Pathophysiology | Chamberlain College of
Nursing | Comprehensive Study Notes, Exam
Questions with Answers, and Summaries
(Based on Pathophysiology Textbook)
Question 1
Case: A patient presents with a persistent cough, wheezing, and shortness of breath.
What pathophysiological process is most likely occurring?
A) Airway inflammation and obstruction (Correct Option)
B) Pulmonary vasodilation
C) Decreased lung compliance
D) Alveolar consolidation
Rationale: Airway inflammation and obstruction are common in conditions like
asthma, leading to cough, wheezing, and shortness of breath.
Question 2
Case: A patient with chronic kidney disease has elevated serum creatinine levels. What
is the underlying pathophysiology?
A) Decreased glomerular filtration rate (Correct Option)
B) Increased renal perfusion
C) Enhanced tubular reabsorption
D) Normal renal function
Rationale: Chronic kidney disease leads to a progressive decline in glomerular filtration
rate, resulting in elevated serum creatinine levels.
Question 3
Case: A patient is diagnosed with congestive heart failure (CHF). What is a common
compensatory mechanism the heart utilizes?
A) Increased heart rate (Correct Option)
B) Decreased myocardial contractility
C) Decreased peripheral resistance
D) Increased stroke volume
Rationale: In CHF, the heart compensates by increasing heart rate to maintain
adequate cardiac output despite reduced contractility.
Question 4
Case: A patient develops jaundice. What pathophysiological process is responsible for
this symptom?
A) Increased bilirubin levels (Correct Option)
,B) Decreased hemoglobin synthesis
C) Enhanced bile salt production
D) Increased albumin levels
Rationale: Jaundice occurs due to elevated bilirubin levels, often from liver dysfunction
or hemolysis.
Question 5
Case: A patient presents with abdominal pain, diarrhea, and weight loss. What
condition should be suspected based on these symptoms?
A) Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
B) Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) (Correct Option)
C) Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
D) Peptic ulcer disease
Rationale: Abdominal pain, diarrhea, and weight loss are characteristic of
inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
Question 6
Case: A patient with diabetes mellitus presents with polyuria and polydipsia. What is
the primary pathophysiological mechanism behind these symptoms?
A) Osmotic diuresis (Correct Option)
B) Increased insulin sensitivity
C) Enhanced renal reabsorption
D) Decreased blood glucose levels
Rationale: In diabetes, high blood glucose levels lead to osmotic diuresis, causing
increased urine output (polyuria) and thirst (polydipsia).
Question 7
Case: A patient is diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). What
is a primary cause of the airflow limitation seen in this condition?
A) Airway inflammation and remodeling (Correct Option)
B) Decreased lung compliance
C) Increased lung elasticity
D) Alveolar hyperinflation
Rationale: In COPD, chronic inflammation leads to airway remodeling, causing
irreversible airflow limitation.
Question 8
Case: A patient experiences sudden onset chest pain and dyspnea. What
,pathophysiological condition should be considered?
A) Pulmonary embolism (Correct Option)
B) Myocardial infarction
C) Pneumothorax
D) Congestive heart failure
Rationale: Sudden chest pain and shortness of breath are classic signs of pulmonary
embolism due to a blockage in the pulmonary artery.
Question 9
Case: A patient with hypertension is prescribed medication to reduce vascular
resistance. What is the underlying pathophysiology of hypertension?
A) Increased peripheral vascular resistance (Correct Option)
B) Decreased cardiac output
C) Increased blood volume
D) Decreased heart rate
Rationale: Hypertension often results from increased peripheral vascular resistance,
requiring medications like vasodilators to lower blood pressure.
Question 10
Case: A patient presents with severe fatigue, pallor, and shortness of breath. What
pathophysiological condition could explain these symptoms?
A) Anemia (Correct Option)
B) Dehydration
C) Hyperthyroidism
D) Chronic fatigue syndrome
Rationale: Anemia leads to reduced oxygen-carrying capacity, causing fatigue, pallor,
and dyspnea due to inadequate oxygen delivery to tissues.
