1
Comprehensive NURS 6501 / NURS 6501N Final Exam Study
Guide: 400 Board-Style Questions Covering Cellular Biology,
Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Renal, Endocrine, Neurology,
Hematology, Gastroenterology, and Clinical Reasoning
NURS 6501 Advanced Pathophysiology Final Exam: Practice Questions & Rationales (1-40)
Core Concepts in Pathophysiology
Question 1
An aide asks the nurse why people who have neurofibromatosis will show varying
degrees of the disease. Which genetic principle should the nurse explain to the
aide?
A. Penetrance
B. Expressivity
C. Dominance
D. Recessiveness
☑ Correct Answer: B. Expressivity
Rationale: Expressivity refers to the degree to which a genotype is expressed
phenotypically. Neurofibromatosis shows variable expressivity, meaning
individuals with the same genotype may have different signs and symptoms
ranging from mild to severe. Penetrance refers to whether a gene is expressed at
all, not the degree of expression .
Question 2
Why is potassium able to diffuse easily in and out of cells?
, 2
A. Because sodium-potassium pumps actively transport potassium
B. Because the cell membrane is freely permeable to all ions
C. Because the resting plasma membrane is more permeable to potassium
D. Because potassium has a smaller atomic radius than other ions
☑ Correct Answer: C. Because the resting plasma membrane is more
permeable to potassium
Rationale: The resting membrane potential is primarily determined by potassium
because the membrane contains many more potassium leak channels than
sodium leak channels. This allows potassium to diffuse easily down its
concentration gradient, moving out of the cell and contributing to the negative
resting membrane potential .
Question 3
A 15-year-old female is diagnosed with Prader-Willi syndrome. This condition is an
example of:
A. Gene imprinting
B. Trinucleotide repeat disorder
C. Chromosomal translocation
D. Autosomal dominant inheritance
☑ Correct Answer: A. Gene imprinting
Rationale: Prader-Willi syndrome is caused by the loss of function of genes on the
paternally inherited chromosome 15q11.2-q13. This is an example of genomic
imprinting, where gene expression depends on the parent of origin. Angelman
, 3
syndrome results from a similar deletion on the maternally inherited
chromosome .
Question 4
A nurse is reading a chart and sees the term "oncotic pressure." The nurse recalls
that oncotic pressure (colloid osmotic pressure) is determined by:
A. Sodium concentration
B. Plasma proteins
C. Hydrostatic pressure
D. Capillary permeability
☑ Correct Answer: B. Plasma proteins
Rationale: Oncotic pressure is the osmotic pressure exerted by plasma proteins
(primarily albumin) within the vascular compartment. This pressure helps
maintain fluid balance by pulling fluid from the interstitial space back into the
capillaries at the venous end .
Question 5
During childhood, the thymus decreases in size, and this is referred to as ___
atrophy.
A. Physiologic
B. Pathologic
C. Ischemic
D. Neurogenic
, 4
☑ Correct Answer: A. Physiologic
Rationale: Physiologic atrophy is a normal, age-related decrease in organ size. The
thymus naturally involutes during childhood as its role in T-cell maturation
diminishes. This is not a disease process but a normal developmental change .
Question 6
What is the role of cytokines in cell reproduction?
A. Provide growth factor for tissue growth and development
B. Initiate apoptosis in damaged cells
C. Transport nutrients across the cell membrane
D. Synthesize DNA during the S phase
☑ Correct Answer: A. Provide growth factor for tissue growth and
development
Rationale: Cytokines are signaling molecules that regulate cell growth,
differentiation, and reproduction. Growth factors are specific types of cytokines
that stimulate cell division and tissue development. They bind to cell surface
receptors and trigger intracellular signaling cascades that promote proliferation .
Question 7
When a patient asks what causes cystic fibrosis, how should the nurse respond?
Cystic fibrosis is caused by an ___ gene.
