HESI Pathophysiology Comprehensive
Exam Test Bank | Complete Practice
Exam Questions with Verified Answers
and Detailed Rationales | Latest Updated
Edition 2026/2027
Question 1
What effect does urinary obstruction have on glomerular filtration, urinary stasis,
and infection risk?
A) Decreased hydrostatic pressure, decreased filtration and anuria
B) Decreased glomerular filtration, urinary stasis, and predisposition to infection
C) Increased glomerular filtration rate, diuresis and infectious process
D) No effect on glomerular filtration, increase urinary stasis and infection
Answer: B
Rationale: Urinary obstruction leads to decreased glomerular filtration, urinary
stasis, and increased risk of infection. The obstruction causes backflow of urine,
which reduces filtration pressure and creates an environment conducive to bacterial
growth.
Question 2
The nurse is measuring BP on all four extremities of a child with coarctation of the
aorta. Which BP finding should the nurse expect to obtain?
A) Higher on the left side
B) Higher on the right side
C) Lower in the arms than in the legs
D) Lower in the legs than in the arms
Answer: D
Rationale: In coarctation of the aorta, a congenital constriction is found at the
aorta near the ductus arteriosus region that lies past the left subclavian arteries,
which perfuses the upper extremities. The child should have higher BP in the upper
extremities than in the lower legs.
pg. 1
,Question 3
A 75-year-old woman develops weakness in her lower extremities after a
prolonged period of bed rest. This is most likely caused by:
A) Atrophy of her leg muscles
B) Dysplasia of her leg muscles
C) Hypertrophy of her leg muscles
D) Hyperplasia of her leg muscles
Answer: A
Rationale: Prolonged bed rest causes muscle disuse atrophy, characterized by a
decrease in muscle fiber size due to decreased protein synthesis and increased
protein breakdown.
Question 4
Which are manifestations of increased intracranial pressure (ICP)? (Select all that
apply)
A) Intense thirst
B) Projectile vomiting
C) Pinpoint pupils
D) Altered mental status
E) Decerebrate positioning
F) Bradycardia
G) Hypotension
Answer: B, D, E, F
Rationale: Manifestations of increased ICP include projectile vomiting (due to
pressure on the vomiting center), altered mental status (confusion to coma),
decerebrate or decorticate posturing, and bradycardia with hypertension (Cushing's
triad). Pinpoint pupils may indicate brainstem damage; hypotension is not typical.
Question 5
Which of the following is considered a modifiable risk factor for prevention of
atherosclerosis?
A) Smoking
B) Age
C) Gender
pg. 2
,D) Genetics
Answer: A
Rationale: Smoking is a modifiable risk factor for atherosclerosis. Age, gender,
and genetics are non-modifiable risk factors.
Question 6
A patient travels to a country with possibly contaminated water. Which infection(s)
might be expected? (Select all that apply)
A) Hepatitis B
B) Hepatitis A
C) Acute amoebic dysentery
D) Ulcerative colitis
E) Gluten enteropathy
Answer: B, C
Rationale: Hepatitis A and acute amoebic dysentery are transmitted through
contaminated water (fecal-oral route). Hepatitis B is transmitted through
blood/body fluids. Ulcerative colitis and gluten enteropathy are not infectious
diseases.
Question 7
Incontinence manifested by constant or intermittent dribbling is called:
A) Urge incontinence
B) Overflow incontinence
C) Mixed incontinence
D) Stress incontinence
Answer: B
Rationale: Overflow incontinence is characterized by constant or intermittent
dribbling due to an overfilled bladder. Urge incontinence involves a sudden strong
urge to void, and stress incontinence occurs with increased intra-abdominal
pressure.
Question 8
Which electrolytes are necessary for muscle contraction? (Select all that apply)
A) Sodium
B) Calcium
pg. 3
, C) Magnesium
D) Potassium
E) Selenium
Answer: A, B, D
Rationale: Sodium, calcium, and potassium are essential for muscle contraction.
Sodium and potassium are involved in action potential generation, and calcium
triggers the sliding filament mechanism.
Question 9
Normal cells commit suicide. Which of the following is the term for this cellular
suicide?
A) Apoptosis
B) Anaplasia
C) Proto-oncogene
D) Suppressor genes
Answer: A
Rationale: Apoptosis is programmed cell death, or cellular suicide. Anaplasia is
loss of differentiation, proto-oncogenes promote cell growth, and suppressor genes
inhibit tumor formation.
Question 10
Which hormone is elevated in early pregnancy and is detected by pregnancy
screening tests?
A) Estrogen
B) Follicle stimulating hormone
C) Beta chorionic gonadotropin
D) Prolactin
Answer: C
Rationale: Beta human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) is the hormone produced
by the placenta in early pregnancy and is detected by pregnancy tests.
