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NURS 6501 Final Exam: Advanced Pathophysiology
– All 4 Versions, 300 Questions & Answers with
Rationales (2025/2026 Edition)
VERSION 1: QUESTIONS 1-100
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
Rationale: Expressivity refers to the degree to which a trait is expressed in individuals who have
the genetic mutation. Variable expressivity explains why neurofibromatosis symptoms range
from mild to severe among affected individuals. Penetrance is whether the trait is expressed at
all .
Question 2
Why is potassium able to diffuse easily in and out of cells?
A. Because sodium-potassium pumps actively transport potassium both directions
B. Because the resting membrane potential attracts potassium ions
C. Because the resting plasma membrane is more permeable to potassium
D. Because potassium has a smaller atomic radius than sodium
,2
☑ Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The resting plasma membrane is significantly more permeable to potassium than to
sodium due to the presence of potassium "leak" channels. This differential permeability allows
potassium to diffuse easily down its concentration gradient .
Question 3
A 15-year-old female is diagnosed with Prader-Willi syndrome. This condition is an example of:
A. Gene imprinting
B. Autosomal dominant inheritance
C. Autosomal recessive inheritance
D. X-linked inheritance
☑ Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Prader-Willi syndrome results from gene imprinting—specifically, the loss of
expression of paternal genes on chromosome 15q11-q13. The same deletion on the maternal
chromosome causes Angelman syndrome, demonstrating imprinting effects .
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. Red blood cell count
D. Arterial blood pressure
☑ Correct Answer: B
,3
Rationale: Oncotic (colloid osmotic) pressure is generated primarily by plasma proteins,
especially albumin. These large molecules remain in the vascular space and create an osmotic
gradient that holds fluid within the capillaries .
Question 5
During childhood, the thymus decreases in size, and this is referred to as _______ atrophy.
A. Physiologic
B. Pathologic
C. Disuse
D. Neurogenic
☑ Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Physiologic atrophy is a normal age-related process. The thymus naturally involutes
(decreases in size) during childhood as part of normal development, making this a physiologic
rather than pathologic 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. Regulate body temperature
☑ Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Cytokines are signaling proteins that regulate cell growth, differentiation, and
reproduction. They provide growth factors essential for normal tissue growth and
development, as well as immune responses .
, 4
Question 7
When a patient asks what causes cystic fibrosis, how should the nurse respond? Cystic fibrosis
is caused by a/an _______ gene.
A. Autosomal dominant
B. X-linked recessive
C. X-linked dominant
D. Autosomal recessive
☑ Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Cystic fibrosis is caused by an autosomal recessive mutation in the CFTR gene on
chromosome 7. Both parents must pass on the mutated gene for the child to express the
disease .
Question 8
A patient has a heart attack that leads to progressive cell injury that causes cell death with
severe cell swelling and breakdown of organelles. What term would the nurse use to define this
process?
A. Apoptosis
B. Autophagy
C. Metaplasia
D. Necrosis
☑ Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Necrosis is the pathologic form of cell death resulting from injury (such as ischemia
from a heart attack). It is characterized by severe cell swelling, organelle breakdown,
membrane rupture, and inflammation. Apoptosis is programmed, controlled cell death without
inflammation .
NURS 6501 Final Exam: Advanced Pathophysiology
– All 4 Versions, 300 Questions & Answers with
Rationales (2025/2026 Edition)
VERSION 1: QUESTIONS 1-100
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
Rationale: Expressivity refers to the degree to which a trait is expressed in individuals who have
the genetic mutation. Variable expressivity explains why neurofibromatosis symptoms range
from mild to severe among affected individuals. Penetrance is whether the trait is expressed at
all .
Question 2
Why is potassium able to diffuse easily in and out of cells?
A. Because sodium-potassium pumps actively transport potassium both directions
B. Because the resting membrane potential attracts potassium ions
C. Because the resting plasma membrane is more permeable to potassium
D. Because potassium has a smaller atomic radius than sodium
,2
☑ Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The resting plasma membrane is significantly more permeable to potassium than to
sodium due to the presence of potassium "leak" channels. This differential permeability allows
potassium to diffuse easily down its concentration gradient .
Question 3
A 15-year-old female is diagnosed with Prader-Willi syndrome. This condition is an example of:
A. Gene imprinting
B. Autosomal dominant inheritance
C. Autosomal recessive inheritance
D. X-linked inheritance
☑ Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Prader-Willi syndrome results from gene imprinting—specifically, the loss of
expression of paternal genes on chromosome 15q11-q13. The same deletion on the maternal
chromosome causes Angelman syndrome, demonstrating imprinting effects .
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. Red blood cell count
D. Arterial blood pressure
☑ Correct Answer: B
,3
Rationale: Oncotic (colloid osmotic) pressure is generated primarily by plasma proteins,
especially albumin. These large molecules remain in the vascular space and create an osmotic
gradient that holds fluid within the capillaries .
Question 5
During childhood, the thymus decreases in size, and this is referred to as _______ atrophy.
A. Physiologic
B. Pathologic
C. Disuse
D. Neurogenic
☑ Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Physiologic atrophy is a normal age-related process. The thymus naturally involutes
(decreases in size) during childhood as part of normal development, making this a physiologic
rather than pathologic 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. Regulate body temperature
☑ Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Cytokines are signaling proteins that regulate cell growth, differentiation, and
reproduction. They provide growth factors essential for normal tissue growth and
development, as well as immune responses .
, 4
Question 7
When a patient asks what causes cystic fibrosis, how should the nurse respond? Cystic fibrosis
is caused by a/an _______ gene.
A. Autosomal dominant
B. X-linked recessive
C. X-linked dominant
D. Autosomal recessive
☑ Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Cystic fibrosis is caused by an autosomal recessive mutation in the CFTR gene on
chromosome 7. Both parents must pass on the mutated gene for the child to express the
disease .
Question 8
A patient has a heart attack that leads to progressive cell injury that causes cell death with
severe cell swelling and breakdown of organelles. What term would the nurse use to define this
process?
A. Apoptosis
B. Autophagy
C. Metaplasia
D. Necrosis
☑ Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Necrosis is the pathologic form of cell death resulting from injury (such as ischemia
from a heart attack). It is characterized by severe cell swelling, organelle breakdown,
membrane rupture, and inflammation. Apoptosis is programmed, controlled cell death without
inflammation .
