NR507 / NR 507 FINAL EXAM 2024/2025 –
ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY REVIEW |
ACTUAL QUESTIONS, VERIFIED
SOLUTIONS & GRADE A ANSWERS |
CHAMBERLAIN COLLEGE EXAM
1. What is the primary pathophysiological mechanism of type 1 diabetes mellitus?
A. Insulin resistance in peripheral tissues
B. Autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells
C. Excessive glucagon production
D. Impaired glucose uptake in the liver
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Type 1 diabetes results from autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells,
leading to absolute insulin deficiency, causing hyperglycemia due to impaired glucose
uptake and metabolism.
2. Which process is primarily responsible for the hypoxia seen in acute respiratory
distress syndrome (ARDS)?
A. Increased pulmonary artery pressure
B. Diffuse alveolar damage and impaired gas exchange
C. Bronchial constriction and mucus plugging
D. Pulmonary embolism obstructing blood flow
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: ARDS is characterized by diffuse alveolar damage, leading to non-
cardiogenic pulmonary edema, reduced lung compliance, and impaired gas exchange,
resulting in hypoxia.
3. What is the hallmark pathological feature of Alzheimer’s disease in the brain?
A. Lewy body inclusions
B. Amyloid-beta plaques and neurofibrillary tangles
C. Loss of dopaminergic neurons
D. Microglial proliferation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Alzheimer’s disease is defined by amyloid-beta plaques extracellularly and
neurofibrillary tangles (hyperphosphorylated tau) intracellularly, contributing to neuronal
death and cognitive decline.
4. Which electrolyte imbalance is most commonly associated with prolonged vomiting?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hypernatremia
D. Hypercalcemia
, Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Prolonged vomiting causes loss of gastric acid and potassium, leading to
hypokalemia, which can manifest as muscle weakness, arrhythmias, and metabolic
alkalosis.
5. What is the primary pathophysiological cause of hypertension in primary
aldosteronism?
A. Increased sympathetic nervous system activity
B. Excessive aldosterone-induced sodium retention
C. Reduced cardiac output
D. Vasoconstriction due to endothelial dysfunction
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Primary aldosteronism (Conn’s syndrome) involves excessive aldosterone
production, promoting sodium and water retention, increasing blood volume, and causing
hypertension.
6. Which mechanism underlies the development of septic shock?
A. Massive pulmonary embolism
B. Systemic inflammatory response with vasodilation
C. Acute myocardial infarction
D. Neurogenic loss of vascular tone
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Septic shock results from a dysregulated systemic inflammatory response to
infection, causing widespread vasodilation, capillary leak, and hypotension, leading to
organ hypoperfusion.
7. What is the primary cause of left-sided heart failure in chronic hypertension?
A. Decreased preload
B. Increased afterload
C. Reduced contractility
D. Valvular insufficiency
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Chronic hypertension increases afterload (resistance to ventricular ejection),
causing left ventricular hypertrophy and eventual failure due to excessive workload.
8. Which cellular process is most implicated in the tissue damage of rheumatoid
arthritis?
A. Apoptosis of synovial cells
B. Chronic inflammation with cytokine release
C. Fibrosis of joint cartilage
D. Neovascularization of synovial tissue
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Rheumatoid arthritis involves chronic inflammation driven by cytokines (e.g.,
TNF-α, IL-6), leading to synovial hyperplasia, cartilage destruction, and joint deformity.
9. What is the primary pathophysiological feature of asthma?
A. Alveolar destruction
B. Chronic airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness
C. Pulmonary hypertension
D. Pleural effusion
Correct Answer: B
, Rationale: Asthma is characterized by chronic airway inflammation, bronchial
hyperresponsiveness, and reversible airway obstruction, triggered by allergens or
irritants.
10. Which acid-base imbalance is expected in a patient with diabetic ketoacidosis
(DKA)?
A. Metabolic alkalosis
B. Respiratory acidosis
C. Metabolic acidosis
D. Respiratory alkalosis
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: DKA causes metabolic acidosis due to accumulation of ketone bodies
(acetoacetate, beta-hydroxybutyrate), lowering blood pH, with compensatory
hyperventilation (Kussmaul respirations).
11. What is the primary mechanism of injury in ischemic stroke?
A. Hemorrhagic rupture of cerebral vessels
B. Loss of oxygen and glucose to brain tissue
C. Autoimmune attack on neurons
D. Excessive excitatory neurotransmitter release
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Ischemic stroke results from blocked cerebral blood flow, depriving brain
tissue of oxygen and glucose, leading to neuronal death within minutes in the infarct core.
12. Which process is most responsible for the anemia seen in chronic kidney disease?
A. Increased red blood cell destruction
B. Decreased erythropoietin production
C. Bone marrow suppression
D. Iron overload
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Chronic kidney disease reduces erythropoietin production by damaged
kidneys, impairing red blood cell production in bone marrow, leading to normocytic
anemia.
13. What is the primary pathophysiological mechanism of cystic fibrosis?
A. Defective chloride transport in epithelial cells
B. Excessive mucus degradation
C. Autoimmune destruction of lung tissue
D. Impaired surfactant production
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Cystic fibrosis results from mutations in the CFTR gene, causing defective
chloride transport, leading to thick mucus, recurrent infections, and organ damage.
14. Which inflammatory mediator is most implicated in the pathogenesis of
anaphylaxis?
