NUR 611 ADVANCED
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY FINAL EXAM
REVIEW
1. A patient exhibits a reduction in cell size due to a decrease in workload and metabolic
needs. Which cellular adaptation is this?
A. Hypertrophy
B. Metaplasia
C. Atrophy
D. Dysplasia
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Atrophy is the shrinkage in cell size by loss of cell substance,
often due to decreased workload, loss of innervation, or diminished blood supply.
2. Which mechanism is primarily responsible for the cellular swelling observed in hypoxic
injury?
A. Failure of the sodium-potassium pump
B. Increased protein synthesis
C. Decreased intracellular osmotic pressure
,D. Activation of apoptosis
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: Hypoxia leads to reduced ATP, causing the Na+/K+ pump to fail.
Sodium enters the cell, followed by water, resulting in cellular swelling.
3. In a patient with metabolic acidosis, which compensatory mechanism would the nurse
expect to observe?
A. Increased renal excretion of bicarbonate
B. Decreased respiratory rate
C. Hypoventilation to increase PaCO2
D. Hyperventilation to decrease PaCO2
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Metabolic acidosis triggers the respiratory center to increase
ventilation (Kussmaul respirations) to blow off CO2 and normalize pH.
4. Which type of hypersensitivity reaction is mediated by IgE and involves the release of
histamine from mast cells?
A. Type I
B. Type II
C. Type III
D. Type IV
, Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: Type I hypersensitivity is IgE-mediated, leading to immediate
mast cell degranulation and release of inflammatory mediators like histamine.
5. A patient has a serum potassium level of 6.5 mEq/L. Which ECG change is most
characteristic of this condition?
A. Prominent U waves
B. ST-segment depression
C. Prolonged QT interval
D. Tall, peaked T waves
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Hyperkalemia (K+ > 5.0) typically manifests on an ECG as tall,
peaked T waves and potentially a widened QRS complex.
6. What is the primary pathophysiology behind Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus?
A. Immune-mediated destruction of pancreatic beta cells
B. Insulin resistance in peripheral tissues
C. Excessive glucagon secretion by alpha cells
D. Hypertrophy of the islets of Langerhans
Answer: A
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY FINAL EXAM
REVIEW
1. A patient exhibits a reduction in cell size due to a decrease in workload and metabolic
needs. Which cellular adaptation is this?
A. Hypertrophy
B. Metaplasia
C. Atrophy
D. Dysplasia
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Atrophy is the shrinkage in cell size by loss of cell substance,
often due to decreased workload, loss of innervation, or diminished blood supply.
2. Which mechanism is primarily responsible for the cellular swelling observed in hypoxic
injury?
A. Failure of the sodium-potassium pump
B. Increased protein synthesis
C. Decreased intracellular osmotic pressure
,D. Activation of apoptosis
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: Hypoxia leads to reduced ATP, causing the Na+/K+ pump to fail.
Sodium enters the cell, followed by water, resulting in cellular swelling.
3. In a patient with metabolic acidosis, which compensatory mechanism would the nurse
expect to observe?
A. Increased renal excretion of bicarbonate
B. Decreased respiratory rate
C. Hypoventilation to increase PaCO2
D. Hyperventilation to decrease PaCO2
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Metabolic acidosis triggers the respiratory center to increase
ventilation (Kussmaul respirations) to blow off CO2 and normalize pH.
4. Which type of hypersensitivity reaction is mediated by IgE and involves the release of
histamine from mast cells?
A. Type I
B. Type II
C. Type III
D. Type IV
, Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: Type I hypersensitivity is IgE-mediated, leading to immediate
mast cell degranulation and release of inflammatory mediators like histamine.
5. A patient has a serum potassium level of 6.5 mEq/L. Which ECG change is most
characteristic of this condition?
A. Prominent U waves
B. ST-segment depression
C. Prolonged QT interval
D. Tall, peaked T waves
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Hyperkalemia (K+ > 5.0) typically manifests on an ECG as tall,
peaked T waves and potentially a widened QRS complex.
6. What is the primary pathophysiology behind Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus?
A. Immune-mediated destruction of pancreatic beta cells
B. Insulin resistance in peripheral tissues
C. Excessive glucagon secretion by alpha cells
D. Hypertrophy of the islets of Langerhans
Answer: A
