HESI Pathophysiology Real Practice
Exam With Actual Questions & Verified
Answers,Plus Rationales/Expert
Verified For Guaranteed Pass
2025/2026 /Latest Update/Instant
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1. A patient with chronic renal failure is at risk for anemia primarily due to:
a. Iron deficiency
b. Decreased erythropoietin production
c. Vitamin B12 deficiency
d. Increased hemolysis
b. Decreased erythropoietin production
Rationale: The kidneys produce erythropoietin, which stimulates red blood cell
production. In chronic renal failure, decreased erythropoietin leads to anemia.
2. Which electrolyte imbalance is most likely in a patient with Addison’s disease?
a. Hypernatremia
b. Hyperkalemia
c. Hypokalemia
d. Hypercalcemia
b. Hyperkalemia
Rationale: Addison’s disease causes decreased aldosterone, leading to sodium loss
and potassium retention, resulting in hyperkalemia.
3. A hallmark sign of left-sided heart failure is:
a. Jugular venous distention
b. Pulmonary congestion
c. Peripheral edema
d. Hepatomegaly
b. Pulmonary congestion
Rationale: Left-sided heart failure leads to backup of blood into the lungs, causing
pulmonary congestion, crackles, and dyspnea.
,4. Which condition is most commonly associated with polyuria and polydipsia?
a. Diabetes mellitus
b. Hypertension
c. Hypothyroidism
d. Addison’s disease
a. Diabetes mellitus
Rationale: Elevated blood glucose levels in diabetes cause osmotic diuresis, leading to
polyuria and polydipsia.
5. A patient with cirrhosis is at risk for hepatic encephalopathy due to:
a. Hyperglycemia
b. Elevated ammonia levels
c. Sodium retention
d. Increased bilirubin
b. Elevated ammonia levels
Rationale: The failing liver cannot detoxify ammonia, leading to neurotoxicity and
hepatic encephalopathy.
6. Which finding is characteristic of Parkinson’s disease?
a. Hyperreflexia
b. Resting tremor
c. Muscle atrophy
d. Spastic paralysis
b. Resting tremor
Rationale: Parkinson’s disease is marked by resting tremor, rigidity, and bradykinesia
due to dopamine deficiency in the basal ganglia.
7. What is the most common cause of myocardial infarction?
a. Coronary artery spasm
b. Coronary artery thrombosis
c. Viral myocarditis
d. Valve disease
b. Coronary artery thrombosis
Rationale: MI most often results from atherosclerotic plaque rupture and subsequent
thrombosis, blocking blood flow.
8. A key complication of prolonged hypertension is:
a. Pulmonary embolism
b. Left ventricular hypertrophy
c. Portal hypertension
d. Cerebral aneurysm
b. Left ventricular hypertrophy
, Rationale: Chronic high blood pressure increases workload on the heart, leading to
thickened left ventricular muscle.
9. Which electrolyte imbalance is associated with Trousseau’s sign and Chvostek’s sign?
a. Hyperkalemia
b. Hypocalcemia
c. Hypernatremia
d. Hypermagnesemia
b. Hypocalcemia
Rationale: Low calcium increases neuromuscular excitability, causing positive
Trousseau’s and Chvostek’s signs.
10. Which type of shock is caused by severe infection?
a. Hypovolemic shock
b. Septic shock
c. Cardiogenic shock
d. Neurogenic shock
b. Septic shock
Rationale: Septic shock results from systemic infection and widespread vasodilation
leading to hypotension.
11. Which respiratory disorder is characterized by destruction of alveolar walls and loss
of elastic recoil?
a. Chronic bronchitis
b. Asthma
c. Emphysema
d. Pulmonary fibrosis
c. Emphysema
Rationale: Emphysema causes permanent alveolar damage and hyperinflation due to
loss of elasticity and air trapping.
12. A patient with Graves’ disease will likely exhibit which symptom?
a. Bradycardia
b. Weight gain
c. Exophthalmos
d. Cold intolerance
c. Exophthalmos
Rationale: Graves’ disease is an autoimmune hyperthyroidism commonly presenting
with bulging eyes (exophthalmos).
