TEST BANK McCance & Huether’s Pathophysiology The Biologic Basis for Disease
in Adults and Children (9TH) by Julia Rogers questions and answers 75 +
A 65-year-old patient with long-standing hypertension develops progressive
shortness of breath and fatigue. Echocardiogram shows thickened left ventricular
walls and reduced compliance. What is the primary pathophysiological change
occurring?
A. Dilated cardiomyopathy with decreased contractility
B. Left ventricular hypertrophy due to chronic pressure overload
C. Right-sided heart failure due to lung disease
D. Increased stroke volume due to exercise adaptation
Answer: B
Rationale: Chronic hypertension increases afterload, causing the left ventricle to
hypertrophy to generate more force, eventually reducing compliance and filling
efficiency.
A patient with severe burns develops fluid shifting from the intravascular space
into interstitial tissues, resulting in hypovolemic shock. What is the underlying
mechanism?
1|Page
,A. Increased plasma oncotic pressure
B. Increased capillary permeability due to inflammatory mediators
C. Decreased hydrostatic pressure
D. Increased red blood cell production
Answer: B
Rationale: Burn injury triggers inflammatory responses that increase capillary
permeability, allowing fluid to leak into tissues.
A child with severe vomiting and diarrhea develops metabolic alkalosis. Which
physiological mechanism explains this finding?
A. Loss of bicarbonate from the kidneys
B. Loss of hydrogen ions from gastric secretions
C. Retention of CO₂
D. Increased lactic acid production
Answer: B
Rationale: Vomiting leads to loss of gastric acid (H⁺), increasing blood pH.
2|Page
,A patient with type 2 diabetes shows persistent hyperglycemia despite high
insulin levels. What is the primary underlying defect?
A. Autoimmune destruction of beta cells
B. Insulin resistance in peripheral tissues
C. Excess glucagon production only
D. Increased glucose absorption in kidneys
Answer: B
Rationale: Type 2 diabetes is characterized by insulin resistance, not lack of
insulin.
A patient develops anemia due to chronic kidney disease. What is the most likely
cause?
A. Increased iron absorption
B. Decreased erythropoietin production
C. Excess red blood cell destruction in spleen
D. Increased vitamin B12 levels
3|Page
, Answer: B
Rationale: The kidneys produce erythropoietin, which stimulates RBC production.
A patient with pneumonia has impaired oxygen diffusion across alveolar
membranes. What structural change contributes most to this impairment?
A. Thickened alveolar-capillary membrane due to inflammation
B. Increased surfactant production
C. Increased tidal volume
D. Bronchodilation
Answer: A
Rationale: Inflammation causes fluid accumulation, thickening the diffusion
barrier.
A patient experiences muscle weakness and fatigue due to hypokalemia. What is
the primary role of potassium in neuromuscular function?
A. Energy storage
4|Page
in Adults and Children (9TH) by Julia Rogers questions and answers 75 +
A 65-year-old patient with long-standing hypertension develops progressive
shortness of breath and fatigue. Echocardiogram shows thickened left ventricular
walls and reduced compliance. What is the primary pathophysiological change
occurring?
A. Dilated cardiomyopathy with decreased contractility
B. Left ventricular hypertrophy due to chronic pressure overload
C. Right-sided heart failure due to lung disease
D. Increased stroke volume due to exercise adaptation
Answer: B
Rationale: Chronic hypertension increases afterload, causing the left ventricle to
hypertrophy to generate more force, eventually reducing compliance and filling
efficiency.
A patient with severe burns develops fluid shifting from the intravascular space
into interstitial tissues, resulting in hypovolemic shock. What is the underlying
mechanism?
1|Page
,A. Increased plasma oncotic pressure
B. Increased capillary permeability due to inflammatory mediators
C. Decreased hydrostatic pressure
D. Increased red blood cell production
Answer: B
Rationale: Burn injury triggers inflammatory responses that increase capillary
permeability, allowing fluid to leak into tissues.
A child with severe vomiting and diarrhea develops metabolic alkalosis. Which
physiological mechanism explains this finding?
A. Loss of bicarbonate from the kidneys
B. Loss of hydrogen ions from gastric secretions
C. Retention of CO₂
D. Increased lactic acid production
Answer: B
Rationale: Vomiting leads to loss of gastric acid (H⁺), increasing blood pH.
2|Page
,A patient with type 2 diabetes shows persistent hyperglycemia despite high
insulin levels. What is the primary underlying defect?
A. Autoimmune destruction of beta cells
B. Insulin resistance in peripheral tissues
C. Excess glucagon production only
D. Increased glucose absorption in kidneys
Answer: B
Rationale: Type 2 diabetes is characterized by insulin resistance, not lack of
insulin.
A patient develops anemia due to chronic kidney disease. What is the most likely
cause?
A. Increased iron absorption
B. Decreased erythropoietin production
C. Excess red blood cell destruction in spleen
D. Increased vitamin B12 levels
3|Page
, Answer: B
Rationale: The kidneys produce erythropoietin, which stimulates RBC production.
A patient with pneumonia has impaired oxygen diffusion across alveolar
membranes. What structural change contributes most to this impairment?
A. Thickened alveolar-capillary membrane due to inflammation
B. Increased surfactant production
C. Increased tidal volume
D. Bronchodilation
Answer: A
Rationale: Inflammation causes fluid accumulation, thickening the diffusion
barrier.
A patient experiences muscle weakness and fatigue due to hypokalemia. What is
the primary role of potassium in neuromuscular function?
A. Energy storage
4|Page
