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NURS 6501 Actual Final Exam 2025 –
Advanced Pathophysiology | Verified
Test Questions | Graded A+
1. What is the primary cause of cellular injury in hypoxia?
A. Increased ATP production
B. Decreased oxygen availability
C. Excessive calcium influx
D. Enhanced mitochondrial function
Correct Answer: B. Decreased oxygen availability
Rationale: Hypoxia leads to cellular injury by reducing oxygen availability, impairing
oxidative phosphorylation, and decreasing ATP production. Increased ATP (A) and
enhanced mitochondrial function (D) are incorrect, as hypoxia disrupts these processes.
Calcium influx (C) is a secondary effect.
2. Which process provides energy under anaerobic conditions?
A. Oxidative phosphorylation
B. Glycolysis
C. Krebs cycle
D. Electron transport chain
Correct Answer: B. Glycolysis
Rationale: Glycolysis occurs in the cytoplasm and produces ATP without oxygen,
making it the primary energy source under anaerobic conditions. Oxidative
phosphorylation (A), Krebs cycle (C), and electron transport chain (D) require oxygen.
3. What causes the rapid change in membrane potential during an action potential?
A. Potassium influx
B. Sodium efflux
C. Sodium influx
D. Calcium efflux
Correct Answer: C. Sodium influx
Rationale: Sodium gates open during depolarization, allowing sodium to rush into the
cell, changing the membrane potential from negative to positive. Potassium influx (A)
and calcium efflux (D) are incorrect, and sodium efflux (B) occurs during repolarization.
4. What is the role of oncotic pressure in fluid movement?
A. Drives fluid out of capillaries
B. Draws fluid into capillaries
C. Regulates blood pressure
D. Increases interstitial fluid
Correct Answer: B. Draws fluid into capillaries
Rationale: Oncotic pressure, determined by plasma proteins, pulls fluid into capillaries,
, 2
opposing hydrostatic pressure. It does not drive fluid out (A), regulate blood pressure (C),
or increase interstitial fluid (D).
5. Which genetic condition is caused by maternal nondisjunction?
A. Huntington disease
B. Cystic fibrosis
C. Down syndrome
D. Sickle cell anemia
Correct Answer: C. Down syndrome
Rationale: Down syndrome results from trisomy 21, often due to maternal
nondisjunction during meiosis. Huntington disease (A) is caused by a CAG repeat, cystic
fibrosis (B) by a CFTR mutation, and sickle cell anemia (D) by a hemoglobin mutation.
6. What is a hallmark feature of apoptosis?
A. Cellular swelling
B. Inflammation
C. Chromatin condensation
D. Membrane rupture
Correct Answer: C. Chromatin condensation
Rationale: Apoptosis is programmed cell death characterized by chromatin
condensation, cell shrinkage, and no inflammation. Cellular swelling (A) and membrane
rupture (D) occur in necrosis, and inflammation (B) is absent in apoptosis.
7. Which electrolyte imbalance is associated with excessive magnesium-containing
antacid use?
A. Hyponatremia
B. Hypophosphatemia
C. Hypermagnesemia
D. Hyperkalemia
Correct Answer: C. Hypermagnesemia
Rationale: Excessive magnesium-containing antacids can lead to hypermagnesemia.
Hyponatremia (A), hypophosphatemia (B), and hyperkalemia (D) are not directly related
to magnesium antacid overuse.
8. What is the primary cause of increased blood viscosity in polycythemia vera?
A. Decreased red blood cell count
B. Increased white blood cell count
C. Increased red blood cell production
D. Decreased plasma volume
Correct Answer: C. Increased red blood cell production
Rationale: Polycythemia vera causes excessive red blood cell production, increasing
blood viscosity. Decreased red blood cells (A), increased white blood cells (B), and
decreased plasma volume (D) are not primary causes.
9. Which cytokine promotes tissue growth and development?
A. Tumor necrosis factor
B. Interleukin-1
C. Platelet-derived growth factor
D. Interferon
Correct Answer: C. Platelet-derived growth factor
Rationale: Platelet-derived growth factor stimulates cell proliferation and tissue growth.
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Tumor necrosis factor (A) and interleukin-1 (B) promote inflammation, and interferon
(D) has antiviral effects.
