NR 507 Pathophysiology Midterm Exam 100%
Verified Answers | 2024/2025 Update
Exam Questions
Question 1: What is the primary cause of cellular injury in hypoxia?
A. Excessive oxygen delivery
B. Insufficient oxygen supply
C. Increased glucose metabolism
D. Enhanced mitochondrial function
Correct Answer: B. Insufficient oxygen supply
Rationale: Hypoxia occurs when there is inadequate oxygen supply to cells, impairing
aerobic metabolism and ATP production, leading to cellular injury.
Question 2: Which process is most associated with apoptosis?
A. Uncontrolled cell division
B. Programmed cell death
C. Inflammatory response
D. Tissue necrosis
Correct Answer: B. Programmed cell death
Rationale: Apoptosis is a regulated process of programmed cell death that eliminates
damaged or unnecessary cells without causing inflammation.
Question 3: What is the hallmark of irreversible cell injury?
A. Mitochondrial swelling
B. Membrane rupture
C. Cytoplasmic vacuolation
D. Reversible fatty change
Correct Answer: B. Membrane rupture
Rationale: Membrane rupture indicates irreversible cell injury, leading to leakage of
cellular contents and necrosis.
Question 4: Which electrolyte imbalance is most likely to cause cardiac arrhythmias?
A. Hypernatremia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hypermagnesemia
D. Hypocalcemia
1
, Correct Answer: B. Hypokalemia
Rationale: Hypokalemia (low potassium) disrupts membrane potential, leading to car-
diac arrhythmias such as ventricular tachycardia.
Question 5: What is the primary pathophysiological mechanism of edema?
A. Decreased capillary permeability
B. Increased hydrostatic pressure
C. Enhanced lymphatic drainage
D. Reduced plasma oncotic pressure
Correct Answer: B. Increased hydrostatic pressure
Rationale: Increased hydrostatic pressure, often due to venous obstruction or heart fail-
ure, forces fluid into interstitial spaces, causing edema.
Question 6: Which type of hypersensitivity reaction is associated with anaphylaxis?
A. Type I
B. Type II
C. Type III
D. Type IV
Correct Answer: A. Type I
Rationale: Type I hypersensitivity, mediated by IgE, triggers immediate reactions like
anaphylaxis through mast cell degranulation.
Question 7: What is the primary cause of metabolic acidosis?
A. Increased bicarbonate levels
B. Excessive carbon dioxide retention
C. Accumulation of acidic substances
D. Loss of hydrogen ions
Correct Answer: C. Accumulation of acidic substances
Rationale: Metabolic acidosis results from the accumulation of acids (e.g., lactic acid)
or loss of bicarbonate, lowering blood pH.
Question 8: Which condition is characterized by autoantibodies attacking thyroid tissue?
A. Graves disease
B. Hashimotos thyroiditis
C. Addisons disease
D. Type 1 diabetes
Correct Answer: B. Hashimotos thyroiditis
Rationale: Hashimotos thyroiditis is an autoimmune disorder where autoantibodies tar-
get thyroid tissue, causing hypothyroidism.
2
, Question 9: What is the primary pathophysiological feature of asthma?
A. Alveolar destruction
B. Bronchial smooth muscle hypertrophy
C. Airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness
D. Pulmonary hypertension
Correct Answer: C. Airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness
Rationale: Asthma involves chronic airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness, lead-
ing to reversible bronchoconstriction.
Question 10: Which cytokine is most associated with the inflammatory response in rheumatoid arthri-
tis?
A. IL-2
B. TNF-alpha
C. IL-10
D. IFN-gamma
Correct Answer: B. TNF-alpha
Rationale: TNF-alpha is a key proinflammatory cytokine driving synovial inflammation
and joint destruction in rheumatoid arthritis.
Question 11: What is the primary cause of left-sided heart failure?
A. Pulmonary embolism
B. Systemic hypertension
C. Right ventricular hypertrophy
D. Tricuspid regurgitation
Correct Answer: B. Systemic hypertension
Rationale: Systemic hypertension increases afterload, causing left ventricular strain and
eventual left-sided heart failure.
Question 12: Which condition is characterized by excessive red blood cell production?
A. Anemia
B. Polycythemia
C. Leukopenia
D. Thrombocytopenia
Correct Answer: B. Polycythemia
Rationale: Polycythemia involves overproduction of red blood cells, increasing blood
viscosity and risk of thrombosis.
Question 13: What is the primary pathophysiological mechanism of type 1 diabetes mellitus?
