NSG 3113 Pathophysiology Exam 3
Practice Questions and Verified Answers
Latest Update 2026/2027 | Graded A+
Question 1: A patient presents with difficulty swallowing. Which term best describes this
condition?
A) Peristalsis
B) Steatorrhea
C) Hematemesis
D) Dysphagia
Answer: D
Rationale: Dysphagia is difficulty swallowing. 'Dys' = difficult, 'phagia' = swallowing.
Peristalsis is the squeezing movement that pushes food through the digestive tract;
steatorrhea is fatty, foul-smelling stools; hematemesis is vomiting blood .
Question 2: A patient with chronic GERD develops Barrett's esophagus. This represents
which cellular adaptation?
A) Dysplasia
B) Hyperplasia
C) Anaplasia
D) Metaplasia
Answer: D
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one differentiated cell type with
another. In GERD, chronic acid reflux causes the normal squamous epithelium of the
esophagus to be replaced by columnar epithelium with goblet cells (Barrett's
esophagus), which is a precursor to esophageal adenocarcinoma .
,Question 3: A patient with peptic ulcer disease tests positive for a corkscrew-shaped
bacteria. Which organism is most likely responsible?
A) Escherichia coli
B) Staphylococcus aureus
C) Helicobacter pylori
D) Streptococcus pneumoniae
Answer: C
Rationale: Helicobacter pylori is a spiral-shaped bacterium that burrows into the
stomach lining and causes ulcers. It is named after the corkscrew (helix) shape it uses to
invade the gastric mucosa. H. pylori is the most common cause of peptic ulcers .
Question 4: Which type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can affect ANY part of the
digestive tract from mouth to anus?
A) Ulcerative colitis
B) Crohn's disease
C) Diverticulitis
D) Appendicitis
Answer: B
Rationale: Crohn's disease is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that can affect any
part of the digestive tract from mouth to anus, causing patchy 'skip lesions.' Ulcerative
colitis affects ONLY the colon and rectum .
Question 5: Ulcerative colitis affects which part of the gastrointestinal tract?
A) The entire GI tract
B) Only the colon and rectum
C) Only the small intestine
D) The stomach and esophagus
Answer: B
,Rationale: Ulcerative colitis is an IBD that affects ONLY the colon (large intestine) and
rectum, causing continuous ulcers and bloody diarrhea. Crohn's disease can affect the
entire GI tract .
Question 6: A patient has small pouches that have formed in weak spots of the colon
wall. This condition is called:
A) Diverticulitis
B) Diverticulosis
C) Peritonitis
D) Ileus
Answer: B
Rationale: Diverticulosis is the formation of small pouches (diverticula) in weak spots of
the colon wall. Diverticulitis is when those pouches become INFECTED and inflamed .
Question 7: A patient with acute left lower quadrant abdominal pain, fever, and
elevated WBC is diagnosed with inflamed and infected diverticula. This condition is:
A) Diverticulosis
B) Diverticulitis
C) Appendicitis
D) Peritonitis
Answer: B
Rationale: Diverticulitis is when the diverticula become infected and inflamed. '-itis'
always means inflammation. It causes severe left lower abdominal pain. Diverticulosis is
the presence of pouches without inflammation .
Question 8: A 25-year-old presents with right lower quadrant pain that is worse at
McBurney's point. This is classic for:
A) Cholecystitis
B) Diverticulitis
, C) Pancreatitis
D) Appendicitis
Answer: D
Rationale: McBurney's point is a specific spot in the right lower abdomen where
pressing causes severe pain in appendicitis. Appendicitis is inflammation of the
appendix and is a medical emergency as it can rupture and cause peritonitis .
Question 9: A patient with a ruptured appendix develops life-threatening inflammation
of the peritoneal lining. This is known as:
A) Ileus
B) Bowel obstruction
C) Hernia
D) Peritonitis
Answer: D
Rationale: Peritonitis is inflammation of the peritoneum (the lining covering all
abdominal organs). It is LIFE-THREATENING and is caused by rupture or perforation of
abdominal organs .
Question 10: A post-operative patient has no bowel sounds and reports bloating. The
nurse suspects:
A) Bowel obstruction
B) Ileus
C) Hernia
D) Appendicitis
Answer: B
Rationale: Ileus occurs when the intestines stop moving (paralysis). No peristalsis means
no movement of food or gas, causing bloating and absent bowel sounds. This is a
functional obstruction .
