NR 283 FINAL EXAM REVIEW PATHOPHYSIOLOGY STUDY GUIDE 2026/2027 QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD
PDF.
Core Domains
Cellular Adaptation, Injury, and Death
Inflammation, Immunity, and Infection
Fluid, Electrolyte, and Acid-Base Balance
Genetics and Neoplastic Disease
Cardiovascular and Hematologic Disorders
Respiratory and Renal Disorders
Gastrointestinal, Hepatobiliary, and Endocrine Disorders
Neurologic, Musculoskeletal, and Integumentary Disorders
Clinical Judgment, Safety, and Professional Standards
Introduction
This examination assesses essential pathophysiologic concepts required for safe nursing practice. It
evaluates knowledge of cellular injury, inflammation, immunity, fluid and electrolyte imbalance, acid-
base regulation, genetics, neoplasia, and major body system disorders. Questions emphasize clinical
manifestations, risk factors, diagnostic findings, and collaborative management. Multiple-choice and
scenario-based items require application of foundational theory to real-world patient situations. The
exam promotes critical thinking, ethical decision-making, and professional accountability. Successful
performance demonstrates readiness to analyze disease processes and support evidence-based, patient-
centered care across diverse populations and healthcare settings.
Section One: Questions 1–100
1. Which cellular change is characterized by an increase in cell size?
A. Hyperplasia
B. Hypertrophy
C. Atrophy
D. Metaplasia
🟢 B. Hypertrophy
🔴 RATIONALE: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size, often in response to increased workload, such
as in cardiac muscle.
2. A patient has a decrease in cell size and function of an organ. This is:
A. Atrophy
B. Hypertrophy
C. Dysplasia
D. Neoplasia
🟢 A. Atrophy
,🔴 RATIONALE: Atrophy is a reduction in cell size and function, commonly due to disuse, ischemia, or
malnutrition.
3. Which type of necrosis is most common in ischemic injury of the heart?
A. Caseous necrosis
B. Fat necrosis
C. Coagulative necrosis
D. Liquefactive necrosis
🟢 C. Coagulative necrosis
🔴 RATIONALE: Coagulative necrosis occurs in ischemic injury of solid organs such as the heart,
kidney, and spleen.
4. Apoptosis is best described as:
A. Uncontrolled cell lysis
B. Inflammatory cell death
C. Ischemic cell swelling
D. Programmed cell death
🟢 D. Programmed cell death
🔴 RATIONALE: Apoptosis is a regulated, energy-dependent process of programmed cell death that
does not incite inflammation.
5. Which electrolyte is primarily responsible for resting membrane potential?
A. Sodium
B. Potassium
C. Calcium
D. Magnesium
🟢 B. Potassium
🔴 RATIONALE: Potassium is the major intracellular cation and largely determines the resting
membrane potential.
6. A patient with prolonged vomiting is at risk for:
A. Metabolic alkalosis
B. Metabolic acidosis
C. Respiratory alkalosis
D. Respiratory acidosis
🟢 A. Metabolic alkalosis
🔴 RATIONALE: Vomiting causes loss of gastric acid and hydrogen ions, leading to metabolic alkalosis.
, 7. Which condition results from excessive production of antidiuretic hormone?
A. Diabetes insipidus
B. Hyperaldosteronism
C. SIADH
D. Diabetic ketoacidosis
🟢 C. SIADH
🔴 RATIONALE: SIADH causes excessive water retention, dilutional hyponatremia, and concentrated
urine.
8. The primary buffer system in the extracellular fluid is:
A. Phosphate buffer system
B. Protein buffer system
C. Hemoglobin buffer system
D. Bicarbonate-carbonic acid system
🟢 D. Bicarbonate-carbonic acid system
🔴 RATIONALE: The bicarbonate-carbonic acid system is the primary extracellular buffer and is closely
regulated by the lungs and kidneys.
9. Which acid-base imbalance is caused by hypoventilation?
A. Respiratory alkalosis
B. Respiratory acidosis
C. Metabolic alkalosis
D. Metabolic acidosis
🟢 B. Respiratory acidosis
🔴 RATIONALE: Hypoventilation causes carbon dioxide retention, increasing PaCO2 and leading to
respiratory acidosis.
10. A patient with diabetic ketoacidosis is likely to have:
A. Metabolic alkalosis
B. Respiratory alkalosis
C. Metabolic acidosis
D. Respiratory acidosis
🟢 C. Metabolic acidosis
🔴 RATIONALE: Ketoacid production in DKA increases acid load, causing metabolic acidosis with an
elevated anion gap.