13. The pathophysiology of Type 1 diabetes mellitus primarily involves:
a. Peripheral insulin resistance
b. Autoimmune destruction of beta cells
Exam With Actual Questions & Verified
Answers,Plus Rationales/Expert
Verified For Guaranteed Pass
2025/2026 /Latest Update/Instant
Download Pdf
1. A patient with chronic renal failure is at risk for anemia primarily due to:
a. Iron deficiency
b. Decreased erythropoietin production
c. Vitamin B12 deficiency
d. Increased hemolysis
b. Decreased erythropoietin production
Rationale: The kidneys produce erythropoietin, which stimulates red blood cell
production. In chronic renal failure, decreased erythropoietin leads to anemia.
2. Which electrolyte imbalance is most likely in a patient with Addison’s disease?
a. Hypernatremia
b. Hyperkalemia
c. Hypokalemia
d. Hypercalcemia
b. Hyperkalemia
Rationale: Addison’s disease causes decreased aldosterone, leading to sodium loss
and potassium retention, resulting in hyperkalemia.
3. A hallmark sign of left-sided heart failure is:
a. Jugular venous distention
b. Pulmonary congestion
c. Peripheral edema
d. Hepatomegaly
b. Pulmonary congestion
Rationale: Left-sided heart failure leads to backup of blood into the lungs, causing
pulmonary congestion, crackles, and dyspnea.
,4. Which condition is most commonly associated with polyuria and polydipsia?
a. Diabetes mellitus
b. Hypertension
c. Hypothyroidism
d. Addison’s disease
a. Diabetes mellitus
Rationale: Elevated blood glucose levels in diabetes cause osmotic diuresis, leading to
polyuria and polydipsia.
5. A patient with cirrhosis is at risk for hepatic encephalopathy due to:
a. Hyperglycemia
b. Elevated ammonia levels
c. Sodium retention
d. Increased bilirubin
b. Elevated ammonia levels
Rationale: The failing liver cannot detoxify ammonia, leading to neurotoxicity and
hepatic encephalopathy.
6. Which finding is characteristic of Parkinson’s disease?
a. Hyperreflexia
b. Resting tremor
c. Muscle atrophy
d. Spastic paralysis
b. Resting tremor
Rationale: Parkinson’s disease is marked by resting tremor, rigidity, and bradykinesia
due to dopamine deficiency in the basal ganglia.
7. What is the most common cause of myocardial infarction?
a. Coronary artery spasm
b. Coronary artery thrombosis
c. Viral myocarditis
d. Valve disease
b. Coronary artery thrombosis
Rationale: MI most often results from atherosclerotic plaque rupture and subsequent
thrombosis, blocking blood flow.
8. A key complication of prolonged hypertension is:
a. Pulmonary embolism
b. Left ventricular hypertrophy
c. Portal hypertension
d. Cerebral aneurysm
b. Left ventricular hypertrophy
, Rationale: Chronic high blood pressure increases workload on the heart, leading to
thickened left ventricular muscle.
9. Which electrolyte imbalance is associated with Trousseau’s sign and Chvostek’s sign?
a. Hyperkalemia
b. Hypocalcemia
c. Hypernatremia
d. Hypermagnesemia
b. Hypocalcemia
Rationale: Low calcium increases neuromuscular excitability, causing positive
Trousseau’s and Chvostek’s signs.
10. Which type of shock is caused by severe infection?
a. Hypovolemic shock
b. Septic shock
c. Cardiogenic shock
d. Neurogenic shock
b. Septic shock
Rationale: Septic shock results from systemic infection and widespread vasodilation
leading to hypotension.
11. Which respiratory disorder is characterized by destruction of alveolar walls and loss
of elastic recoil?
a. Chronic bronchitis
b. Asthma
c. Emphysema
d. Pulmonary fibrosis
c. Emphysema
Rationale: Emphysema causes permanent alveolar damage and hyperinflation due to
loss of elasticity and air trapping.
12. A patient with Graves’ disease will likely exhibit which symptom?
a. Bradycardia
b. Weight gain
c. Exophthalmos
d. Cold intolerance
c. Exophthalmos
Rationale: Graves’ disease is an autoimmune hyperthyroidism commonly presenting
with bulging eyes (exophthalmos).
13. The pathophysiology of Type 1 diabetes mellitus primarily involves:
a. Peripheral insulin resistance
b. Autoimmune destruction of beta cells
