RASMUSSEN NUR2063 PATHOPHYSIOLOGY 2026 STUDY
GUIDE |DISEASE PROCESSES & PATHOPHYSIOLOGY TEST BANK
ACCURATE REAL EXAM QUESTION AND ANSWERS | EXPERT
VERIFIED FOR GUARANTEED PASS | GRADED A
QUESTION 1
A 45-year-old patient presents with acute myocardial infarction. Which of the
following cellular processes begins immediately after the onset of ischemia
and contributes most to irreversible cell injury?
A) Increased glycogen storage in mitochondria
B) Activation of anaerobic metabolism and depletion of ATP stores
C) Hypertrophy of the endoplasmic reticulum
D) Enhanced protein synthesis by ribosomes
E) Increased collagen deposition in the extracellular matrix
CORRECT ANSWER: B) Activation of anaerobic metabolism and depletion of ATP
stores
QUESTION 2
A patient with chronic heart failure develops peripheral edema. This is most
directly caused by which of the following hemodynamic changes?
A) Decreased capillary hydrostatic pressure
B) Increased plasma oncotic pressure
C) Increased capillary hydrostatic pressure
D) Decreased capillary permeability
E) Lymphatic obstruction
1|Page
,CORRECT ANSWER: C) Increased capillary hydrostatic pressure
QUESTION 3
Which of the following best describes the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes
mellitus?
A) Insulin resistance due to downregulation of insulin receptors
B) Autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells
C) Overproduction of glucagon by alpha cells
D) Impaired glucose absorption in the small intestine
E) Excess cortisol secretion from the adrenal cortex
CORRECT ANSWER: B) Autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells
QUESTION 4
A patient with cirrhosis develops ascites. The primary pathophysiological
mechanism for this fluid accumulation is:
A) Increased plasma albumin levels
B) Portal hypertension and decreased plasma oncotic pressure
C) Decreased aldosterone secretion
D) Increased lymphatic drainage from the abdomen
E) Renal failure causing sodium retention only
CORRECT ANSWER: B) Portal hypertension and decreased plasma oncotic
pressure
QUESTION 5
In Duchenne muscular dystrophy, the underlying genetic defect involves:
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,A) A mutation in the dystrophin gene on the X chromosome
B) A deletion on chromosome 21
C) Trinucleotide repeat expansion on chromosome 19
D) Mitochondrial DNA deletion
E) Autosomal dominant inheritance of a collagen gene
CORRECT ANSWER: A) A mutation in the dystrophin gene on the X chromosome
QUESTION 6
Which of the following inflammatory mediators is primarily responsible for
bronchoconstriction in an acute asthma exacerbation?
A) Histamine
B) Leukotrienes
C) Prostaglandin E2
D) Bradykinin
E) Interleukin-10
CORRECT ANSWER: B) Leukotrienes
QUESTION 7
A patient with chronic kidney disease develops anemia. The most likely
pathophysiological cause is:
A) Iron deficiency due to poor diet
B) Decreased erythropoietin production by the kidneys
C) Vitamin B12 malabsorption
D) Bone marrow suppression from uremic toxins
E) Increased red blood cell destruction
CORRECT ANSWER: B) Decreased erythropoietin production by the kidneys
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, QUESTION 8
Which of the following is the hallmark cellular change in malignant neoplasia?
A) Metaplasia
B) Dysplasia
C) Anaplasia
D) Hyperplasia
E) Hypertrophy
CORRECT ANSWER: C) Anaplasia
QUESTION 9
A patient with severe hypothermia is at risk for which cardiac arrhythmia due
to slowed conduction and increased automaticity?
