PATHOPHSIOLOGY EXAM 2 ACTUAL EXAM
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS
LATEST UPDATES 2026 (VERIFIED ANSWERS)
ALREADY GRADED A+
A nurse is reviewing lab reports. The nurse recalls blood plasma is located in which of the
following fluid compartments? - ANSWERS-Intravascular fluid
A 35-year-old male weighs 70 kg. Approximately how much of this weight is ICF? - ANSWERS-
42 L- the total volume of body water for a 70 kg person is about 42 L (60%)
While planning care for elderly individuals, the nurse remembers the elderly are at a higher
risk for developing dehydration because they have a(n): - ANSWERS-decreased muscle mass
Which of the following patients should the nurse assess for a decreased oncotic pressure in
the capillaries? A patient with: - ANSWERS-liver failure
Water movement between the ICF and ECF compartments is determined by: - ANSWERS-
osmotic forces
An experiment was designed to test the effects of the Starling forces on fluid movement.
Which of the following alterations would result in fluid moving into the interstitial space? -
ANSWERS-Increased interstitial oncotic pressure
,When planning care for a dehydrated patient, the nurse remembers the principle of water
balance is closely related to _____ balance. - ANSWERS-Sodium
A 70-year-old male with chronic renal failure presents with edema. Which of the following is
the most likely cause of this condition? - ANSWERS-Increased capillary hydrostatic pressure
A 10-year-old male is brought to the emergency room (ER) because he is incoherent and
semiconscious. CT scan reveals that he is suffering from cerebral edema. This type of edema is
referred to as: - ANSWERS-localized edema
A nurse is teaching the staff about antidiuretic hormone (ADH). Which information should the
nurse include? Secretion of ADH is stimulated by: - ANSWERS-increased plasma osmolality
Which statement by the staff indicates teaching was successful concerning aldosterone?
Secretion of aldosterone results in: - ANSWERS-increased blood volume
A 25-year-old male is diagnosed with a hormone-secreting tumor of the adrenal cortex. Which
finding would the nurse expect to see in the lab results? - ANSWERS-Decreased blood K+
levels
A patient has been searching on the Internet about natriuretic hormones. When the patient
asks the nurse what do these hormones do, how should the nurse respond? Natriuretic
hormones affect the balance of: - ANSWERS-Sodium
A 5-year-old male presents to the ER with delirium and sunken eyes. After diagnosing him
with severe dehydration, the primary care provider orders fluid replacement. The nurse
administers a hypertonic intravenous solution. Which of the following would be expected? -
ANSWERS-Intracellular dehydration
,Which of the following patients is the most at risk for developing hypernatremia? A patient
with: - ANSWERS-dehydration
The most common cause of pure water deficit is: - ANSWERS-A. renal water loss
Hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia are associated with: - ANSWERS-Hypertonic hyponatremia
A 52-year-old diabetic male presents to the ER with lethargy, confusion, and depressed
reflexes. His wife indicates that he does not follow the prescribed diet and takes his
medication sporadically. Lab results indicate hyperglycemia. Which assessment finding is most
likely to occur? - ANSWERS-decreased sodium
When taking care of a patient with hyperkalemia, which principle is priority? Hyperkalemia
causes a(n) _____ in resting membrane potential with _____ excitability of cardiac muscle. -
ANSWERS-increase, increased
Which of the following patients is most prone to hypochloremia? A patient with: - ANSWERS-
Increased bicarbonate intake
Which of the following conditions would cause the nurse to monitor for hyperkalemia? -
ANSWERS-Acute acidosis
Which organ system should the nurse monitor when the patient has long-term potassium
deficits? - ANSWERS-kidneys
A 42-year-old female presents to her primary care provider reporting muscle weakness and
cardiac abnormalities. Laboratory tests indicate that she is hypokalemic. Which of the
following could be the cause of her condition? - ANSWERS-Primary hyperaldosteronism
, A 19-year-old male presents to his primary care provider reporting restlessness, muscle
cramping, and diarrhea. Lab tests reveal that he is hyperkalemic. Which of the following could
have caused his condition? - ANSWERS-acidosis
A 60-year-old female is diagnosed with hyperkalemia. Which assessment finding should the
nurse expect to observe? - ANSWERS-oliguria
Which of the following buffer pairs is considered the major plasma buffering system? -
ANSWERS-carbonic acid and bicarbonate
A nurse recalls regulation of acid-base balance through removal or retention of volatile acids
is accomplished by the: - ANSWERS-lungs
Physiologic pH is maintained around 7.4 because carbonic acid and bicarbonate exist in a ratio
of: - ANSWERS-20:1
Which patient is most prone to metabolic alkalosis? A patient with: - ANSWERS-Excessive loss
of chloride (Cl)
Which patient should the nurse assess for both hyperkalemia and metabolic acidosis? A
patient diagnosed with: - ANSWERS-renal failure
For a patient experiencing metabolic acidosis, the body will compensate by: - ANSWERS-
hyperventilating
Which finding would support the diagnosis of respiratory acidosis? - ANSWERS-pneumonia
A 54-year-old male with a long history of smoking complains of excessive tiredness, shortness
of breath, and overall ill feelings. Lab results reveal decreased pH, increased CO2, and normal
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS
LATEST UPDATES 2026 (VERIFIED ANSWERS)
ALREADY GRADED A+
A nurse is reviewing lab reports. The nurse recalls blood plasma is located in which of the
following fluid compartments? - ANSWERS-Intravascular fluid
A 35-year-old male weighs 70 kg. Approximately how much of this weight is ICF? - ANSWERS-
42 L- the total volume of body water for a 70 kg person is about 42 L (60%)
While planning care for elderly individuals, the nurse remembers the elderly are at a higher
risk for developing dehydration because they have a(n): - ANSWERS-decreased muscle mass
Which of the following patients should the nurse assess for a decreased oncotic pressure in
the capillaries? A patient with: - ANSWERS-liver failure
Water movement between the ICF and ECF compartments is determined by: - ANSWERS-
osmotic forces
An experiment was designed to test the effects of the Starling forces on fluid movement.