Question 11
Case: A patient is diagnosed with acute pancreatitis. What is the primary
pathophysiological mechanism involved?
A) Autodigestion of pancreatic tissue (Correct Option)
B) Insulin deficiency
C) Bile duct obstruction
D) Increased lipase production
Rationale: Acute pancreatitis involves the autodigestion of pancreatic tissue due to the
premature activation of digestive enzymes.
, Question 12
Case: A patient with liver cirrhosis develops ascites. What is the main
pathophysiological cause for this condition?
A) Increased hydrostatic pressure (Correct Option)
B) Decreased oncotic pressure
C) Increased capillary permeability
D) Decreased blood volume
Rationale: Ascites in cirrhosis is primarily caused by increased hydrostatic pressure in
the portal circulation due to liver scarring.
Question 13
Case: A patient is diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. What is the underlying
pathophysiology of this autoimmune condition?
A) Inflammation of the synovial membrane (Correct Option)
B) Degeneration of cartilage
C) Impaired bone formation
D) Increased muscle mass
Rationale: Rheumatoid arthritis involves autoimmune-mediated inflammation of the
synovial membrane, leading to joint damage and pain.
Question 14
Case: A patient with a history of smoking presents with a persistent cough and
hemoptysis. What condition is likely?
A) Lung cancer (Correct Option)
B) Asthma
C) Chronic bronchitis
D) Tuberculosis
Rationale: A persistent cough and hemoptysis in a smoker raise suspicion for lung
cancer due to the risk factors associated with tobacco use.
Question 15
Case: A patient is diagnosed with heart failure and is experiencing fluid overload. What
pathophysiological mechanism is primarily responsible for this?
A) Increased venous pressure (Correct Option)
B) Decreased cardiac output
C) Increased renal perfusion
D) Decreased sodium reabsorption
Rationale: In heart failure, the heart's inability to pump effectively leads to increased
venous pressure, causing fluid overload.
Nursing | Comprehensive Study Notes, Exam
Questions with Answers, and Summaries
(Based on Pathophysiology Textbook)
Question 1
Case: A patient presents with a persistent cough, wheezing, and shortness of breath.
What pathophysiological process is most likely occurring?
A) Airway inflammation and obstruction (Correct Option)
B) Pulmonary vasodilation
C) Decreased lung compliance
D) Alveolar consolidation
Rationale: Airway inflammation and obstruction are common in conditions like
asthma, leading to cough, wheezing, and shortness of breath.
Question 2
Case: A patient with chronic kidney disease has elevated serum creatinine levels. What
is the underlying pathophysiology?
A) Decreased glomerular filtration rate (Correct Option)
B) Increased renal perfusion
C) Enhanced tubular reabsorption
D) Normal renal function
Rationale: Chronic kidney disease leads to a progressive decline in glomerular filtration
rate, resulting in elevated serum creatinine levels.
Question 3
Case: A patient is diagnosed with congestive heart failure (CHF). What is a common
compensatory mechanism the heart utilizes?
A) Increased heart rate (Correct Option)
B) Decreased myocardial contractility
C) Decreased peripheral resistance
D) Increased stroke volume
Rationale: In CHF, the heart compensates by increasing heart rate to maintain
adequate cardiac output despite reduced contractility.
Question 4
Case: A patient develops jaundice. What pathophysiological process is responsible for
this symptom?
A) Increased bilirubin levels (Correct Option)
,B) Decreased hemoglobin synthesis
C) Enhanced bile salt production
D) Increased albumin levels
Rationale: Jaundice occurs due to elevated bilirubin levels, often from liver dysfunction
or hemolysis.
Question 5
Case: A patient presents with abdominal pain, diarrhea, and weight loss. What
condition should be suspected based on these symptoms?
A) Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
B) Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) (Correct Option)
C) Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
D) Peptic ulcer disease
Rationale: Abdominal pain, diarrhea, and weight loss are characteristic of
inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
Question 6
Case: A patient with diabetes mellitus presents with polyuria and polydipsia. What is
the primary pathophysiological mechanism behind these symptoms?
A) Osmotic diuresis (Correct Option)
B) Increased insulin sensitivity
C) Enhanced renal reabsorption
D) Decreased blood glucose levels
Rationale: In diabetes, high blood glucose levels lead to osmotic diuresis, causing
increased urine output (polyuria) and thirst (polydipsia).
Question 7
Case: A patient is diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). What
is a primary cause of the airflow limitation seen in this condition?
A) Airway inflammation and remodeling (Correct Option)
B) Decreased lung compliance
C) Increased lung elasticity
D) Alveolar hyperinflation
Rationale: In COPD, chronic inflammation leads to airway remodeling, causing
irreversible airflow limitation.
Question 8
Case: A patient experiences sudden onset chest pain and dyspnea. What
,pathophysiological condition should be considered?
A) Pulmonary embolism (Correct Option)
B) Myocardial infarction
C) Pneumothorax
D) Congestive heart failure
Rationale: Sudden chest pain and shortness of breath are classic signs of pulmonary
embolism due to a blockage in the pulmonary artery.
Question 9
Case: A patient with hypertension is prescribed medication to reduce vascular
resistance. What is the underlying pathophysiology of hypertension?
A) Increased peripheral vascular resistance (Correct Option)
B) Decreased cardiac output
C) Increased blood volume
D) Decreased heart rate
Rationale: Hypertension often results from increased peripheral vascular resistance,
requiring medications like vasodilators to lower blood pressure.
Question 10
Case: A patient presents with severe fatigue, pallor, and shortness of breath. What
pathophysiological condition could explain these symptoms?
A) Anemia (Correct Option)
B) Dehydration
C) Hyperthyroidism
D) Chronic fatigue syndrome
Rationale: Anemia leads to reduced oxygen-carrying capacity, causing fatigue, pallor,
and dyspnea due to inadequate oxygen delivery to tissues.
Question 11
Case: A patient is diagnosed with acute pancreatitis. What is the primary
pathophysiological mechanism involved?
A) Autodigestion of pancreatic tissue (Correct Option)
B) Insulin deficiency
C) Bile duct obstruction
D) Increased lipase production
Rationale: Acute pancreatitis involves the autodigestion of pancreatic tissue due to the
premature activation of digestive enzymes.
, Question 12
Case: A patient with liver cirrhosis develops ascites. What is the main
pathophysiological cause for this condition?
A) Increased hydrostatic pressure (Correct Option)
B) Decreased oncotic pressure
C) Increased capillary permeability
D) Decreased blood volume
Rationale: Ascites in cirrhosis is primarily caused by increased hydrostatic pressure in
the portal circulation due to liver scarring.
Question 13
Case: A patient is diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. What is the underlying
pathophysiology of this autoimmune condition?
A) Inflammation of the synovial membrane (Correct Option)
B) Degeneration of cartilage
C) Impaired bone formation
D) Increased muscle mass
Rationale: Rheumatoid arthritis involves autoimmune-mediated inflammation of the
synovial membrane, leading to joint damage and pain.
Question 14
Case: A patient with a history of smoking presents with a persistent cough and
hemoptysis. What condition is likely?
A) Lung cancer (Correct Option)
B) Asthma
C) Chronic bronchitis
D) Tuberculosis
Rationale: A persistent cough and hemoptysis in a smoker raise suspicion for lung
cancer due to the risk factors associated with tobacco use.
Question 15
Case: A patient is diagnosed with heart failure and is experiencing fluid overload. What
pathophysiological mechanism is primarily responsible for this?
A) Increased venous pressure (Correct Option)
B) Decreased cardiac output
C) Increased renal perfusion
D) Decreased sodium reabsorption
Rationale: In heart failure, the heart's inability to pump effectively leads to increased
venous pressure, causing fluid overload.