A. Autosomal dominant
B. X-linked recessive
Comprehensive NURS 6501 / NURS 6501N Final Exam Study
Guide: 400 Board-Style Questions Covering Cellular Biology,
Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Renal, Endocrine, Neurology,
Hematology, Gastroenterology, and Clinical Reasoning
NURS 6501 Advanced Pathophysiology Final Exam: Practice Questions & Rationales (1-40)
Core Concepts in Pathophysiology
Question 1
An aide asks the nurse why people who have neurofibromatosis will show varying
degrees of the disease. Which genetic principle should the nurse explain to the
aide?
A. Penetrance
B. Expressivity
C. Dominance
D. Recessiveness
☑ Correct Answer: B. Expressivity
Rationale: Expressivity refers to the degree to which a genotype is expressed
phenotypically. Neurofibromatosis shows variable expressivity, meaning
individuals with the same genotype may have different signs and symptoms
ranging from mild to severe. Penetrance refers to whether a gene is expressed at
all, not the degree of expression .
Question 2
Why is potassium able to diffuse easily in and out of cells?
, 2
A. Because sodium-potassium pumps actively transport potassium
B. Because the cell membrane is freely permeable to all ions
C. Because the resting plasma membrane is more permeable to potassium
D. Because potassium has a smaller atomic radius than other ions
☑ Correct Answer: C. Because the resting plasma membrane is more
permeable to potassium
Rationale: The resting membrane potential is primarily determined by potassium
because the membrane contains many more potassium leak channels than
sodium leak channels. This allows potassium to diffuse easily down its
concentration gradient, moving out of the cell and contributing to the negative
resting membrane potential .
Question 3
A 15-year-old female is diagnosed with Prader-Willi syndrome. This condition is an
example of:
A. Gene imprinting
B. Trinucleotide repeat disorder
C. Chromosomal translocation
D. Autosomal dominant inheritance
☑ Correct Answer: A. Gene imprinting
Rationale: Prader-Willi syndrome is caused by the loss of function of genes on the
paternally inherited chromosome 15q11.2-q13. This is an example of genomic
imprinting, where gene expression depends on the parent of origin. Angelman
, 3
syndrome results from a similar deletion on the maternally inherited
chromosome .
Question 4
A nurse is reading a chart and sees the term "oncotic pressure." The nurse recalls
that oncotic pressure (colloid osmotic pressure) is determined by:
A. Sodium concentration
B. Plasma proteins
C. Hydrostatic pressure
D. Capillary permeability
☑ Correct Answer: B. Plasma proteins
Rationale: Oncotic pressure is the osmotic pressure exerted by plasma proteins
(primarily albumin) within the vascular compartment. This pressure helps
maintain fluid balance by pulling fluid from the interstitial space back into the
capillaries at the venous end .
Question 5
During childhood, the thymus decreases in size, and this is referred to as ___
atrophy.
A. Physiologic
B. Pathologic
C. Ischemic
D. Neurogenic
, 4
☑ Correct Answer: A. Physiologic
Rationale: Physiologic atrophy is a normal, age-related decrease in organ size. The
thymus naturally involutes during childhood as its role in T-cell maturation
diminishes. This is not a disease process but a normal developmental change .
Question 6
What is the role of cytokines in cell reproduction?
A. Provide growth factor for tissue growth and development
B. Initiate apoptosis in damaged cells
C. Transport nutrients across the cell membrane
D. Synthesize DNA during the S phase
☑ Correct Answer: A. Provide growth factor for tissue growth and
development
Rationale: Cytokines are signaling molecules that regulate cell growth,
differentiation, and reproduction. Growth factors are specific types of cytokines
that stimulate cell division and tissue development. They bind to cell surface
receptors and trigger intracellular signaling cascades that promote proliferation .
Question 7
When a patient asks what causes cystic fibrosis, how should the nurse respond?
Cystic fibrosis is caused by an ___ gene.
A. Autosomal dominant
B. X-linked recessive