Which of the following alterations would result in fluid moving into the interstitial space? -
ANSWERS-Increased interstitial oncotic pressure
,When planning care for a dehydrated patient, the nurse remembers the principle of water
balance is closely related to _____ balance. - ANSWERS-Sodium
A 70-year-old male with chronic renal failure presents with edema. Which of the following is
the most likely cause of this condition? - ANSWERS-Increased capillary hydrostatic pressure
A 10-year-old male is brought to the emergency room (ER) because he is incoherent and
semiconscious. CT scan reveals that he is suffering from cerebral edema. This type of edema is
referred to as: - ANSWERS-localized edema
A nurse is teaching the staff about antidiuretic hormone (ADH). Which information should the
nurse include? Secretion of ADH is stimulated by: - ANSWERS-increased plasma osmolality
Which statement by the staff indicates teaching was successful concerning aldosterone?
Secretion of aldosterone results in: - ANSWERS-increased blood volume
A 25-year-old male is diagnosed with a hormone-secreting tumor of the adrenal cortex. Which
finding would the nurse expect to see in the lab results? - ANSWERS-Decreased blood K+
levels
A patient has been searching on the Internet about natriuretic hormones. When the patient
asks the nurse what do these hormones do, how should the nurse respond? Natriuretic
hormones affect the balance of: - ANSWERS-Sodium
A 5-year-old male presents to the ER with delirium and sunken eyes. After diagnosing him
with severe dehydration, the primary care provider orders fluid replacement. The nurse
administers a hypertonic intravenous solution. Which of the following would be expected? -
ANSWERS-Intracellular dehydration
,Which of the following patients is the most at risk for developing hypernatremia? A patient
with: - ANSWERS-dehydration
The most common cause of pure water deficit is: - ANSWERS-A. renal water loss
Hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia are associated with: - ANSWERS-Hypertonic hyponatremia
A 52-year-old diabetic male presents to the ER with lethargy, confusion, and depressed
reflexes. His wife indicates that he does not follow the prescribed diet and takes his
medication sporadically. Lab results indicate hyperglycemia. Which assessment finding is most
likely to occur? - ANSWERS-decreased sodium
When taking care of a patient with hyperkalemia, which principle is priority? Hyperkalemia
causes a(n) _____ in resting membrane potential with _____ excitability of cardiac muscle. -
ANSWERS-increase, increased
Which of the following patients is most prone to hypochloremia? A patient with: - ANSWERS-
Increased bicarbonate intake
Which of the following conditions would cause the nurse to monitor for hyperkalemia? -
ANSWERS-Acute acidosis
Which organ system should the nurse monitor when the patient has long-term potassium
deficits? - ANSWERS-kidneys
A 42-year-old female presents to her primary care provider reporting muscle weakness and
cardiac abnormalities. Laboratory tests indicate that she is hypokalemic. Which of the
following could be the cause of her condition? - ANSWERS-Primary hyperaldosteronism
, A 19-year-old male presents to his primary care provider reporting restlessness, muscle
cramping, and diarrhea. Lab tests reveal that he is hyperkalemic. Which of the following could
have caused his condition? - ANSWERS-acidosis
A 60-year-old female is diagnosed with hyperkalemia. Which assessment finding should the
nurse expect to observe? - ANSWERS-oliguria
Which of the following buffer pairs is considered the major plasma buffering system? -
ANSWERS-carbonic acid and bicarbonate
A nurse recalls regulation of acid-base balance through removal or retention of volatile acids
is accomplished by the: - ANSWERS-lungs
Physiologic pH is maintained around 7.4 because carbonic acid and bicarbonate exist in a ratio
of: - ANSWERS-20:1
Which patient is most prone to metabolic alkalosis? A patient with: - ANSWERS-Excessive loss
of chloride (Cl)
Which patient should the nurse assess for both hyperkalemia and metabolic acidosis? A
patient diagnosed with: - ANSWERS-renal failure
For a patient experiencing metabolic acidosis, the body will compensate by: - ANSWERS-
hyperventilating
Which finding would support the diagnosis of respiratory acidosis? - ANSWERS-pneumonia
A 54-year-old male with a long history of smoking complains of excessive tiredness, shortness
of breath, and overall ill feelings. Lab results reveal decreased pH, increased CO2, and normal
