2026 N212 Pathophysiology Exam 2 - Practice Questions
Eastwick College Update Complete Test Bank
Master complex disease mechanisms and pass your second milestone
assessment with this complete 2026 N212 Pathophysiology practice exam
bank tailored for Eastwick College students. This comprehensive
preparation guide features realistic test questions with verified correct
answers and detailed clinical rationales covering advanced cellular
alterations, immunological responses, and systemic homeostatic
disruptions. It is an indispensable study tool for nursing students looking to
streamline their study routines, build diagnostic confidence, and secure an
A+ grade.
Question 1: A 45-year-old patient with chronic alcoholism presents
with jaundice, ascites, and confusion. Laboratory findings show
elevated AST and ALT with AST > ALT, and elevated bilirubin. What is
the most likely diagnosis?
A) Alcoholic hepatitis with hepatic encephalopathy
B) Viral hepatitis A
C) Gallstone pancreatitis
D) Hepatocellular carcinoma
Answer: A) Alcoholic hepatitis with hepatic encephalopathy
Rationale: Alcoholic hepatitis typically presents with jaundice, ascites, and
elevated liver enzymes. The AST:ALT ratio > 2 is a classic finding. Hepatic
encephalopathy causes confusion due to ammonia accumulation. Viral
hepatitis A and gallstone pancreatitis would present differently, and
hepatocellular carcinoma is a complication of chronic liver disease, not the
acute presentation itself .
,Question 2: A patient with newly diagnosed Type 1 diabetes mellitus
has blood glucose of 650 mg/dL, arterial pH of 7.15, and serum
bicarbonate of 10 mEq/L. Which acid-base disturbance is present?
A) Respiratory acidosis
B) Metabolic acidosis with anion gap
C) Metabolic alkalosis
D) Respiratory alkalosis
Answer: B) Metabolic acidosis with anion gap
Rationale: Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) presents with hyperglycemia, ketosis,
and metabolic acidosis with an elevated anion gap. The low pH and low
bicarbonate indicate metabolic acidosis. The anion gap is elevated due to
accumulation of ketone bodies. Respiratory acidosis would show elevated
PaCO₂, and alkalosis would show elevated pH .
Question 3: Which of the following statements accurately describes the
difference between Hodgkin's lymphoma and Non-Hodgkin's
lymphoma?
A) Hodgkin's lymphoma is characterized by the presence of Reed-Sternberg
cells
B) Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma has a better prognosis than Hodgkin's
lymphoma
C) Hodgkin's lymphoma is more common in children
D) Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is always B-cell derived
Answer: A) Hodgkin's lymphoma is characterized by the presence of
Reed-Sternberg cells
Rationale: Reed-Sternberg cells are the hallmark of Hodgkin's lymphoma,
which is a B-cell malignancy. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is more common,
can arise from B-cells or T-cells, and generally has a better prognosis
,depending on the subtype. Hodgkin's lymphoma has a bimodal age
distribution, peaking in young adults and older adults .
Question 4: A patient with a family history of breast cancer undergoes
genetic testing and is found to have a BRCA1 mutation. Which
pathophysiological mechanism explains the increased cancer risk?
A) Impaired DNA repair mechanisms
B) Increased estrogen receptor expression
C) Decreased apoptosis of breast tissue
D) Enhanced angiogenesis signaling
Answer: A) Impaired DNA repair mechanisms
Rationale: BRCA1 and BRCA2 are tumor suppressor genes involved in DNA
repair via homologous recombination. Mutations impair repair, allowing
accumulation of genetic damage and increasing the risk of breast, ovarian,
and other cancers. BRCA1 mutations also affect cell cycle regulation and
chromatin remodeling .
Question 5: A patient with chronic liver disease develops portal
hypertension. Which complication is most immediately life-
threatening?
A) Splenomegaly
B) Ascites
C) Esophageal varices with bleeding
D) Spider angiomas
Answer: C) Esophageal varices with bleeding
, Rationale: Portal hypertension causes collateral vessels to form, including
esophageal varices. Variceal bleeding is a life-threatening emergency that
can result in exsanguination. Splenomegaly and ascites are also
complications but are not immediately life-threatening unless they lead to
other complications .
Question 6: A patient presents with fever, right upper quadrant pain,
and jaundice. Ultrasound reveals dilated intrahepatic and extrahepatic
bile ducts. What is the most likely diagnosis?
A) Choledocholithiasis
B) Acute hepatitis
C) Pancreatitis
D) Cholecystitis
Answer: A) Choledocholithiasis
Rationale: Choledocholithiasis (stone in the common bile duct) causes
obstructive jaundice with biliary dilation. The triad of fever, right upper
quadrant pain, and jaundice is classic for cholangitis (Charcot's triad). Acute
hepatitis would show liver enzyme elevation without ductal dilation.
Pancreatitis and cholecystitis do not typically cause jaundice with ductal
dilation .
Question 7: Which of the following is a characteristic finding in Graves'
disease?