A. Insulin resistance
3
Verified Answers | 2024/2025 Update
Exam Questions
Question 1: What is the primary cause of cellular injury in hypoxia?
A. Excessive oxygen delivery
B. Insufficient oxygen supply
C. Increased glucose metabolism
D. Enhanced mitochondrial function
Correct Answer: B. Insufficient oxygen supply
Rationale: Hypoxia occurs when there is inadequate oxygen supply to cells, impairing
aerobic metabolism and ATP production, leading to cellular injury.
Question 2: Which process is most associated with apoptosis?
A. Uncontrolled cell division
B. Programmed cell death
C. Inflammatory response
D. Tissue necrosis
Correct Answer: B. Programmed cell death
Rationale: Apoptosis is a regulated process of programmed cell death that eliminates
damaged or unnecessary cells without causing inflammation.
Question 3: What is the hallmark of irreversible cell injury?
A. Mitochondrial swelling
B. Membrane rupture
C. Cytoplasmic vacuolation
D. Reversible fatty change
Correct Answer: B. Membrane rupture
Rationale: Membrane rupture indicates irreversible cell injury, leading to leakage of
cellular contents and necrosis.
Question 4: Which electrolyte imbalance is most likely to cause cardiac arrhythmias?
A. Hypernatremia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hypermagnesemia
D. Hypocalcemia
1
, Correct Answer: B. Hypokalemia
Rationale: Hypokalemia (low potassium) disrupts membrane potential, leading to car-
diac arrhythmias such as ventricular tachycardia.
Question 5: What is the primary pathophysiological mechanism of edema?
A. Decreased capillary permeability
B. Increased hydrostatic pressure
C. Enhanced lymphatic drainage
D. Reduced plasma oncotic pressure
Correct Answer: B. Increased hydrostatic pressure
Rationale: Increased hydrostatic pressure, often due to venous obstruction or heart fail-
ure, forces fluid into interstitial spaces, causing edema.
Question 6: Which type of hypersensitivity reaction is associated with anaphylaxis?
A. Type I
B. Type II
C. Type III
D. Type IV
Correct Answer: A. Type I
Rationale: Type I hypersensitivity, mediated by IgE, triggers immediate reactions like
anaphylaxis through mast cell degranulation.
Question 7: What is the primary cause of metabolic acidosis?
A. Increased bicarbonate levels
B. Excessive carbon dioxide retention
C. Accumulation of acidic substances
D. Loss of hydrogen ions
Correct Answer: C. Accumulation of acidic substances
Rationale: Metabolic acidosis results from the accumulation of acids (e.g., lactic acid)
or loss of bicarbonate, lowering blood pH.
Question 8: Which condition is characterized by autoantibodies attacking thyroid tissue?
A. Graves disease
B. Hashimotos thyroiditis
C. Addisons disease
D. Type 1 diabetes
Correct Answer: B. Hashimotos thyroiditis
Rationale: Hashimotos thyroiditis is an autoimmune disorder where autoantibodies tar-
get thyroid tissue, causing hypothyroidism.
2
, Question 9: What is the primary pathophysiological feature of asthma?
A. Alveolar destruction
B. Bronchial smooth muscle hypertrophy
C. Airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness
D. Pulmonary hypertension
Correct Answer: C. Airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness
Rationale: Asthma involves chronic airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness, lead-
ing to reversible bronchoconstriction.
Question 10: Which cytokine is most associated with the inflammatory response in rheumatoid arthri-
tis?
A. IL-2
B. TNF-alpha
C. IL-10
D. IFN-gamma
Correct Answer: B. TNF-alpha
Rationale: TNF-alpha is a key proinflammatory cytokine driving synovial inflammation
and joint destruction in rheumatoid arthritis.
Question 11: What is the primary cause of left-sided heart failure?
A. Pulmonary embolism
B. Systemic hypertension
C. Right ventricular hypertrophy
D. Tricuspid regurgitation
Correct Answer: B. Systemic hypertension
Rationale: Systemic hypertension increases afterload, causing left ventricular strain and
eventual left-sided heart failure.
Question 12: Which condition is characterized by excessive red blood cell production?
A. Anemia
B. Polycythemia
C. Leukopenia
D. Thrombocytopenia
Correct Answer: B. Polycythemia
Rationale: Polycythemia involves overproduction of red blood cells, increasing blood
viscosity and risk of thrombosis.
Question 13: What is the primary pathophysiological mechanism of type 1 diabetes mellitus?
A. Insulin resistance
3
