Pathophysiology Exam 2 Questions
With Answers 2026-2027 A+ Grade
A nurse is reviewing lab reports. The nurse recalls blood plasma is located in which of the following fluid
compartments? - CORRECT ANSWER -Intravascular fluid
A 35-year-old male weighs 70 kg. Approximately how much of this weight is ICF? - CORRECT ANSWER -
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): - CORRECT ANSWER -decreased muscle mass
Which of the following patients should the nurse assess for a decreased oncotic pressure in the
capillaries? A patient with: - CORRECT ANSWER -liver failure
Water movement between the ICF and ECF compartments is determined by: - CORRECT ANSWER -
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? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Increased interstitial oncotic pressure
When planning care for a dehydrated patient, the nurse remembers the principle of water balance is
closely related to _____ balance. - CORRECT ANSWER -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? - CORRECT ANSWER -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: - CORRECT
ANSWER -localized edema
,A nurse is teaching the staff about antidiuretic hormone (ADH). Which information should the nurse
include? Secretion of ADH is stimulated by: - CORRECT ANSWER -increased plasma osmolality
Which statement by the staff indicates teaching was successful concerning aldosterone? Secretion of
aldosterone results in: - CORRECT ANSWER -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? - CORRECT ANSWER -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: - CORRECT ANSWER -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? - CORRECT ANSWER -Intracellular
dehydration
Which of the following patients is the most at risk for developing hypernatremia? A patient with: -
CORRECT ANSWER -dehydration
The most common cause of pure water deficit is: - CORRECT ANSWER -A. renal water loss
Hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia are associated with: - CORRECT ANSWER -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? - CORRECT ANSWER -
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. - CORRECT ANSWER -
increase, increased
,Which of the following patients is most prone to hypochloremia? A patient with: - CORRECT ANSWER -
Increased bicarbonate intake
Which of the following conditions would cause the nurse to monitor for hyperkalemia? - CORRECT
ANSWER -Acute acidosis
Which organ system should the nurse monitor when the patient has long-term potassium deficits? -
CORRECT ANSWER -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? - CORRECT ANSWER -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? - CORRECT ANSWER -acidosis
A 60-year-old female is diagnosed with hyperkalemia. Which assessment finding should the nurse
expect to observe? - CORRECT ANSWER -oliguria
Which of the following buffer pairs is considered the major plasma buffering system? - CORRECT
ANSWER -carbonic acid and bicarbonate
A nurse recalls regulation of acid-base balance through removal or retention of volatile acids is
accomplished by the: - CORRECT ANSWER -lungs
Physiologic pH is maintained around 7.4 because carbonic acid and bicarbonate exist in a ratio of: -
CORRECT ANSWER -20:1
Which patient is most prone to metabolic alkalosis? A patient with: - CORRECT ANSWER -Excessive loss
of chloride (Cl)
, Which patient should the nurse assess for both hyperkalemia and metabolic acidosis? A patient
diagnosed with: - CORRECT ANSWER -renal failure
For a patient experiencing metabolic acidosis, the body will compensate by: - CORRECT ANSWER -
hyperventilating
Which finding would support the diagnosis of respiratory acidosis? - CORRECT ANSWER -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 bicarbonate ion.
These findings help to confirm the diagnosis of: - CORRECT ANSWER -respiratory acidosis
For a patient with respiratory acidosis, chronic compensation by the body will include: - CORRECT
ANSWER -Kidney excretion of H+
A 55-year-old female presents to her primary care provider and reports dizziness, confusion, and tingling
in the extremities. Blood tests reveal an elevated pH, decreased PCO2, and slightly decreased HCO3.
Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis? - CORRECT ANSWER -Respiratory alkalosis with renal
compensation
Outcomes of laboratory tests include an elevated level of natriuretic peptides. Which organ is the
priority assessment? - CORRECT ANSWER -heart
A 60-year-old male with a 30-year history of smoking is diagnosed with a hormone-secreting lung tumor.
