NURS 3366 PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
EXAM 2 REVIEW
UTA Nursing Preparation Resource
Advanced NCLEX-Style Cardiovascular Pathophysiology Questions
Answers and Detailed Rationales
✓ Exam 2 Content Focus
Cardiovascular pathophysiology
Hemodynamics
Hypertension
Atherosclerosis
Coronary artery disease
Myocardial infarction
Heart failure
Shock and vascular disorders
,1. A 65-year-old patient with uncontrolled hypertension develops left ventricular
enlargement. Which pathophysiologic process explains this cardiac change?
A. Hypertrophy caused by chronic pressure overload
B. Hyperplasia caused by increased cardiac cell production
C. Atrophy caused by decreased stimulation
D. Metaplasia caused by tissue replacement
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Chronic hypertension increases the workload against which the left ventricle
pumps. Cardiac muscle cells respond by enlarging, producing hypertrophy. Over time,
this compensation may contribute to cardiac dysfunction.
2. A patient presents with chest pain and elevated cardiac biomarkers after
coronary artery blockage. Which mechanism is responsible for myocardial injury?
A. Reduced oxygen delivery causing ischemic cellular damage
B. Increased oxygen delivery causing cellular stress
C. Increased cardiac cell regeneration
D. Decreased metabolic demand causing injury
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Myocardial infarction occurs when coronary blood flow is interrupted. Lack
of oxygen prevents adequate ATP production and leads to cellular injury and death.
3. A patient with heart failure develops bilateral lower-extremity edema. Which
mechanism explains this finding?
A. Increased venous pressure causing fluid movement into tissues
B. Increased arterial oxygenation causing fluid retention
C. Reduced blood volume causing tissue swelling
D. Increased lymphatic removal causing edema
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Heart failure causes venous congestion and increased hydrostatic pressure.
This pressure pushes fluid into surrounding tissues, resulting in edema.
4. A nurse is reviewing cardiovascular pathophysiology. Which statement best
demonstrates understanding of cardiac output regulation?
,It involves physiological changes that influence cardiovascular function and patient
manifestations related to cardiac output regulation
It prevents all cardiovascular disease from occurring
It only affects laboratory values without clinical effects
It occurs only in healthy individuals
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Understanding cardiac output regulation helps nurses connect disease
mechanisms with assessment findings, complications, and appropriate clinical care.
5. A nurse is reviewing cardiovascular pathophysiology. Which statement best
demonstrates understanding of blood pressure control?
It involves physiological changes that influence cardiovascular function and patient
manifestations related to blood pressure control
It prevents all cardiovascular disease from occurring
It only affects laboratory values without clinical effects
It occurs only in healthy individuals
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Understanding blood pressure control helps nurses connect disease
mechanisms with assessment findings, complications, and appropriate clinical care.
6. A nurse is reviewing cardiovascular pathophysiology. Which statement best
demonstrates understanding of vascular resistance?
It involves physiological changes that influence cardiovascular function and patient
manifestations related to vascular resistance
It prevents all cardiovascular disease from occurring
It only affects laboratory values without clinical effects
It occurs only in healthy individuals
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Understanding vascular resistance helps nurses connect disease mechanisms
with assessment findings, complications, and appropriate clinical care.
7. A nurse is reviewing cardiovascular pathophysiology. Which statement best
demonstrates understanding of atherosclerotic plaque formation?
, It involves physiological changes that influence cardiovascular function and patient
manifestations related to atherosclerotic plaque formation
It prevents all cardiovascular disease from occurring
It only affects laboratory values without clinical effects
It occurs only in healthy individuals
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Understanding atherosclerotic plaque formation helps nurses connect disease
mechanisms with assessment findings, complications, and appropriate clinical care.
8. A nurse is reviewing cardiovascular pathophysiology. Which statement best
demonstrates understanding of ischemic injury?
It involves physiological changes that influence cardiovascular function and patient
manifestations related to ischemic injury
It prevents all cardiovascular disease from occurring
It only affects laboratory values without clinical effects
It occurs only in healthy individuals
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Understanding ischemic injury helps nurses connect disease mechanisms with
assessment findings, complications, and appropriate clinical care.
9. A nurse is reviewing cardiovascular pathophysiology. Which statement best
demonstrates understanding of heart failure progression?
It involves physiological changes that influence cardiovascular function and patient
manifestations related to heart failure progression
It prevents all cardiovascular disease from occurring
It only affects laboratory values without clinical effects
It occurs only in healthy individuals
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Understanding heart failure progression helps nurses connect disease
mechanisms with assessment findings, complications, and appropriate clinical care.
10. A nurse is reviewing cardiovascular pathophysiology. Which statement best
demonstrates understanding of compensatory mechanisms?
