NURS 5220 ADVANCED
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY FINAL EXAM
QUESTIONS & VERIFIED ANSWERS (A+
GUARANTEE)
1. Which of the following describes the Frank-Starling Law of the heart?
A. Increased heart rate leads to increased cardiac output.
B. Stroke volume increases in response to an increase in the volume of blood in the
ventricles, before contraction.
C. Increased peripheral resistance decreases the force of contraction.
D. Parasympathetic stimulation increases the force of atrial contraction.
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: The Frank-Starling Law states that the stroke volume of the
heart increases in response to an increase in the volume of blood filling the heart (the end
diastolic volume) when all other factors remain constant.
2. A patient presents with a pH of 7.25, PaCO2 of 55, and HCO3 of 28. What is the acid-base
diagnosis?
A. Compensated Metabolic Acidosis
B. Uncompensated Respiratory Alkalosis
,C. Partially Compensated Respiratory Acidosis
D. Metabolic Alkalosis with Respiratory Compensation
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: The pH is low (acidosis), the PaCO2 is high (respiratory cause),
and the HCO3 is slightly elevated, indicating the kidneys have begun to compensate, but the
pH has not returned to normal range.
3. In the pathophysiology of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus, what is the primary mechanism of
beta-cell destruction?
A. Insulin resistance in peripheral tissues
B. T-cell mediated autoimmune destruction
C. Excessive glucagon production by alpha cells
D. Amyloid deposition in the islets of Langerhans
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Type 1 DM is characterized by an autoimmune process where T-
lymphocytes infiltrate the pancreas and destroy the insulin-producing beta cells.
4. Which electrolyte imbalance is most commonly associated with a positive Chvostek sign?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hyponatremia
C. Hypocalcemia
, D. Hypermagnesemia
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Hypocalcemia increases neuromuscular excitability; the
Chvostek sign (facial twitching when the facial nerve is tapped) is a clinical indicator of this
state.
5. What is the primary driver of the ‘Air Trapping’ observed in patients with chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?
A. Loss of radial traction and alveolar wall destruction
B. Increased elastic recoil of the lung tissue
C. Excessive surfactant production
D. Hyperventilation induced by hypocapnia
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: In COPD (emphysema), the destruction of alveolar walls leads to
a loss of elastic recoil and radial traction, causing small airways to collapse during
expiration, trapping air.
6. Which of the following is a key compensatory mechanism in the early stages of Heart
Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction (HFrEF)?
A. Downregulation of the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System (RAAS)
B. Inhibition of Atrial Natriuretic Peptide (ANP)
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY FINAL EXAM
QUESTIONS & VERIFIED ANSWERS (A+
GUARANTEE)
1. Which of the following describes the Frank-Starling Law of the heart?
A. Increased heart rate leads to increased cardiac output.
B. Stroke volume increases in response to an increase in the volume of blood in the
ventricles, before contraction.
C. Increased peripheral resistance decreases the force of contraction.
D. Parasympathetic stimulation increases the force of atrial contraction.
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: The Frank-Starling Law states that the stroke volume of the
heart increases in response to an increase in the volume of blood filling the heart (the end
diastolic volume) when all other factors remain constant.
2. A patient presents with a pH of 7.25, PaCO2 of 55, and HCO3 of 28. What is the acid-base
diagnosis?
A. Compensated Metabolic Acidosis
B. Uncompensated Respiratory Alkalosis
,C. Partially Compensated Respiratory Acidosis
D. Metabolic Alkalosis with Respiratory Compensation
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: The pH is low (acidosis), the PaCO2 is high (respiratory cause),
and the HCO3 is slightly elevated, indicating the kidneys have begun to compensate, but the
pH has not returned to normal range.
3. In the pathophysiology of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus, what is the primary mechanism of
beta-cell destruction?
A. Insulin resistance in peripheral tissues
B. T-cell mediated autoimmune destruction
C. Excessive glucagon production by alpha cells
D. Amyloid deposition in the islets of Langerhans
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Type 1 DM is characterized by an autoimmune process where T-
lymphocytes infiltrate the pancreas and destroy the insulin-producing beta cells.
4. Which electrolyte imbalance is most commonly associated with a positive Chvostek sign?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hyponatremia
C. Hypocalcemia
, D. Hypermagnesemia
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Hypocalcemia increases neuromuscular excitability; the
Chvostek sign (facial twitching when the facial nerve is tapped) is a clinical indicator of this
state.
5. What is the primary driver of the ‘Air Trapping’ observed in patients with chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?
A. Loss of radial traction and alveolar wall destruction
B. Increased elastic recoil of the lung tissue
C. Excessive surfactant production
D. Hyperventilation induced by hypocapnia
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: In COPD (emphysema), the destruction of alveolar walls leads to
a loss of elastic recoil and radial traction, causing small airways to collapse during
expiration, trapping air.
6. Which of the following is a key compensatory mechanism in the early stages of Heart
Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction (HFrEF)?
A. Downregulation of the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System (RAAS)
B. Inhibition of Atrial Natriuretic Peptide (ANP)