A. Prostaglandins
B. Histamine
C. Bradykinin
D. Leukotrienes
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Histamine, released by mast cells during anaphylaxis, causes vasodilation,
ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY REVIEW |
ACTUAL QUESTIONS, VERIFIED
SOLUTIONS & GRADE A ANSWERS |
CHAMBERLAIN COLLEGE EXAM
1. What is the primary pathophysiological mechanism of type 1 diabetes mellitus?
A. Insulin resistance in peripheral tissues
B. Autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells
C. Excessive glucagon production
D. Impaired glucose uptake in the liver
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Type 1 diabetes results from autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells,
leading to absolute insulin deficiency, causing hyperglycemia due to impaired glucose
uptake and metabolism.
2. Which process is primarily responsible for the hypoxia seen in acute respiratory
distress syndrome (ARDS)?
A. Increased pulmonary artery pressure
B. Diffuse alveolar damage and impaired gas exchange
C. Bronchial constriction and mucus plugging
D. Pulmonary embolism obstructing blood flow
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: ARDS is characterized by diffuse alveolar damage, leading to non-
cardiogenic pulmonary edema, reduced lung compliance, and impaired gas exchange,
resulting in hypoxia.
3. What is the hallmark pathological feature of Alzheimer’s disease in the brain?
A. Lewy body inclusions
B. Amyloid-beta plaques and neurofibrillary tangles
C. Loss of dopaminergic neurons
D. Microglial proliferation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Alzheimer’s disease is defined by amyloid-beta plaques extracellularly and
neurofibrillary tangles (hyperphosphorylated tau) intracellularly, contributing to neuronal
death and cognitive decline.
4. Which electrolyte imbalance is most commonly associated with prolonged vomiting?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hypernatremia
D. Hypercalcemia
, Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Prolonged vomiting causes loss of gastric acid and potassium, leading to
hypokalemia, which can manifest as muscle weakness, arrhythmias, and metabolic
alkalosis.
5. What is the primary pathophysiological cause of hypertension in primary
aldosteronism?
A. Increased sympathetic nervous system activity
B. Excessive aldosterone-induced sodium retention
C. Reduced cardiac output
D. Vasoconstriction due to endothelial dysfunction
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Primary aldosteronism (Conn’s syndrome) involves excessive aldosterone
production, promoting sodium and water retention, increasing blood volume, and causing
hypertension.
6. Which mechanism underlies the development of septic shock?
A. Massive pulmonary embolism
B. Systemic inflammatory response with vasodilation
C. Acute myocardial infarction
D. Neurogenic loss of vascular tone
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Septic shock results from a dysregulated systemic inflammatory response to
infection, causing widespread vasodilation, capillary leak, and hypotension, leading to
organ hypoperfusion.
7. What is the primary cause of left-sided heart failure in chronic hypertension?
A. Decreased preload
B. Increased afterload
C. Reduced contractility
D. Valvular insufficiency
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Chronic hypertension increases afterload (resistance to ventricular ejection),
causing left ventricular hypertrophy and eventual failure due to excessive workload.
8. Which cellular process is most implicated in the tissue damage of rheumatoid
arthritis?
A. Apoptosis of synovial cells
B. Chronic inflammation with cytokine release
C. Fibrosis of joint cartilage
D. Neovascularization of synovial tissue
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Rheumatoid arthritis involves chronic inflammation driven by cytokines (e.g.,
TNF-α, IL-6), leading to synovial hyperplasia, cartilage destruction, and joint deformity.
9. What is the primary pathophysiological feature of asthma?
A. Alveolar destruction
B. Chronic airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness
C. Pulmonary hypertension
D. Pleural effusion
Correct Answer: B
, Rationale: Asthma is characterized by chronic airway inflammation, bronchial
hyperresponsiveness, and reversible airway obstruction, triggered by allergens or
irritants.
10. Which acid-base imbalance is expected in a patient with diabetic ketoacidosis
(DKA)?
A. Metabolic alkalosis
B. Respiratory acidosis
C. Metabolic acidosis
D. Respiratory alkalosis
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: DKA causes metabolic acidosis due to accumulation of ketone bodies
(acetoacetate, beta-hydroxybutyrate), lowering blood pH, with compensatory
hyperventilation (Kussmaul respirations).
11. What is the primary mechanism of injury in ischemic stroke?
A. Hemorrhagic rupture of cerebral vessels
B. Loss of oxygen and glucose to brain tissue
C. Autoimmune attack on neurons
D. Excessive excitatory neurotransmitter release
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Ischemic stroke results from blocked cerebral blood flow, depriving brain
tissue of oxygen and glucose, leading to neuronal death within minutes in the infarct core.
12. Which process is most responsible for the anemia seen in chronic kidney disease?
A. Increased red blood cell destruction
B. Decreased erythropoietin production
C. Bone marrow suppression
D. Iron overload
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Chronic kidney disease reduces erythropoietin production by damaged
kidneys, impairing red blood cell production in bone marrow, leading to normocytic
anemia.
13. What is the primary pathophysiological mechanism of cystic fibrosis?
A. Defective chloride transport in epithelial cells
B. Excessive mucus degradation
C. Autoimmune destruction of lung tissue
D. Impaired surfactant production
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Cystic fibrosis results from mutations in the CFTR gene, causing defective
chloride transport, leading to thick mucus, recurrent infections, and organ damage.
14. Which inflammatory mediator is most implicated in the pathogenesis of
anaphylaxis?
A. Prostaglandins
B. Histamine
C. Bradykinin
D. Leukotrienes
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Histamine, released by mast cells during anaphylaxis, causes vasodilation,
