NSG 3850 Pathophysiology for Nurses II
Comprehensive Examination2025-2026
Academic YearTotal Questions: 85
UNIT 1: FLUID, ELECTROLYTE, AND ACID-BASE BALANCE
(Questions 1-30)
1. The fraction of total body water (TBW) volume contained in the intracellular space in adults is:
a. Three-fourths
b. Two-thirds
c. One-half
d. One-third
Answer: B – Approximately two-thirds of total body water is contained within the intracellular
compartment in adults .
2. The electrolyte that has a higher concentration in the extracellular fluid than in the intracellular
fluid is:
a. Sodium ions
b. Phosphate ions
c. Magnesium ions
d. Potassium ions
Answer: A – Sodium is the primary electrolyte in the extracellular fluid, while potassium is
predominantly intracellular .
3. The process responsible for distribution of fluid between the interstitial and intracellular
compartments is:
a. Filtration
b. Osmosis
c. Active transport
d. Diffusion
,Answer: B – Osmosis governs fluid movement between interstitial and intracellular compartments
based on osmotic pressure gradients .
4. The inward-pulling force of particles in the vascular fluid is called _____ pressure:
a. Capillary hydrostatic
b. Interstitial osmotic
c. Capillary osmotic (oncotic)
d. Interstitial hydrostatic
Answer: C – Capillary osmotic (oncotic) pressure, created by plasma proteins, pulls fluid back into the
capillary .
5. How do clinical conditions that increase vascular permeability cause edema?
a. By altering the negative charge on the capillary basement membrane
b. By causing movement of fluid from vascular to intracellular compartment
c. Through leakage of vascular fluid into interstitial fluid
d. By allowing plasma proteins to leak into interstitial fluid, increasing interstitial osmotic pressure
Answer: D – Increased vascular permeability allows plasma proteins to escape into the interstitial space,
drawing fluid by increasing interstitial osmotic pressure .
6. Decreased neuromuscular excitability is often the result of:
a. Hypercalcemia and hypermagnesemia
b. Hypomagnesemia and hyperkalemia
c. Hypocalcemia and hypokalemia
d. Hypernatremia and hypomagnesemia
Answer: A – Both hypercalcemia and hypermagnesemia decrease neuromuscular excitability .
7. Which electrolyte imbalances cause increased neuromuscular excitability?
a. Hypokalemia and hyperphosphatemia
b. Hyperkalemia and hypophosphatemia
c. Hypocalcemia and hypomagnesemia
d. Hypercalcemia and hypermagnesemia
Answer: C – Hypocalcemia and hypomagnesemia both increase neuromuscular excitability, leading to
tetany and hyperreflexia .
8. An increase in the resting membrane potential (hyperpolarized) is associated with:
a. Hypokalemia
b. Hyperkalemia
, c. Hypocalcemia
d. Hypercalcemia
Answer: A – Hypokalemia causes hyperpolarization of the cell membrane, making cells less excitable .
9. Abnormalities in intracellular regulation of enzyme activity and cellular production of ATP are
associated with:
a. Hyponatremia
b. Hypocalcemia
c. Hypophosphatemia
d. Hypokalemia
Answer: C – Phosphorus is essential for ATP production; hypophosphatemia leads to ATP deficiency .
10. Clinical manifestations of severe symptomatic hypophosphatemia are caused by:
a. Excess proteins
b. Renal damage
c. Deficiency of ATP
d. Hypocalcemia
Answer: C – ATP deficiency from hypophosphatemia affects all cells, particularly muscles and blood
cells .
11. A person who overuses magnesium-aluminum antacids for a long period is likely to develop:
a. Hypokalemia
b. Hyperkalemia
c. Hypophosphatemia
d. Hyperphosphatemia
Answer: C – Aluminum-containing antacids bind phosphate in the gut, preventing absorption and
causing hypophosphatemia .
12. Excessive antidiuretic hormone (ADH) secretion can cause _____ concentration:
a. Increased serum sodium
b. Decreased serum sodium
c. Increased serum potassium
d. Decreased serum potassium
Answer: B – Excessive ADH causes water retention, diluting serum sodium and leading to
hyponatremia .
