietin synthesis, leading to anemia.
3. A nurse caring for a client with left-sided heart failure expects which manifestation?
A. Jugular venous distention
B. Peripheral edema
C. Ascites
D. Pulmonary congestion
Correct Answer: D. Pulmonary congestion
Rationale: Left-sided heart failure causes blood to back up into the lungs, resulting in pulmonary
congestion, crackles, and dyspnea. Peripheral edema is more common with right-sided failure.
4. Which laboratory finding is most consistent with bacterial infection?
A. Eosinophilia
B. Leukopenia
C. Neutrophilia
D. Thrombocytopenia
,Correct Answer: C. Neutrophilia
Rationale: Neutrophils are the primary white blood cells involved in bacterial infections. Elevated
neutrophil counts commonly indicate an acute bacterial process.
5. A client experiences prolonged vomiting. Which acid-base imbalance is most likely?
A. Metabolic acidosis
B. Respiratory acidosis
C. Respiratory alkalosis
D. Metabolic alkalosis
Correct Answer: D. Metabolic alkalosis
Rationale: Vomiting causes loss of gastric hydrochloric acid, resulting in increased serum bicarbonate
and metabolic alkalosis.
6. Which hormone lowers blood glucose levels?
A. Cortisol
B. Glucagon
C. Insulin
D. Epinephrine
Correct Answer: C. Insulin
Rationale: Insulin promotes glucose uptake by cells and decreases blood glucose levels. The other
hormones generally increase glucose availability.
7. A client with hyperthyroidism is likely to exhibit which symptom?
A. Weight gain
B. Bradycardia
C. Cold intolerance
D. Heat intolerance
Correct Answer: D. Heat intolerance
Rationale: Increased metabolic activity in hyperthyroidism causes heat intolerance, weight loss, and
tachycardia.
8. Which process occurs during cellular adaptation to increased workload?
A. Necrosis
B. Hyperplasia
C. Apoptosis
D. Dysplasia
Correct Answer: B. Hyperplasia
Rationale: Hyperplasia involves an increase in cell number in response to increased demand. Necrosis
and apoptosis involve cell death.
9. A client develops a deep vein thrombosis. Which element of Virchow’s triad contributes to clot
formation?
A. Increased oxygenation
B. Enhanced circulation
, C. Endothelial injury
D. Reduced coagulation factors
Correct Answer: C. Endothelial injury
Rationale: Virchow’s triad includes endothelial injury, venous stasis, and hypercoagulability, all of
which promote thrombus formation.
10. Which assessment finding is most consistent with right-sided heart failure?
A. Pulmonary edema
B. Orthopnea
C. Productive cough
D. Peripheral edema
Correct Answer: D. Peripheral edema
Rationale: Right-sided heart failure causes systemic venous congestion leading to edema,
hepatomegaly, and jugular venous distention.
11. A nurse is reviewing shock states. Which characteristic is common to all forms of shock?
A. Increased tissue perfusion
B. Cellular hypoxia
C. Hypertension
D. Hyperglycemia
Correct Answer: B. Cellular hypoxia
Rationale: Regardless of cause, shock results in inadequate tissue perfusion and oxygen delivery,
leading to cellular hypoxia.
12. Which electrolyte imbalance commonly occurs with severe diarrhea?
A. Hypernatremia
B. Hyperkalemia
C. Hypocalcemia
D. Hypokalemia
Correct Answer: D. Hypokalemia
Rationale: Gastrointestinal losses from diarrhea frequently result in potassium depletion and
hypokalemia.
13. A client with emphysema develops chronic carbon dioxide retention. What acid-base
imbalance is expected?
A. Respiratory acidosis
B. Metabolic acidosis
C. Respiratory alkalosis
D. Metabolic alkalosis
Correct Answer: A. Respiratory acidosis
Rationale: Retention of carbon dioxide increases carbonic acid concentration, producing respiratory
acidosis.
PRACTICE EXAMINATION WITH RATIONALES] COMPLETE
EXAM QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS | 2026–2027
LATEST UPDATE | GUARANTEED PASS | DETAILED
RATIONALES | FULL STUDY GUIDE | EXAM PREP | PRACTICE
TEST | CERTIFICATION PREPARATION
1. A nurse is reviewing the inflammatory response with a client who has a soft tissue injury. Which
finding is an expected result of acute inflammation?