Question 11
Blood flows in the human body:
A) From the L side of the heart to the lungs to the R side of the heart from which it
is ejected to the body
pg. 4
Exam Test Bank | Complete Practice
Exam Questions with Verified Answers
and Detailed Rationales | Latest Updated
Edition 2026/2027
Question 1
What effect does urinary obstruction have on glomerular filtration, urinary stasis,
and infection risk?
A) Decreased hydrostatic pressure, decreased filtration and anuria
B) Decreased glomerular filtration, urinary stasis, and predisposition to infection
C) Increased glomerular filtration rate, diuresis and infectious process
D) No effect on glomerular filtration, increase urinary stasis and infection
Answer: B
Rationale: Urinary obstruction leads to decreased glomerular filtration, urinary
stasis, and increased risk of infection. The obstruction causes backflow of urine,
which reduces filtration pressure and creates an environment conducive to bacterial
growth.
Question 2
The nurse is measuring BP on all four extremities of a child with coarctation of the
aorta. Which BP finding should the nurse expect to obtain?
A) Higher on the left side
B) Higher on the right side
C) Lower in the arms than in the legs
D) Lower in the legs than in the arms
Answer: D
Rationale: In coarctation of the aorta, a congenital constriction is found at the
aorta near the ductus arteriosus region that lies past the left subclavian arteries,
which perfuses the upper extremities. The child should have higher BP in the upper
extremities than in the lower legs.
pg. 1
,Question 3
A 75-year-old woman develops weakness in her lower extremities after a
prolonged period of bed rest. This is most likely caused by:
A) Atrophy of her leg muscles
B) Dysplasia of her leg muscles
C) Hypertrophy of her leg muscles
D) Hyperplasia of her leg muscles
Answer: A
Rationale: Prolonged bed rest causes muscle disuse atrophy, characterized by a
decrease in muscle fiber size due to decreased protein synthesis and increased
protein breakdown.
Question 4
Which are manifestations of increased intracranial pressure (ICP)? (Select all that
apply)
A) Intense thirst
B) Projectile vomiting
C) Pinpoint pupils
D) Altered mental status
E) Decerebrate positioning
F) Bradycardia
G) Hypotension
Answer: B, D, E, F
Rationale: Manifestations of increased ICP include projectile vomiting (due to
pressure on the vomiting center), altered mental status (confusion to coma),
decerebrate or decorticate posturing, and bradycardia with hypertension (Cushing's
triad). Pinpoint pupils may indicate brainstem damage; hypotension is not typical.
Question 5
Which of the following is considered a modifiable risk factor for prevention of
atherosclerosis?
A) Smoking
B) Age
C) Gender
pg. 2
,D) Genetics
Answer: A
Rationale: Smoking is a modifiable risk factor for atherosclerosis. Age, gender,
and genetics are non-modifiable risk factors.
Question 6
A patient travels to a country with possibly contaminated water. Which infection(s)
might be expected? (Select all that apply)
A) Hepatitis B
B) Hepatitis A
C) Acute amoebic dysentery
D) Ulcerative colitis
E) Gluten enteropathy
Answer: B, C
Rationale: Hepatitis A and acute amoebic dysentery are transmitted through
contaminated water (fecal-oral route). Hepatitis B is transmitted through
blood/body fluids. Ulcerative colitis and gluten enteropathy are not infectious
diseases.
Question 7
Incontinence manifested by constant or intermittent dribbling is called:
A) Urge incontinence
B) Overflow incontinence
C) Mixed incontinence
D) Stress incontinence
Answer: B
Rationale: Overflow incontinence is characterized by constant or intermittent
dribbling due to an overfilled bladder. Urge incontinence involves a sudden strong
urge to void, and stress incontinence occurs with increased intra-abdominal
pressure.
Question 8
Which electrolytes are necessary for muscle contraction? (Select all that apply)
A) Sodium
B) Calcium
pg. 3
, C) Magnesium
D) Potassium
E) Selenium
Answer: A, B, D
Rationale: Sodium, calcium, and potassium are essential for muscle contraction.
Sodium and potassium are involved in action potential generation, and calcium
triggers the sliding filament mechanism.
Question 9
Normal cells commit suicide. Which of the following is the term for this cellular
suicide?
A) Apoptosis
B) Anaplasia
C) Proto-oncogene
D) Suppressor genes
Answer: A
Rationale: Apoptosis is programmed cell death, or cellular suicide. Anaplasia is
loss of differentiation, proto-oncogenes promote cell growth, and suppressor genes
inhibit tumor formation.
Question 10
Which hormone is elevated in early pregnancy and is detected by pregnancy
screening tests?
A) Estrogen
B) Follicle stimulating hormone
C) Beta chorionic gonadotropin
D) Prolactin
Answer: C
Rationale: Beta human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) is the hormone produced
by the placenta in early pregnancy and is detected by pregnancy tests.
Question 11
Blood flows in the human body:
A) From the L side of the heart to the lungs to the R side of the heart from which it
is ejected to the body
pg. 4