Comprehensive Examination2025-2026
Academic YearTotal Questions: 85
UNIT 1: FLUID, ELECTROLYTE, AND ACID-BASE BALANCE
(Questions 1-30)
1. The fraction of total body water (TBW) volume contained in the intracellular space in adults is:
a. Three-fourths
b. Two-thirds
c. One-half
d. One-third
Answer: B – Approximately two-thirds of total body water is contained within the intracellular
compartment in adults .
2. The electrolyte that has a higher concentration in the extracellular fluid than in the intracellular
fluid is:
a. Sodium ions
b. Phosphate ions
c. Magnesium ions
d. Potassium ions
Answer: A – Sodium is the primary electrolyte in the extracellular fluid, while potassium is
predominantly intracellular .
3. The process responsible for distribution of fluid between the interstitial and intracellular
compartments is:
a. Filtration
b. Osmosis
c. Active transport
d. Diffusion
,Answer: B – Osmosis governs fluid movement between interstitial and intracellular compartments
based on osmotic pressure gradients .
4. The inward-pulling force of particles in the vascular fluid is called _____ pressure:
a. Capillary hydrostatic
b. Interstitial osmotic
c. Capillary osmotic (oncotic)
d. Interstitial hydrostatic
Answer: C – Capillary osmotic (oncotic) pressure, created by plasma proteins, pulls fluid back into the
capillary .
5. How do clinical conditions that increase vascular permeability cause edema?
a. By altering the negative charge on the capillary basement membrane
b. By causing movement of fluid from vascular to intracellular compartment
c. Through leakage of vascular fluid into interstitial fluid
d. By allowing plasma proteins to leak into interstitial fluid, increasing interstitial osmotic pressure
Answer: D – Increased vascular permeability allows plasma proteins to escape into the interstitial space,
drawing fluid by increasing interstitial osmotic pressure .
6. Decreased neuromuscular excitability is often the result of:
a. Hypercalcemia and hypermagnesemia
b. Hypomagnesemia and hyperkalemia
c. Hypocalcemia and hypokalemia
d. Hypernatremia and hypomagnesemia
Answer: A – Both hypercalcemia and hypermagnesemia decrease neuromuscular excitability .
7. Which electrolyte imbalances cause increased neuromuscular excitability?
a. Hypokalemia and hyperphosphatemia
b. Hyperkalemia and hypophosphatemia
c. Hypocalcemia and hypomagnesemia
d. Hypercalcemia and hypermagnesemia
Answer: C – Hypocalcemia and hypomagnesemia both increase neuromuscular excitability, leading to
tetany and hyperreflexia .
8. An increase in the resting membrane potential (hyperpolarized) is associated with:
a. Hypokalemia
b. Hyperkalemia
, c. Hypocalcemia
d. Hypercalcemia
Answer: A – Hypokalemia causes hyperpolarization of the cell membrane, making cells less excitable .
9. Abnormalities in intracellular regulation of enzyme activity and cellular production of ATP are
associated with:
a. Hyponatremia
b. Hypocalcemia
c. Hypophosphatemia
d. Hypokalemia
Answer: C – Phosphorus is essential for ATP production; hypophosphatemia leads to ATP deficiency .
10. Clinical manifestations of severe symptomatic hypophosphatemia are caused by:
a. Excess proteins
b. Renal damage
c. Deficiency of ATP
d. Hypocalcemia
Answer: C – ATP deficiency from hypophosphatemia affects all cells, particularly muscles and blood
cells .
11. A person who overuses magnesium-aluminum antacids for a long period is likely to develop:
a. Hypokalemia
b. Hyperkalemia
c. Hypophosphatemia
d. Hyperphosphatemia
Answer: C – Aluminum-containing antacids bind phosphate in the gut, preventing absorption and
causing hypophosphatemia .
12. Excessive antidiuretic hormone (ADH) secretion can cause _____ concentration:
a. Increased serum sodium
b. Decreased serum sodium
c. Increased serum potassium
d. Decreased serum potassium
Answer: B – Excessive ADH causes water retention, diluting serum sodium and leading to
hyponatremia .