11. Which cell is the primary phagocyte in acute inflammation?
CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD
PDF.
Core Domains
Cellular Adaptation, Injury, and Death
Inflammation, Immunity, and Infection
Fluid, Electrolyte, and Acid-Base Balance
Genetics and Neoplastic Disease
Cardiovascular and Hematologic Disorders
Respiratory and Renal Disorders
Gastrointestinal, Hepatobiliary, and Endocrine Disorders
Neurologic, Musculoskeletal, and Integumentary Disorders
Clinical Judgment, Safety, and Professional Standards
Introduction
This examination assesses essential pathophysiologic concepts required for safe nursing practice. It
evaluates knowledge of cellular injury, inflammation, immunity, fluid and electrolyte imbalance, acid-
base regulation, genetics, neoplasia, and major body system disorders. Questions emphasize clinical
manifestations, risk factors, diagnostic findings, and collaborative management. Multiple-choice and
scenario-based items require application of foundational theory to real-world patient situations. The
exam promotes critical thinking, ethical decision-making, and professional accountability. Successful
performance demonstrates readiness to analyze disease processes and support evidence-based, patient-
centered care across diverse populations and healthcare settings.
Section One: Questions 1–100
1. Which cellular change is characterized by an increase in cell size?
A. Hyperplasia
B. Hypertrophy
C. Atrophy
D. Metaplasia
🟢 B. Hypertrophy
🔴 RATIONALE: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size, often in response to increased workload, such
as in cardiac muscle.
2. A patient has a decrease in cell size and function of an organ. This is:
A. Atrophy
B. Hypertrophy
C. Dysplasia
D. Neoplasia
🟢 A. Atrophy
,🔴 RATIONALE: Atrophy is a reduction in cell size and function, commonly due to disuse, ischemia, or
malnutrition.
3. Which type of necrosis is most common in ischemic injury of the heart?
A. Caseous necrosis
B. Fat necrosis
C. Coagulative necrosis
D. Liquefactive necrosis
🟢 C. Coagulative necrosis
🔴 RATIONALE: Coagulative necrosis occurs in ischemic injury of solid organs such as the heart,
kidney, and spleen.
4. Apoptosis is best described as:
A. Uncontrolled cell lysis
B. Inflammatory cell death
C. Ischemic cell swelling
D. Programmed cell death
🟢 D. Programmed cell death
🔴 RATIONALE: Apoptosis is a regulated, energy-dependent process of programmed cell death that
does not incite inflammation.
5. Which electrolyte is primarily responsible for resting membrane potential?
A. Sodium
B. Potassium
C. Calcium
D. Magnesium
🟢 B. Potassium
🔴 RATIONALE: Potassium is the major intracellular cation and largely determines the resting
membrane potential.
6. A patient with prolonged vomiting is at risk for:
A. Metabolic alkalosis
B. Metabolic acidosis
C. Respiratory alkalosis
D. Respiratory acidosis
🟢 A. Metabolic alkalosis
🔴 RATIONALE: Vomiting causes loss of gastric acid and hydrogen ions, leading to metabolic alkalosis.
, 7. Which condition results from excessive production of antidiuretic hormone?
A. Diabetes insipidus
B. Hyperaldosteronism
C. SIADH
D. Diabetic ketoacidosis
🟢 C. SIADH
🔴 RATIONALE: SIADH causes excessive water retention, dilutional hyponatremia, and concentrated
urine.
8. The primary buffer system in the extracellular fluid is:
A. Phosphate buffer system
B. Protein buffer system
C. Hemoglobin buffer system
D. Bicarbonate-carbonic acid system
🟢 D. Bicarbonate-carbonic acid system
🔴 RATIONALE: The bicarbonate-carbonic acid system is the primary extracellular buffer and is closely
regulated by the lungs and kidneys.
9. Which acid-base imbalance is caused by hypoventilation?
A. Respiratory alkalosis
B. Respiratory acidosis
C. Metabolic alkalosis
D. Metabolic acidosis
🟢 B. Respiratory acidosis
🔴 RATIONALE: Hypoventilation causes carbon dioxide retention, increasing PaCO2 and leading to
respiratory acidosis.
10. A patient with diabetic ketoacidosis is likely to have:
A. Metabolic alkalosis
B. Respiratory alkalosis
C. Metabolic acidosis
D. Respiratory acidosis
🟢 C. Metabolic acidosis
🔴 RATIONALE: Ketoacid production in DKA increases acid load, causing metabolic acidosis with an
elevated anion gap.
11. Which cell is the primary phagocyte in acute inflammation?
