,NSG3280/NSG 3280 Exam 1 | Pathophysiology |
Galen College | 26/27 Updated (PDF)
1. The study of the cause or reason for a particular disease or injury is referred to as:
A) Pathogenesis
B) Etiology
C) Epidemiology
D) Pathophysiology
Correct Answer: Etiology
Rationale: Etiology is the study of the cause or risk factor for a particular condition or disease; it
identifies the causal factors that can lead to a specific disease or injury. Pathogenesis is the
development of the disease, epidemiology studies disease patterns in populations, and
pathophysiology is the study of abnormalities in physiologic functioning.
2. A patient's lab results indicate a fasting plasma glucose of 132 mg/dL on two separate occasions.
This finding is most consistent with which diagnosis?
A) Prediabetes
B) Type 1 diabetes mellitus
C) Diabetes mellitus
D) Gestational diabetes
Correct Answer: Diabetes mellitus
Rationale: A fasting plasma glucose of 126 mg/dL or greater on two separate occasions after an 8-14
hour fast is diagnostic for diabetes mellitus. Prediabetes is diagnosed with a fasting glucose of 100-125
mg/dL, while gestational diabetes is related to pregnancy. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune
condition, but the lab value itself is diagnostic for diabetes mellitus broadly.
3. A nurse is teaching a patient about Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus. Which statement by the patient
indicates an accurate understanding of the disease?
,A) "My body doesn't respond well to the insulin I produce."
B) "My immune system has destroyed the cells that make insulin."
C) "This type of diabetes is only caused by pregnancy."
D) "My pancreas produces too much glucagon."
Correct Answer: "My immune system has destroyed the cells that make insulin."
Rationale: Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus is characterized by the autoimmune destruction of the pancreatic
beta cells, leading to an absolute insulin deficiency. Insulin resistance is the hallmark of Type 2
diabetes, gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy, and excessive glucagon secretion is not the
primary characteristic of either type.
4. A patient with a known history of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus presents with polyuria, polydipsia,
polyphagia, Kussmaul respirations, and fruity-smelling breath. The nurse recognizes these findings as
most consistent with:
A) Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic Syndrome (HHS)
B) The dawn phenomenon
C) Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA)
D) Hypoglycemia
Correct Answer: Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA)
Rationale: The classic presentation of Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) includes the "three polys" (polyuria,
polydipsia, polyphagia), Kussmaul respirations (deep, rapid breathing), and fruity breath (from
acetone). DKA is caused by a profound insulin deficiency leading to lipolysis and ketone formation.
HHS typically presents with severe hyperglycemia and dehydration without significant ketosis, and
hypoglycemia presents with diaphoresis and confusion.
5. A cell is adapting to a persistent increase in workload, such as in the left ventricle of a patient with
hypertension. This adaptation, characterized by an increase in cell size, is known as:
A) Hyperplasia
B) Atrophy
, C) Hypertrophy
D) Metaplasia
Correct Answer: Hypertrophy
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size and mass, often in response to increased workload,
such as in cardiac muscle cells due to hypertension or aortic stenosis. Hyperplasia is an increase in cell
number, atrophy is a decrease in cell size, and metaplasia is the replacement of one cell type with
another.
6. A patient with chronic bronchitis has a long history of smoking. Over time, the normal ciliated
pseudostratified columnar epithelium of the airways is replaced by stratified squamous epithelium.
This process is an example of:
A) Dysplasia
B) Metaplasia
C) Anaplasia
D) Hyperplasia
Correct Answer: Metaplasia
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one differentiated cell type with another, often
in response to chronic irritation or inflammation. The change from ciliated columnar to squamous
epithelium in the airways of a smoker is a classic example. Dysplasia involves disorderly cell growth,
anaplasia is a loss of differentiation seen in cancer, and hyperplasia is an increase in cell number.
