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NURS 5315 Advanced Pathophysiology – (Exam 5) 50 Original Questions
with Answers and Rationales UPDATED!!!!
Musculoskeletal, Integumentary, and Multi-System Syndromes
1. Postmenopausal osteoporosis is primarily caused by:
A) Increased osteoblast activity
B) Estrogen deficiency leading to increased RANKL and
osteoclast activity
C) Vitamin D excess
D) Decreased parathyroid hormone
Answer: B) Estrogen deficiency leading to increased RANKL
and osteoclast activity
Rationale: Estrogen normally suppresses RANKL. After
menopause, RANKL increases, promoting osteoclast-
mediated bone resorption and net bone loss.
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2. The most common site of osteoporotic fracture is:
A) Skull
B) Vertebral body
C) Femoral shaft
D) Humerus
Answer: B) Vertebral body
Rationale: Vertebral compression fractures are the most
common osteoporotic fractures, followed by hip and wrist
fractures.
3. Osteomalacia in adults is characterized by:
A) Increased bone mineral density
B) Defective mineralization of osteoid due to vitamin D
deficiency
C) Excessive bone resorption
D) Replacement of bone with fibrous tissue
Answer: B) Defective mineralization of osteoid due to
vitamin D deficiency
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Rationale: Osteomalacia results from inadequate
mineralization of bone matrix, usually from vitamin D
deficiency or abnormal metabolism.
4. Paget disease of bone is characterized by:
A) Decreased bone turnover
B) Disorganized bone remodeling with excessive osteoclastic
and osteoblastic activity
C) Avascular necrosis of bone
D) Metastatic calcification
Answer: B) Disorganized bone remodeling with excessive
osteoclastic and osteoblastic activity
Rationale: Paget disease involves chaotic bone remodeling,
leading to enlarged, deformed, and fragile bones.
5. The most common causative organism in acute
osteomyelitis is:
A) Streptococcus pyogenes
B) Staphylococcus aureus
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C) Escherichia coli
D) Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Answer: B) Staphylococcus aureus
Rationale: S. aureus is the most common pathogen in acute
osteomyelitis, often spread hematogenously or by direct
inoculation.
6. A patient with a fracture develops fat embolism
syndrome. The classic triad includes:
A) Fever, rash, and arthritis
B) Respiratory distress, neurologic symptoms, and petechial
rash
C) Chest pain, hemoptysis, and jaundice
D) Hypotension, oliguria, and anemia
Answer: B) Respiratory distress, neurologic symptoms, and
petechial rash
Rationale: Fat embolism syndrome presents with hypoxemia,
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NURS 5315 Advanced Pathophysiology – (Exam 5) 50 Original Questions
with Answers and Rationales UPDATED!!!!
Musculoskeletal, Integumentary, and Multi-System Syndromes
1. Postmenopausal osteoporosis is primarily caused by:
A) Increased osteoblast activity
B) Estrogen deficiency leading to increased RANKL and
osteoclast activity
C) Vitamin D excess
D) Decreased parathyroid hormone
Answer: B) Estrogen deficiency leading to increased RANKL
and osteoclast activity
Rationale: Estrogen normally suppresses RANKL. After
menopause, RANKL increases, promoting osteoclast-
mediated bone resorption and net bone loss.
1|Page
, Page |2
2. The most common site of osteoporotic fracture is:
A) Skull
B) Vertebral body
C) Femoral shaft
D) Humerus
Answer: B) Vertebral body
Rationale: Vertebral compression fractures are the most
common osteoporotic fractures, followed by hip and wrist
fractures.
3. Osteomalacia in adults is characterized by:
A) Increased bone mineral density
B) Defective mineralization of osteoid due to vitamin D
deficiency
C) Excessive bone resorption
D) Replacement of bone with fibrous tissue
Answer: B) Defective mineralization of osteoid due to
vitamin D deficiency
2|Page
, Page |3
Rationale: Osteomalacia results from inadequate
mineralization of bone matrix, usually from vitamin D
deficiency or abnormal metabolism.
4. Paget disease of bone is characterized by:
A) Decreased bone turnover
B) Disorganized bone remodeling with excessive osteoclastic
and osteoblastic activity
C) Avascular necrosis of bone
D) Metastatic calcification
Answer: B) Disorganized bone remodeling with excessive
osteoclastic and osteoblastic activity
Rationale: Paget disease involves chaotic bone remodeling,
leading to enlarged, deformed, and fragile bones.
5. The most common causative organism in acute
osteomyelitis is:
A) Streptococcus pyogenes
B) Staphylococcus aureus
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C) Escherichia coli
D) Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Answer: B) Staphylococcus aureus
Rationale: S. aureus is the most common pathogen in acute
osteomyelitis, often spread hematogenously or by direct
inoculation.
6. A patient with a fracture develops fat embolism
syndrome. The classic triad includes:
A) Fever, rash, and arthritis
B) Respiratory distress, neurologic symptoms, and petechial
rash
C) Chest pain, hemoptysis, and jaundice
D) Hypotension, oliguria, and anemia
Answer: B) Respiratory distress, neurologic symptoms, and
petechial rash
Rationale: Fat embolism syndrome presents with hypoxemia,
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