pathophysiology exam 1 practice ATI questions with assured detailed answers
2026\2027
Parents of a 4-year-old child discovered the child has been chewing and swallowing imported toy
figurines that have tested positive for lead. Which blood test should the care team prioritize?
- correct answer Red blood cell (RBC) levels
The nurse is conducting a physical assessment of a homeless man during a night when the wind chill
factor is -10°F (-23°C). When assessing the man's fingers and toes for frostbite, the nurse looks for which
type of cellular injury?
- correct answer Hypoxic
A nurse is teaching a class on health promotion and includes information about the risk from ultraviolet
radiation. Which concepts should be included in this class?
- correct answer Ultraviolet radiation increases the risk of skin cancer and damages DNA.
The provider removes a cast from a teenager's arm. The client asks why the muscle in the arm is smaller
than it was. The provider explains that this reduction is caused by which of the following?
- correct answer Disuse
The nurse explains to the hypertensive client that the increased workload required to pump blood
against an elevated arterial pressure results in a progressive increase in left ventricular muscle mass.
This is an example of:
- correct answer hypertrophy
A mother rushes her 4-year-old child to the emergency department after she found an empty Tylenol
(acetaminophen) bottle beside her child. The nurse is trying to explain why it is so important to give the
child ipecac to induce vomiting in order to prevent:
- correct answer liver failure
Mercury is a toxic substance, and the hazards of mercury-associated occupational and accidental
exposures are well known. What is the primary source of mercury poisoning today?
- correct answer Fish such as tuna and swordfish
, Hypertrophy may occur as the result of normal physiologic or abnormal pathologic conditions. The
increase in muscle mass associated with exercise is an example of physiologic hypertrophy. Pathologic
hypertrophy occurs as the result of disease conditions and may be adaptive or compensatory. Examples
of adaptive hypertrophy are the thickening of the urinary bladder from long-continued obstruction of
urinary outflow and the myocardial hypertrophy that results from valvular heart disease or
hypertension. What is compensatory hypertrophy?
- correct answer When one kidney is removed, the remaining kidney enlarges to compensate for the loss
The nurse is treating a client who has been immobilized for several months. As a result, he is
experiencing bone thinning and weakening. The nurse is aware of the risk of lung, blood vessel, and
renal tubule calcification due to:
- correct answer metastatic calcification
A 70-year-old client is being treated for a recent ischemic stroke that has left the client with deficits.
These deficits likely result from which mechanism of cell injury?
- correct answer hypoxia and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) depletion
A client has experienced significant decreases in mobility and stamina during a 3-week hospital stay for
the treatment of a femoral head fracture. Which phenomena most likely accounts for the client's
decrease in muscle function?
- correct answer Disuse atrophy of muscle cells during a prolonged period of immobility
A client has developed cell atrophy. The most likely cause would be:
- correct answer ischemia.
A client is admitted with an alteration in arterial blood gases. Cellular injury is most likely to result from
which aspect of this abnormality
- correct answer Hypoxia
Which statement would a nurse tell a client that best describes a lab finding of metaplasia?
- correct answer "This is a change in cell form as it adapts to increased work demands or threats to
survival."
2026\2027
Parents of a 4-year-old child discovered the child has been chewing and swallowing imported toy
figurines that have tested positive for lead. Which blood test should the care team prioritize?
- correct answer Red blood cell (RBC) levels
The nurse is conducting a physical assessment of a homeless man during a night when the wind chill
factor is -10°F (-23°C). When assessing the man's fingers and toes for frostbite, the nurse looks for which
type of cellular injury?
- correct answer Hypoxic
A nurse is teaching a class on health promotion and includes information about the risk from ultraviolet
radiation. Which concepts should be included in this class?
- correct answer Ultraviolet radiation increases the risk of skin cancer and damages DNA.
The provider removes a cast from a teenager's arm. The client asks why the muscle in the arm is smaller
than it was. The provider explains that this reduction is caused by which of the following?
- correct answer Disuse
The nurse explains to the hypertensive client that the increased workload required to pump blood
against an elevated arterial pressure results in a progressive increase in left ventricular muscle mass.
This is an example of:
- correct answer hypertrophy
A mother rushes her 4-year-old child to the emergency department after she found an empty Tylenol
(acetaminophen) bottle beside her child. The nurse is trying to explain why it is so important to give the
child ipecac to induce vomiting in order to prevent:
- correct answer liver failure
Mercury is a toxic substance, and the hazards of mercury-associated occupational and accidental
exposures are well known. What is the primary source of mercury poisoning today?
- correct answer Fish such as tuna and swordfish
, Hypertrophy may occur as the result of normal physiologic or abnormal pathologic conditions. The
increase in muscle mass associated with exercise is an example of physiologic hypertrophy. Pathologic
hypertrophy occurs as the result of disease conditions and may be adaptive or compensatory. Examples
of adaptive hypertrophy are the thickening of the urinary bladder from long-continued obstruction of
urinary outflow and the myocardial hypertrophy that results from valvular heart disease or
hypertension. What is compensatory hypertrophy?
- correct answer When one kidney is removed, the remaining kidney enlarges to compensate for the loss
The nurse is treating a client who has been immobilized for several months. As a result, he is
experiencing bone thinning and weakening. The nurse is aware of the risk of lung, blood vessel, and
renal tubule calcification due to:
- correct answer metastatic calcification
A 70-year-old client is being treated for a recent ischemic stroke that has left the client with deficits.
These deficits likely result from which mechanism of cell injury?
- correct answer hypoxia and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) depletion
A client has experienced significant decreases in mobility and stamina during a 3-week hospital stay for
the treatment of a femoral head fracture. Which phenomena most likely accounts for the client's
decrease in muscle function?
- correct answer Disuse atrophy of muscle cells during a prolonged period of immobility
A client has developed cell atrophy. The most likely cause would be:
- correct answer ischemia.
A client is admitted with an alteration in arterial blood gases. Cellular injury is most likely to result from
which aspect of this abnormality
- correct answer Hypoxia
Which statement would a nurse tell a client that best describes a lab finding of metaplasia?
- correct answer "This is a change in cell form as it adapts to increased work demands or threats to
survival."
