HESI Pathophysiology Study Guide 2026 | Updated Practice Questions & Rationales for Success

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Hesi Pathophysiology Practice Exam (NEW UPDATED VERSION) LATEST
ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS) | GUARANTEED PASS A+ UPDATED THIS YESR



A dissecting aneurysm is dangerous due to the fact that there is a tear in which
layer of the vessel wall? Inner, middle, outer. - CORRECT ANSWER medial
layer- allows blood to seep into the middle layer



QUESTION :A Pulmonary embolus can cause what kind of shock? - CORRECT
ANSWER obstructive shock



QUESTION :A patient has type II diabetes, what symptoms should he expect?
Select all that apply

A. Extreme Hunger

B. Excessive thirst

C. Polyuria

D. Salt craving

E. Quick accumulation of fat - CORRECT ANSWER A, B, C



QUESTION :Stenosis of the tricuspid valve would lead to what?

A. left sided heart failure

B. Right sided heart failure

C. Pulmonary regurgitation

D. pulmonary stenosis - CORRECT ANSWER B- because the tricuspid valve
is located on the right side




2026 2027 GRADED A+

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QUESTION :#1 sign of right heart failure - CORRECT ANSWER peripheral
edema and rapid weight gain



QUESTION :A patient comes into the ER and is shaking and states that she has a
sharp pain that's in her upper stomach going all the way up into her back. Her
labs come back and show she is experiencing hyperglycemia and a high WBC
count, what is she most likely experiencing?

A. Diabetes crisis

B. Type II diabetes

C. Cholilithiasis

D. Acute pancreatitis - CORRECT ANSWER D. Acute pancreatitis: sharp pain
that radiates to the back



QUESTION :Pancreatitis can lead to - CORRECT ANSWER Type 1 diabetes



QUESTION :Which part of the ekg corresponds with atrial depolarization? -
CORRECT ANSWER P wave



QUESTION :It is impossible for ventricular depolarization to occur during which
part of the EKG? - CORRECT ANSWER S-T segment: ventricles have fully
depolarized, absolute refractory period



QUESTION :Heart failure due to the heart muscle being underdeveloped and not
strong enough to overcome the afterload would be chronotropic problem,
dromotropic problem, or inotropic problem? - CORRECT ANSWER Inotropic
problem= Strength of contraction



QUESTION :chronotropic - CORRECT ANSWER beats per min



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QUESTION :dromotropic - CORRECT ANSWER rate of electrical conduction
through heart



QUESTION :A patient comes in with red lesions on his arms which have a red
flare around the border, what is this most likely?

A. Urticaria

B. Impetigo

C. Dermatitis

D. Boils - CORRECT ANSWER A. hives= Red flare around the border (#1
symptom)



QUESTION :A pulse pressure that is 78 would most likely indicate?

A. hypotension

B. hypertension

C. shock

D. TBI - CORRECT ANSWER D. traumatic brain injury= increased ICP=
Cushing's Triad



QUESTION :120-80= what? - CORRECT ANSWER pulse pressure



QUESTION :Any pulse pressure over 60 is considered - CORRECT ANSWER
widened



QUESTION :The diastolic pressure is measured during what on an ekg? -
CORRECT ANSWER From the T wave (ventricles have stopped


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beating/contracting) to the beginning of the R wave (ventricles begin to fully
contract)

Heart spends more time in diastolic



QUESTION :Does the sympathetic nervous system increase or decrease the
peripheral vascular resistance? - CORRECT ANSWER increase- because BP
increases because of vasoconstriction



QUESTION :A patient is receiving a blood transfusion when he starts stating that
he's getting itchy. What is your first intervention?

A. Stop the transfusion

B. Administer Benadryl IM and monitor for worsening of symptoms

C. Check blood pressure

D. Ask the patient if he's short of breath - CORRECT ANSWER A. stop the
transfusion



QUESTION :An absent P wave could indicate that which part of the heart is not
functioning properly? - CORRECT ANSWER Atria or SA node



QUESTION :Frank starlings law states that when a heart muscle works hard over
a period of time, is it the muscle or contractility that increases? - CORRECT
ANSWER Muscle increases, Contractility decreases



QUESTION :What is the number one risk factor for dilated ventricular
hypertrophy? - CORRECT ANSWER Hypertension



QUESTION :who is most likely to have hypertension? - CORRECT ANSWER
Men, African Americans


2026 2027 GRADED A+