EXAM 2 REVIEW
UTA Nursing Preparation Resource
Advanced NCLEX-Style Cardiovascular Pathophysiology Questions
Answers and Detailed Rationales
✓ Exam 2 Content Focus
Cardiovascular pathophysiology
Hemodynamics
Hypertension
Atherosclerosis
Coronary artery disease
Myocardial infarction
Heart failure
Shock and vascular disorders
,1. A 65-year-old patient with uncontrolled hypertension develops left ventricular
enlargement. Which pathophysiologic process explains this cardiac change?
A. Hypertrophy caused by chronic pressure overload
B. Hyperplasia caused by increased cardiac cell production
C. Atrophy caused by decreased stimulation
D. Metaplasia caused by tissue replacement
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Chronic hypertension increases the workload against which the left ventricle
pumps. Cardiac muscle cells respond by enlarging, producing hypertrophy. Over time,
this compensation may contribute to cardiac dysfunction.
2. A patient presents with chest pain and elevated cardiac biomarkers after
coronary artery blockage. Which mechanism is responsible for myocardial injury?
A. Reduced oxygen delivery causing ischemic cellular damage
B. Increased oxygen delivery causing cellular stress
C. Increased cardiac cell regeneration
D. Decreased metabolic demand causing injury
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Myocardial infarction occurs when coronary blood flow is interrupted. Lack
of oxygen prevents adequate ATP production and leads to cellular injury and death.
3. A patient with heart failure develops bilateral lower-extremity edema. Which
mechanism explains this finding?
A. Increased venous pressure causing fluid movement into tissues
B. Increased arterial oxygenation causing fluid retention
C. Reduced blood volume causing tissue swelling
D. Increased lymphatic removal causing edema
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Heart failure causes venous congestion and increased hydrostatic pressure.
This pressure pushes fluid into surrounding tissues, resulting in edema.
4. A nurse is reviewing cardiovascular pathophysiology. Which statement best
demonstrates understanding of cardiac output regulation?
,It involves physiological changes that influence cardiovascular function and patient
manifestations related to cardiac output regulation
It prevents all cardiovascular disease from occurring
It only affects laboratory values without clinical effects
It occurs only in healthy individuals
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Understanding cardiac output regulation helps nurses connect disease
mechanisms with assessment findings, complications, and appropriate clinical care.
5. A nurse is reviewing cardiovascular pathophysiology. Which statement best
demonstrates understanding of blood pressure control?
It involves physiological changes that influence cardiovascular function and patient
manifestations related to blood pressure control
It prevents all cardiovascular disease from occurring
It only affects laboratory values without clinical effects
It occurs only in healthy individuals
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Understanding blood pressure control helps nurses connect disease
mechanisms with assessment findings, complications, and appropriate clinical care.
6. A nurse is reviewing cardiovascular pathophysiology. Which statement best
demonstrates understanding of vascular resistance?
It involves physiological changes that influence cardiovascular function and patient
manifestations related to vascular resistance
It prevents all cardiovascular disease from occurring
It only affects laboratory values without clinical effects
It occurs only in healthy individuals
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Understanding vascular resistance helps nurses connect disease mechanisms
with assessment findings, complications, and appropriate clinical care.
7. A nurse is reviewing cardiovascular pathophysiology. Which statement best
demonstrates understanding of atherosclerotic plaque formation?
, It involves physiological changes that influence cardiovascular function and patient
manifestations related to atherosclerotic plaque formation
It prevents all cardiovascular disease from occurring
It only affects laboratory values without clinical effects
It occurs only in healthy individuals
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Understanding atherosclerotic plaque formation helps nurses connect disease
mechanisms with assessment findings, complications, and appropriate clinical care.
8. A nurse is reviewing cardiovascular pathophysiology. Which statement best
demonstrates understanding of ischemic injury?
It involves physiological changes that influence cardiovascular function and patient
manifestations related to ischemic injury
It prevents all cardiovascular disease from occurring
It only affects laboratory values without clinical effects
It occurs only in healthy individuals
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Understanding ischemic injury helps nurses connect disease mechanisms with
assessment findings, complications, and appropriate clinical care.
9. A nurse is reviewing cardiovascular pathophysiology. Which statement best
demonstrates understanding of heart failure progression?
It involves physiological changes that influence cardiovascular function and patient
manifestations related to heart failure progression
It prevents all cardiovascular disease from occurring
It only affects laboratory values without clinical effects
It occurs only in healthy individuals
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Understanding heart failure progression helps nurses connect disease
mechanisms with assessment findings, complications, and appropriate clinical care.
10. A nurse is reviewing cardiovascular pathophysiology. Which statement best
demonstrates understanding of compensatory mechanisms?