10. What is the most likely autopsy finding in a myocardial infarction?
A. Amyloid plaques
B. Myocardial necrosis
C. Lewy bodies
D. Neurofibrillary tangles
Correct Answer: B. Myocardial necrosis
Rationale: Myocardial infarction causes myocardial necrosis due to ischemia. Amyloid
plaques (A) and neurofibrillary tangles (D) are associated with Alzheimer’s, and Lewy
bodies (C) with Parkinson’s.
11. What is the primary cause of myocardial ischemia?
A. Atherosclerosis
B. Hypertension
C. Heart failure
D. Arrhythmia
Correct Answer: A. Atherosclerosis
Rationale: Atherosclerosis narrows coronary arteries, reducing blood flow and causing
myocardial ischemia. Hypertension (B), heart failure (C), and arrhythmia (D) are risk
factors but not the primary cause.
12. Which condition is associated with backflow of blood into the left ventricle?
A. Mitral stenosis
B. Aortic regurgitation
C. Tricuspid stenosis
D. Pulmonary regurgitation
Correct Answer: B. Aortic regurgitation
Rationale: Aortic regurgitation allows blood to flow back into the left ventricle during
diastole. Mitral stenosis (A) restricts inflow, and tricuspid (C) and pulmonary (D)
regurgitation affect other chambers.
13. What is the most common cardiac valve disease in young women?
A. Aortic stenosis
B. Mitral valve prolapse
C. Tricuspid regurgitation
D. Pulmonary stenosis
Correct Answer: B. Mitral valve prolapse
Rationale: Mitral valve prolapse is the most common valve disease in young women,
often benign. Aortic stenosis (A) is more common in older adults, and tricuspid (C) and
pulmonary (D) issues are less prevalent.
14. What is the primary function of the pericardium?
A. Conduct electrical impulses
B. Protect and anchor the heart
C. Pump blood to the lungs
D. Regulate heart rate
Correct Answer: B. Protect and anchor the heart
Rationale: The pericardium protects the heart and anchors it in the mediastinum. It does
not conduct impulses (A), pump blood (C), or regulate heart rate (D).
NURS 6501 Actual Final Exam 2025 –
Advanced Pathophysiology | Verified
Test Questions | Graded A+
1. What is the primary cause of cellular injury in hypoxia?
A. Increased ATP production
B. Decreased oxygen availability
C. Excessive calcium influx
D. Enhanced mitochondrial function
Correct Answer: B. Decreased oxygen availability
Rationale: Hypoxia leads to cellular injury by reducing oxygen availability, impairing
oxidative phosphorylation, and decreasing ATP production. Increased ATP (A) and
enhanced mitochondrial function (D) are incorrect, as hypoxia disrupts these processes.
Calcium influx (C) is a secondary effect.
2. Which process provides energy under anaerobic conditions?
A. Oxidative phosphorylation
B. Glycolysis
C. Krebs cycle
D. Electron transport chain
Correct Answer: B. Glycolysis
Rationale: Glycolysis occurs in the cytoplasm and produces ATP without oxygen,
making it the primary energy source under anaerobic conditions. Oxidative
phosphorylation (A), Krebs cycle (C), and electron transport chain (D) require oxygen.
3. What causes the rapid change in membrane potential during an action potential?
A. Potassium influx
B. Sodium efflux
C. Sodium influx
D. Calcium efflux
Correct Answer: C. Sodium influx
Rationale: Sodium gates open during depolarization, allowing sodium to rush into the
cell, changing the membrane potential from negative to positive. Potassium influx (A)
and calcium efflux (D) are incorrect, and sodium efflux (B) occurs during repolarization.
4. What is the role of oncotic pressure in fluid movement?
A. Drives fluid out of capillaries
B. Draws fluid into capillaries
C. Regulates blood pressure
D. Increases interstitial fluid
Correct Answer: B. Draws fluid into capillaries
Rationale: Oncotic pressure, determined by plasma proteins, pulls fluid into capillaries,
, 2
opposing hydrostatic pressure. It does not drive fluid out (A), regulate blood pressure (C),
or increase interstitial fluid (D).