Practice Questions and Verified Answers
Latest Update 2026/2027 | Graded A+
Question 1: A patient presents with difficulty swallowing. Which term best describes this
condition?
A) Peristalsis
B) Steatorrhea
C) Hematemesis
D) Dysphagia
Answer: D
Rationale: Dysphagia is difficulty swallowing. 'Dys' = difficult, 'phagia' = swallowing.
Peristalsis is the squeezing movement that pushes food through the digestive tract;
steatorrhea is fatty, foul-smelling stools; hematemesis is vomiting blood .
Question 2: A patient with chronic GERD develops Barrett's esophagus. This represents
which cellular adaptation?
A) Dysplasia
B) Hyperplasia
C) Anaplasia
D) Metaplasia
Answer: D
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one differentiated cell type with
another. In GERD, chronic acid reflux causes the normal squamous epithelium of the
esophagus to be replaced by columnar epithelium with goblet cells (Barrett's
esophagus), which is a precursor to esophageal adenocarcinoma .
,Question 3: A patient with peptic ulcer disease tests positive for a corkscrew-shaped
bacteria. Which organism is most likely responsible?
A) Escherichia coli
B) Staphylococcus aureus
C) Helicobacter pylori
D) Streptococcus pneumoniae
Answer: C
Rationale: Helicobacter pylori is a spiral-shaped bacterium that burrows into the
stomach lining and causes ulcers. It is named after the corkscrew (helix) shape it uses to
invade the gastric mucosa. H. pylori is the most common cause of peptic ulcers .
Question 4: Which type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can affect ANY part of the
digestive tract from mouth to anus?
A) Ulcerative colitis
B) Crohn's disease
C) Diverticulitis
D) Appendicitis
Answer: B
Rationale: Crohn's disease is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that can affect any
part of the digestive tract from mouth to anus, causing patchy 'skip lesions.' Ulcerative
colitis affects ONLY the colon and rectum .
Question 5: Ulcerative colitis affects which part of the gastrointestinal tract?
A) The entire GI tract
B) Only the colon and rectum
C) Only the small intestine
D) The stomach and esophagus
Answer: B
,Rationale: Ulcerative colitis is an IBD that affects ONLY the colon (large intestine) and
rectum, causing continuous ulcers and bloody diarrhea. Crohn's disease can affect the
entire GI tract .
Question 6: A patient has small pouches that have formed in weak spots of the colon
wall. This condition is called:
A) Diverticulitis
B) Diverticulosis
C) Peritonitis
D) Ileus
Answer: B
Rationale: Diverticulosis is the formation of small pouches (diverticula) in weak spots of
the colon wall. Diverticulitis is when those pouches become INFECTED and inflamed .
Question 7: A patient with acute left lower quadrant abdominal pain, fever, and
elevated WBC is diagnosed with inflamed and infected diverticula. This condition is:
A) Diverticulosis
B) Diverticulitis
C) Appendicitis
D) Peritonitis
Answer: B
Rationale: Diverticulitis is when the diverticula become infected and inflamed. '-itis'
always means inflammation. It causes severe left lower abdominal pain. Diverticulosis is
the presence of pouches without inflammation .
Question 8: A 25-year-old presents with right lower quadrant pain that is worse at
McBurney's point. This is classic for:
A) Cholecystitis
B) Diverticulitis
, C) Pancreatitis
D) Appendicitis
Answer: D
Rationale: McBurney's point is a specific spot in the right lower abdomen where
pressing causes severe pain in appendicitis. Appendicitis is inflammation of the
appendix and is a medical emergency as it can rupture and cause peritonitis .
Question 9: A patient with a ruptured appendix develops life-threatening inflammation
of the peritoneal lining. This is known as:
A) Ileus
B) Bowel obstruction
C) Hernia
D) Peritonitis
Answer: D
Rationale: Peritonitis is inflammation of the peritoneum (the lining covering all
abdominal organs). It is LIFE-THREATENING and is caused by rupture or perforation of
abdominal organs .
Question 10: A post-operative patient has no bowel sounds and reports bloating. The
nurse suspects:
A) Bowel obstruction
B) Ileus
C) Hernia
D) Appendicitis
Answer: B
Rationale: Ileus occurs when the intestines stop moving (paralysis). No peristalsis means
no movement of food or gas, causing bloating and absent bowel sounds. This is a
functional obstruction .