A) Anti-thyroglobulin antibodies
B) Thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin (TSI) antibodies
C) Anti-TPO antibodies
D) Anti-nuclear antibodies
Eastwick College Update Complete Test Bank
Master complex disease mechanisms and pass your second milestone
assessment with this complete 2026 N212 Pathophysiology practice exam
bank tailored for Eastwick College students. This comprehensive
preparation guide features realistic test questions with verified correct
answers and detailed clinical rationales covering advanced cellular
alterations, immunological responses, and systemic homeostatic
disruptions. It is an indispensable study tool for nursing students looking to
streamline their study routines, build diagnostic confidence, and secure an
A+ grade.
Question 1: A 45-year-old patient with chronic alcoholism presents
with jaundice, ascites, and confusion. Laboratory findings show
elevated AST and ALT with AST > ALT, and elevated bilirubin. What is
the most likely diagnosis?
A) Alcoholic hepatitis with hepatic encephalopathy
B) Viral hepatitis A
C) Gallstone pancreatitis
D) Hepatocellular carcinoma
Answer: A) Alcoholic hepatitis with hepatic encephalopathy
Rationale: Alcoholic hepatitis typically presents with jaundice, ascites, and
elevated liver enzymes. The AST:ALT ratio > 2 is a classic finding. Hepatic
encephalopathy causes confusion due to ammonia accumulation. Viral
hepatitis A and gallstone pancreatitis would present differently, and
hepatocellular carcinoma is a complication of chronic liver disease, not the
acute presentation itself .
,Question 2: A patient with newly diagnosed Type 1 diabetes mellitus
has blood glucose of 650 mg/dL, arterial pH of 7.15, and serum
bicarbonate of 10 mEq/L. Which acid-base disturbance is present?
A) Respiratory acidosis
B) Metabolic acidosis with anion gap
C) Metabolic alkalosis
D) Respiratory alkalosis
Answer: B) Metabolic acidosis with anion gap
Rationale: Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) presents with hyperglycemia, ketosis,
and metabolic acidosis with an elevated anion gap. The low pH and low
bicarbonate indicate metabolic acidosis. The anion gap is elevated due to
accumulation of ketone bodies. Respiratory acidosis would show elevated
PaCO₂, and alkalosis would show elevated pH .
Question 3: Which of the following statements accurately describes the
difference between Hodgkin's lymphoma and Non-Hodgkin's
lymphoma?
A) Hodgkin's lymphoma is characterized by the presence of Reed-Sternberg
cells
B) Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma has a better prognosis than Hodgkin's
lymphoma
C) Hodgkin's lymphoma is more common in children
D) Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is always B-cell derived
Answer: A) Hodgkin's lymphoma is characterized by the presence of
Reed-Sternberg cells
Rationale: Reed-Sternberg cells are the hallmark of Hodgkin's lymphoma,
which is a B-cell malignancy. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is more common,
can arise from B-cells or T-cells, and generally has a better prognosis
,depending on the subtype. Hodgkin's lymphoma has a bimodal age
distribution, peaking in young adults and older adults .
Question 4: A patient with a family history of breast cancer undergoes
genetic testing and is found to have a BRCA1 mutation. Which
pathophysiological mechanism explains the increased cancer risk?
A) Impaired DNA repair mechanisms
B) Increased estrogen receptor expression
C) Decreased apoptosis of breast tissue
D) Enhanced angiogenesis signaling
Answer: A) Impaired DNA repair mechanisms
Rationale: BRCA1 and BRCA2 are tumor suppressor genes involved in DNA
repair via homologous recombination. Mutations impair repair, allowing
accumulation of genetic damage and increasing the risk of breast, ovarian,
and other cancers. BRCA1 mutations also affect cell cycle regulation and
chromatin remodeling .
Question 5: A patient with chronic liver disease develops portal
hypertension. Which complication is most immediately life-
threatening?
A) Splenomegaly
B) Ascites
C) Esophageal varices with bleeding
D) Spider angiomas
Answer: C) Esophageal varices with bleeding
, Rationale: Portal hypertension causes collateral vessels to form, including
esophageal varices. Variceal bleeding is a life-threatening emergency that
can result in exsanguination. Splenomegaly and ascites are also
complications but are not immediately life-threatening unless they lead to
other complications .
Question 6: A patient presents with fever, right upper quadrant pain,
and jaundice. Ultrasound reveals dilated intrahepatic and extrahepatic
bile ducts. What is the most likely diagnosis?
A) Choledocholithiasis
B) Acute hepatitis
C) Pancreatitis
D) Cholecystitis
Answer: A) Choledocholithiasis
Rationale: Choledocholithiasis (stone in the common bile duct) causes
obstructive jaundice with biliary dilation. The triad of fever, right upper
quadrant pain, and jaundice is classic for cholangitis (Charcot's triad). Acute
hepatitis would show liver enzyme elevation without ductal dilation.
Pancreatitis and cholecystitis do not typically cause jaundice with ductal
dilation .
Question 7: Which of the following is a characteristic finding in Graves'
disease?
A) Anti-thyroglobulin antibodies
B) Thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin (TSI) antibodies
C) Anti-TPO antibodies
D) Anti-nuclear antibodies