5. Which genetic condition is caused by maternal nondisjunction?
A. Huntington disease
B. Cystic fibrosis
C. Down syndrome
D. Sickle cell anemia
Correct Answer: C. Down syndrome
Rationale: Down syndrome results from trisomy 21, often due to maternal
nondisjunction during meiosis. Huntington disease (A) is caused by a CAG repeat, cystic
fibrosis (B) by a CFTR mutation, and sickle cell anemia (D) by a hemoglobin mutation.
6. What is a hallmark feature of apoptosis?
A. Cellular swelling
B. Inflammation
C. Chromatin condensation
D. Membrane rupture
Correct Answer: C. Chromatin condensation
Rationale: Apoptosis is programmed cell death characterized by chromatin
condensation, cell shrinkage, and no inflammation. Cellular swelling (A) and membrane
rupture (D) occur in necrosis, and inflammation (B) is absent in apoptosis.
7. Which electrolyte imbalance is associated with excessive magnesium-containing
antacid use?
A. Hyponatremia
B. Hypophosphatemia
C. Hypermagnesemia
D. Hyperkalemia
Correct Answer: C. Hypermagnesemia
Rationale: Excessive magnesium-containing antacids can lead to hypermagnesemia.
Hyponatremia (A), hypophosphatemia (B), and hyperkalemia (D) are not directly related
to magnesium antacid overuse.
8. What is the primary cause of increased blood viscosity in polycythemia vera?
A. Decreased red blood cell count
B. Increased white blood cell count
C. Increased red blood cell production
D. Decreased plasma volume
Correct Answer: C. Increased red blood cell production
Rationale: Polycythemia vera causes excessive red blood cell production, increasing
blood viscosity. Decreased red blood cells (A), increased white blood cells (B), and
decreased plasma volume (D) are not primary causes.
9. Which cytokine promotes tissue growth and development?
A. Tumor necrosis factor
B. Interleukin-1
C. Platelet-derived growth factor
D. Interferon
Correct Answer: C. Platelet-derived growth factor
Rationale: Platelet-derived growth factor stimulates cell proliferation and tissue growth.
, 3
Tumor necrosis factor (A) and interleukin-1 (B) promote inflammation, and interferon
(D) has antiviral effects.
10. What is the most likely autopsy finding in a myocardial infarction?
A. Amyloid plaques
B. Myocardial necrosis
C. Lewy bodies
D. Neurofibrillary tangles
Correct Answer: B. Myocardial necrosis
Rationale: Myocardial infarction causes myocardial necrosis due to ischemia. Amyloid
plaques (A) and neurofibrillary tangles (D) are associated with Alzheimer’s, and Lewy
bodies (C) with Parkinson’s.
11. What is the primary cause of myocardial ischemia?
A. Atherosclerosis
B. Hypertension
C. Heart failure
D. Arrhythmia
Correct Answer: A. Atherosclerosis
Rationale: Atherosclerosis narrows coronary arteries, reducing blood flow and causing
myocardial ischemia. Hypertension (B), heart failure (C), and arrhythmia (D) are risk
factors but not the primary cause.
12. Which condition is associated with backflow of blood into the left ventricle?
A. Mitral stenosis
B. Aortic regurgitation
C. Tricuspid stenosis
D. Pulmonary regurgitation
Correct Answer: B. Aortic regurgitation
Rationale: Aortic regurgitation allows blood to flow back into the left ventricle during
diastole. Mitral stenosis (A) restricts inflow, and tricuspid (C) and pulmonary (D)
regurgitation affect other chambers.
13. What is the most common cardiac valve disease in young women?
A. Aortic stenosis
B. Mitral valve prolapse
C. Tricuspid regurgitation
D. Pulmonary stenosis
Correct Answer: B. Mitral valve prolapse
Rationale: Mitral valve prolapse is the most common valve disease in young women,
often benign. Aortic stenosis (A) is more common in older adults, and tricuspid (C) and
pulmonary (D) issues are less prevalent.
14. What is the primary function of the pericardium?
A. Conduct electrical impulses
B. Protect and anchor the heart
C. Pump blood to the lungs
D. Regulate heart rate
Correct Answer: B. Protect and anchor the heart
Rationale: The pericardium protects the heart and anchors it in the mediastinum. It does
not conduct impulses (A), pump blood (C), or regulate heart rate (D).