A. Decreased capillary permeability
B. Localized redness and warmth
C. Reduced blood flow to the area
D. Tissue atrophy
Correct Answer: B. Localized redness and warmth
Rationale: Acute inflammation causes vasodilation and increased blood flow, producing redness and
warmth. Capillary permeability increases rather than decreases, and tissue atrophy is not a
characteristic feature of acute inflammation.
2. A client with chronic kidney disease develops anemia. What is the primary pathophysiologic
cause?
A. Excessive destruction of erythrocytes
B. Increased plasma volume
C. Decreased erythropoietin production
D. Iron overload
Correct Answer: C. Decreased erythropoietin production
Rationale: The kidneys produce erythropoietin, which stimulates red blood cell production. Impaired
kidney function reduces erythropoietin synthesis, leading to anemia.
3. A nurse caring for a client with left-sided heart failure expects which manifestation?
A. Jugular venous distention
B. Peripheral edema
C. Ascites
D. Pulmonary congestion
Correct Answer: D. Pulmonary congestion
Rationale: Left-sided heart failure causes blood to back up into the lungs, resulting in pulmonary
congestion, crackles, and dyspnea. Peripheral edema is more common with right-sided failure.
4. Which laboratory finding is most consistent with bacterial infection?
A. Eosinophilia
B. Leukopenia
C. Neutrophilia
D. Thrombocytopenia
,Correct Answer: C. Neutrophilia
Rationale: Neutrophils are the primary white blood cells involved in bacterial infections. Elevated
neutrophil counts commonly indicate an acute bacterial process.
5. A client experiences prolonged vomiting. Which acid-base imbalance is most likely?
A. Metabolic acidosis
B. Respiratory acidosis
C. Respiratory alkalosis
D. Metabolic alkalosis
Correct Answer: D. Metabolic alkalosis
Rationale: Vomiting causes loss of gastric hydrochloric acid, resulting in increased serum bicarbonate
and metabolic alkalosis.
6. Which hormone lowers blood glucose levels?
A. Cortisol
B. Glucagon
C. Insulin
D. Epinephrine
Correct Answer: C. Insulin
Rationale: Insulin promotes glucose uptake by cells and decreases blood glucose levels. The other
hormones generally increase glucose availability.
7. A client with hyperthyroidism is likely to exhibit which symptom?
A. Weight gain
B. Bradycardia
C. Cold intolerance
D. Heat intolerance
Correct Answer: D. Heat intolerance
Rationale: Increased metabolic activity in hyperthyroidism causes heat intolerance, weight loss, and
tachycardia.
8. Which process occurs during cellular adaptation to increased workload?
A. Necrosis
B. Hyperplasia
C. Apoptosis
D. Dysplasia
Correct Answer: B. Hyperplasia
Rationale: Hyperplasia involves an increase in cell number in response to increased demand. Necrosis
and apoptosis involve cell death.
9. A client develops a deep vein thrombosis. Which element of Virchow’s triad contributes to clot
formation?
A. Increased oxygenation
B. Enhanced circulation
, C. Endothelial injury
D. Reduced coagulation factors
Correct Answer: C. Endothelial injury
Rationale: Virchow’s triad includes endothelial injury, venous stasis, and hypercoagulability, all of
which promote thrombus formation.
10. Which assessment finding is most consistent with right-sided heart failure?
A. Pulmonary edema
B. Orthopnea
C. Productive cough
D. Peripheral edema
Correct Answer: D. Peripheral edema
Rationale: Right-sided heart failure causes systemic venous congestion leading to edema,
hepatomegaly, and jugular venous distention.
11. A nurse is reviewing shock states. Which characteristic is common to all forms of shock?
A. Increased tissue perfusion
B. Cellular hypoxia
C. Hypertension
D. Hyperglycemia
Correct Answer: B. Cellular hypoxia
Rationale: Regardless of cause, shock results in inadequate tissue perfusion and oxygen delivery,
leading to cellular hypoxia.
12. Which electrolyte imbalance commonly occurs with severe diarrhea?
A. Hypernatremia
B. Hyperkalemia
C. Hypocalcemia
D. Hypokalemia
Correct Answer: D. Hypokalemia
Rationale: Gastrointestinal losses from diarrhea frequently result in potassium depletion and
hypokalemia.
13. A client with emphysema develops chronic carbon dioxide retention. What acid-base
imbalance is expected?
A. Respiratory acidosis
B. Metabolic acidosis
C. Respiratory alkalosis
D. Metabolic alkalosis
Correct Answer: A. Respiratory acidosis
Rationale: Retention of carbon dioxide increases carbonic acid concentration, producing respiratory
acidosis.