A) Atrial fibrillation
B) Ventricular fibrillation
C) Junctional bradycardia
D) Ventricular tachycardia
E) Torsades de pointes
CORRECT ANSWER: B) Ventricular fibrillation
QUESTION 10
In a patient with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), chronic exposure of
the esophageal mucosa to gastric acid leads to:
A) Squamous metaplasia (Barrett's esophagus)
B) Goblet cell hyperplasia
4|Page
GUIDE |DISEASE PROCESSES & PATHOPHYSIOLOGY TEST BANK
ACCURATE REAL EXAM QUESTION AND ANSWERS | EXPERT
VERIFIED FOR GUARANTEED PASS | GRADED A
QUESTION 1
A 45-year-old patient presents with acute myocardial infarction. Which of the
following cellular processes begins immediately after the onset of ischemia
and contributes most to irreversible cell injury?
A) Increased glycogen storage in mitochondria
B) Activation of anaerobic metabolism and depletion of ATP stores
C) Hypertrophy of the endoplasmic reticulum
D) Enhanced protein synthesis by ribosomes
E) Increased collagen deposition in the extracellular matrix
CORRECT ANSWER: B) Activation of anaerobic metabolism and depletion of ATP
stores
QUESTION 2
A patient with chronic heart failure develops peripheral edema. This is most
directly caused by which of the following hemodynamic changes?
A) Decreased capillary hydrostatic pressure
B) Increased plasma oncotic pressure
C) Increased capillary hydrostatic pressure
D) Decreased capillary permeability
E) Lymphatic obstruction
1|Page
,CORRECT ANSWER: C) Increased capillary hydrostatic pressure
QUESTION 3
Which of the following best describes the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes
mellitus?
A) Insulin resistance due to downregulation of insulin receptors
B) Autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells
C) Overproduction of glucagon by alpha cells
D) Impaired glucose absorption in the small intestine
E) Excess cortisol secretion from the adrenal cortex
CORRECT ANSWER: B) Autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells
QUESTION 4
A patient with cirrhosis develops ascites. The primary pathophysiological
mechanism for this fluid accumulation is:
A) Increased plasma albumin levels
B) Portal hypertension and decreased plasma oncotic pressure
C) Decreased aldosterone secretion
D) Increased lymphatic drainage from the abdomen
E) Renal failure causing sodium retention only
CORRECT ANSWER: B) Portal hypertension and decreased plasma oncotic
pressure
QUESTION 5
In Duchenne muscular dystrophy, the underlying genetic defect involves:
2|Page
,A) A mutation in the dystrophin gene on the X chromosome
B) A deletion on chromosome 21
C) Trinucleotide repeat expansion on chromosome 19
D) Mitochondrial DNA deletion
E) Autosomal dominant inheritance of a collagen gene
CORRECT ANSWER: A) A mutation in the dystrophin gene on the X chromosome
QUESTION 6
Which of the following inflammatory mediators is primarily responsible for
bronchoconstriction in an acute asthma exacerbation?
A) Histamine
B) Leukotrienes
C) Prostaglandin E2
D) Bradykinin
E) Interleukin-10
CORRECT ANSWER: B) Leukotrienes
QUESTION 7
A patient with chronic kidney disease develops anemia. The most likely
pathophysiological cause is:
A) Iron deficiency due to poor diet
B) Decreased erythropoietin production by the kidneys
C) Vitamin B12 malabsorption
D) Bone marrow suppression from uremic toxins
E) Increased red blood cell destruction
CORRECT ANSWER: B) Decreased erythropoietin production by the kidneys
3|Page
, QUESTION 8
Which of the following is the hallmark cellular change in malignant neoplasia?
A) Metaplasia
B) Dysplasia
C) Anaplasia
D) Hyperplasia
E) Hypertrophy
CORRECT ANSWER: C) Anaplasia
QUESTION 9
A patient with severe hypothermia is at risk for which cardiac arrhythmia due
to slowed conduction and increased automaticity?
A) Atrial fibrillation
B) Ventricular fibrillation
C) Junctional bradycardia
D) Ventricular tachycardia
E) Torsades de pointes
CORRECT ANSWER: B) Ventricular fibrillation
QUESTION 10
In a patient with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), chronic exposure of
the esophageal mucosa to gastric acid leads to:
A) Squamous metaplasia (Barrett's esophagus)
B) Goblet cell hyperplasia
4|Page