7. A pathologist examining a tissue sample notes cells that are disorganized, with variations in size and
shape. This finding is best described as:
A) Atrophy
B) Hypertrophy
C) Metaplasia
D) Dysplasia
Galen College | 26/27 Updated (PDF)
1. The study of the cause or reason for a particular disease or injury is referred to as:
A) Pathogenesis
B) Etiology
C) Epidemiology
D) Pathophysiology
Correct Answer: Etiology
Rationale: Etiology is the study of the cause or risk factor for a particular condition or disease; it
identifies the causal factors that can lead to a specific disease or injury. Pathogenesis is the
development of the disease, epidemiology studies disease patterns in populations, and
pathophysiology is the study of abnormalities in physiologic functioning.
2. A patient's lab results indicate a fasting plasma glucose of 132 mg/dL on two separate occasions.
This finding is most consistent with which diagnosis?
A) Prediabetes
B) Type 1 diabetes mellitus
C) Diabetes mellitus
D) Gestational diabetes
Correct Answer: Diabetes mellitus
Rationale: A fasting plasma glucose of 126 mg/dL or greater on two separate occasions after an 8-14
hour fast is diagnostic for diabetes mellitus. Prediabetes is diagnosed with a fasting glucose of 100-125
mg/dL, while gestational diabetes is related to pregnancy. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune
condition, but the lab value itself is diagnostic for diabetes mellitus broadly.
3. A nurse is teaching a patient about Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus. Which statement by the patient
indicates an accurate understanding of the disease?
,A) "My body doesn't respond well to the insulin I produce."
B) "My immune system has destroyed the cells that make insulin."
C) "This type of diabetes is only caused by pregnancy."
D) "My pancreas produces too much glucagon."
Correct Answer: "My immune system has destroyed the cells that make insulin."
Rationale: Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus is characterized by the autoimmune destruction of the pancreatic
beta cells, leading to an absolute insulin deficiency. Insulin resistance is the hallmark of Type 2
diabetes, gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy, and excessive glucagon secretion is not the
primary characteristic of either type.
4. A patient with a known history of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus presents with polyuria, polydipsia,
polyphagia, Kussmaul respirations, and fruity-smelling breath. The nurse recognizes these findings as
most consistent with:
A) Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic Syndrome (HHS)
B) The dawn phenomenon
C) Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA)
D) Hypoglycemia
Correct Answer: Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA)
Rationale: The classic presentation of Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) includes the "three polys" (polyuria,
polydipsia, polyphagia), Kussmaul respirations (deep, rapid breathing), and fruity breath (from
acetone). DKA is caused by a profound insulin deficiency leading to lipolysis and ketone formation.
HHS typically presents with severe hyperglycemia and dehydration without significant ketosis, and
hypoglycemia presents with diaphoresis and confusion.
5. A cell is adapting to a persistent increase in workload, such as in the left ventricle of a patient with
hypertension. This adaptation, characterized by an increase in cell size, is known as:
A) Hyperplasia
B) Atrophy
, C) Hypertrophy
D) Metaplasia
Correct Answer: Hypertrophy
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size and mass, often in response to increased workload,
such as in cardiac muscle cells due to hypertension or aortic stenosis. Hyperplasia is an increase in cell
number, atrophy is a decrease in cell size, and metaplasia is the replacement of one cell type with
another.
6. A patient with chronic bronchitis has a long history of smoking. Over time, the normal ciliated
pseudostratified columnar epithelium of the airways is replaced by stratified squamous epithelium.
This process is an example of:
A) Dysplasia
B) Metaplasia
C) Anaplasia
D) Hyperplasia
Correct Answer: Metaplasia
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one differentiated cell type with another, often
in response to chronic irritation or inflammation. The change from ciliated columnar to squamous
epithelium in the airways of a smoker is a classic example. Dysplasia involves disorderly cell growth,
anaplasia is a loss of differentiation seen in cancer, and hyperplasia is an increase in cell number.
7. A pathologist examining a tissue sample notes cells that are disorganized, with variations in size and
shape. This finding is best described as:
A) Atrophy
B) Hypertrophy
C) Metaplasia
D) Dysplasia