Further testing indicates that the tumor secretes ADH. Which of the following assessment findings
should the nurse expect? (Select all that apply.) - CORRECT ANSWER --Confusion
-Weakness
-Nausea
-Muscle twitching
The nurse would anticipate the patient with syndrome of inappropriate ADH (SIADH) to demonstrate
which of the following symptoms? (Select all that apply.) - CORRECT ANSWER --Weakness
-Nausea
With Answers 2026-2027 A+ Grade
A nurse is reviewing lab reports. The nurse recalls blood plasma is located in which of the following fluid
compartments? - CORRECT ANSWER -Intravascular fluid
A 35-year-old male weighs 70 kg. Approximately how much of this weight is ICF? - CORRECT ANSWER -
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): - CORRECT ANSWER -decreased muscle mass
Which of the following patients should the nurse assess for a decreased oncotic pressure in the
capillaries? A patient with: - CORRECT ANSWER -liver failure
Water movement between the ICF and ECF compartments is determined by: - CORRECT ANSWER -
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? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Increased interstitial oncotic pressure
When planning care for a dehydrated patient, the nurse remembers the principle of water balance is
closely related to _____ balance. - CORRECT ANSWER -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? - CORRECT ANSWER -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: - CORRECT
ANSWER -localized edema
,A nurse is teaching the staff about antidiuretic hormone (ADH). Which information should the nurse
include? Secretion of ADH is stimulated by: - CORRECT ANSWER -increased plasma osmolality
Which statement by the staff indicates teaching was successful concerning aldosterone? Secretion of
aldosterone results in: - CORRECT ANSWER -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? - CORRECT ANSWER -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: - CORRECT ANSWER -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? - CORRECT ANSWER -Intracellular
dehydration
Which of the following patients is the most at risk for developing hypernatremia? A patient with: -
CORRECT ANSWER -dehydration
The most common cause of pure water deficit is: - CORRECT ANSWER -A. renal water loss
Hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia are associated with: - CORRECT ANSWER -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? - CORRECT ANSWER -
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. - CORRECT ANSWER -
increase, increased
,Which of the following patients is most prone to hypochloremia? A patient with: - CORRECT ANSWER -
Increased bicarbonate intake
Which of the following conditions would cause the nurse to monitor for hyperkalemia? - CORRECT
ANSWER -Acute acidosis
Which organ system should the nurse monitor when the patient has long-term potassium deficits? -
CORRECT ANSWER -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? - CORRECT ANSWER -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? - CORRECT ANSWER -acidosis
A 60-year-old female is diagnosed with hyperkalemia. Which assessment finding should the nurse
expect to observe? - CORRECT ANSWER -oliguria
Which of the following buffer pairs is considered the major plasma buffering system? - CORRECT
ANSWER -carbonic acid and bicarbonate
A nurse recalls regulation of acid-base balance through removal or retention of volatile acids is
accomplished by the: - CORRECT ANSWER -lungs
Physiologic pH is maintained around 7.4 because carbonic acid and bicarbonate exist in a ratio of: -
CORRECT ANSWER -20:1
Which patient is most prone to metabolic alkalosis? A patient with: - CORRECT ANSWER -Excessive loss
of chloride (Cl)
, Which patient should the nurse assess for both hyperkalemia and metabolic acidosis? A patient
diagnosed with: - CORRECT ANSWER -renal failure
For a patient experiencing metabolic acidosis, the body will compensate by: - CORRECT ANSWER -
hyperventilating
Which finding would support the diagnosis of respiratory acidosis? - CORRECT ANSWER -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 bicarbonate ion.
These findings help to confirm the diagnosis of: - CORRECT ANSWER -respiratory acidosis
For a patient with respiratory acidosis, chronic compensation by the body will include: - CORRECT
ANSWER -Kidney excretion of H+
A 55-year-old female presents to her primary care provider and reports dizziness, confusion, and tingling
in the extremities. Blood tests reveal an elevated pH, decreased PCO2, and slightly decreased HCO3.
Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis? - CORRECT ANSWER -Respiratory alkalosis with renal
compensation
Outcomes of laboratory tests include an elevated level of natriuretic peptides. Which organ is the
priority assessment? - CORRECT ANSWER -heart
A 60-year-old male with a 30-year history of smoking is diagnosed with a hormone-secreting lung tumor.
Further testing indicates that the tumor secretes ADH. Which of the following assessment findings
should the nurse expect? (Select all that apply.) - CORRECT ANSWER --Confusion
-Weakness
-Nausea
-Muscle twitching
The nurse would anticipate the patient with syndrome of inappropriate ADH (SIADH) to demonstrate
which of the following symptoms? (Select all that apply.) - CORRECT ANSWER --Weakness
-Nausea
