NURS 6501 Advanced Pathophysiology Final
Exam | Real Exam Questions with Verified
Correct Answers | Walden University |
Updated 2026/2027 - Already Graded A+
Question 1
Lead poisoning affects the nervous system by:
A. Interfering with the function of neurotransmitters
B. Inhibiting the production of myelin around nerves
C. Increasing the resting membrane potential
D. Altering the transport of potassium into the nerves
Answer: A
Rationale: Lead poisoning interferes with neurotransmitter function, which is the
primary mechanism by which it affects the nervous system.
Question 2
Water movement between the intracellular fluid (ICF) compartment and the
extracellular fluid (ECF) compartment is primarily a function of:
A. Osmotic Forces
B. Plasma Oncotic Pressure
C. Antidiuretic hormone
D. Hydrostatic forces
Answer: A
Rationale: Osmotic forces primarily drive water movement between the ICF and ECF
compartments.
Question 3
Two thirds of the body's water is found in its:
A. Interstitial fluid spaces
B. Vascular system
C. Intracellular fluid compartments
D. Intraocular fluids
Answer: C
pg. 1
,Rationale: Approximately two-thirds of total body water is located within the
intracellular fluid compartment.
Question 4
A patient has a history of excessive use of magnesium-containing antacids and
aluminum-containing antacids. What lab value does the healthcare professional
correlate to this behavior?
A. Magnesium 1.8 mg/dL
B. Phosphate 1.9 mg/dL
C. Sodium 149 mEq/L
D. Potassium 2.5 mEq/L
Answer: B
Rationale: Magnesium and aluminum-containing antacids bind phosphate in the GI
tract, leading to decreased phosphate absorption and hypophosphatemia (phosphate 1.9
mg/dL is low).
Question 5
A healthcare professional is caring for four patients. Which patient should the
professional assess for hyperkalemia?
A. Hyperparathyroidism
B. Vomiting
C. Renal failure
D. Hyperaldosteronism
Answer: C
Rationale: Renal failure is the most common cause of hyperkalemia due to decreased
excretion of potassium by the kidneys.
Question 6
A healthcare professional is caring for four patients. Which patient should the
professional assess for hypermagnesemia as a priority?
A. Hepatitis
B. Renal failure
C. Trauma to the hypothalamus
D. Pancreatitis
Answer: B
pg. 2
,Rationale: Renal failure is the most common cause of hypermagnesemia due to
decreased excretion of magnesium by the kidneys.
Question 7
Cystic fibrosis is caused by what type of gene?
A. X-linked dominant
B. X-linked recessive
C. Autosomal dominant
D. Autosomal recessive
Answer: D
Rationale: Cystic fibrosis is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder caused by
mutations in the CFTR gene.
Question 8
People diagnosed with neurofibromatosis have varying degrees of the condition because
of which genetic principle?
A. Penetrance
B. Expressivity
C. Dominance
D. Recessiveness
Answer: B
Rationale: Expressivity refers to the varying degrees of phenotypic expression of a
genetic condition among individuals with the same genotype.
Question 9
What is the most common cause of Down syndrome?
A. Paternal nondisjunction
B. Maternal translocations
C. Maternal nondisjunction
D. Paternal translocation
Answer: C
Rationale: Maternal nondisjunction during meiosis is the most common cause of
Down syndrome (trisomy 21).
pg. 3
, Question 10
What does activation of the classical pathway begin with?
A. Viruses
B. Antigen-antibody complexes
C. Mast cells
D. Macrophages
Answer: B
Rationale: Activation of the classical complement pathway begins with the formation
of antigen-antibody complexes (immune complexes) that activate C1.
Question 11
In the coagulation (clotting) cascade, the intrinsic and the extrinsic pathways converge
at which factor?
A. XII
B. VII
C. X
D. V
Answer: C
Rationale: Both the intrinsic and extrinsic pathways converge at factor X, which is the
common pathway of the coagulation cascade.
Question 12
What effect does the process of histamine binding to the histamine-2 (H2) receptor have
on inflammation?
A. Inhibition
B. Activation
C. Acceleration
D. Termination
Answer: A
Rationale: Binding histamine to the H2 receptor is generally anti-inflammatory
because it results in suppression of leukocyte function.
Question 13
Frequently when H1 and H2 receptors are located on the same cells, they act in what
fashion?
A. Synergistically
pg. 4
Exam | Real Exam Questions with Verified
Correct Answers | Walden University |
Updated 2026/2027 - Already Graded A+
Question 1
Lead poisoning affects the nervous system by:
A. Interfering with the function of neurotransmitters
B. Inhibiting the production of myelin around nerves
C. Increasing the resting membrane potential
D. Altering the transport of potassium into the nerves
Answer: A
Rationale: Lead poisoning interferes with neurotransmitter function, which is the
primary mechanism by which it affects the nervous system.
Question 2
Water movement between the intracellular fluid (ICF) compartment and the
extracellular fluid (ECF) compartment is primarily a function of:
A. Osmotic Forces
B. Plasma Oncotic Pressure
C. Antidiuretic hormone
D. Hydrostatic forces
Answer: A
Rationale: Osmotic forces primarily drive water movement between the ICF and ECF
compartments.
Question 3
Two thirds of the body's water is found in its:
A. Interstitial fluid spaces
B. Vascular system
C. Intracellular fluid compartments
D. Intraocular fluids
Answer: C
pg. 1
,Rationale: Approximately two-thirds of total body water is located within the
intracellular fluid compartment.
Question 4
A patient has a history of excessive use of magnesium-containing antacids and
aluminum-containing antacids. What lab value does the healthcare professional
correlate to this behavior?
A. Magnesium 1.8 mg/dL
B. Phosphate 1.9 mg/dL
C. Sodium 149 mEq/L
D. Potassium 2.5 mEq/L
Answer: B
Rationale: Magnesium and aluminum-containing antacids bind phosphate in the GI
tract, leading to decreased phosphate absorption and hypophosphatemia (phosphate 1.9
mg/dL is low).
Question 5
A healthcare professional is caring for four patients. Which patient should the
professional assess for hyperkalemia?
A. Hyperparathyroidism
B. Vomiting
C. Renal failure
D. Hyperaldosteronism
Answer: C
Rationale: Renal failure is the most common cause of hyperkalemia due to decreased
excretion of potassium by the kidneys.
Question 6
A healthcare professional is caring for four patients. Which patient should the
professional assess for hypermagnesemia as a priority?
A. Hepatitis
B. Renal failure
C. Trauma to the hypothalamus
D. Pancreatitis
Answer: B
pg. 2
,Rationale: Renal failure is the most common cause of hypermagnesemia due to
decreased excretion of magnesium by the kidneys.
Question 7
Cystic fibrosis is caused by what type of gene?
A. X-linked dominant
B. X-linked recessive
C. Autosomal dominant
D. Autosomal recessive
Answer: D
Rationale: Cystic fibrosis is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder caused by
mutations in the CFTR gene.
Question 8
People diagnosed with neurofibromatosis have varying degrees of the condition because
of which genetic principle?
A. Penetrance
B. Expressivity
C. Dominance
D. Recessiveness
Answer: B
Rationale: Expressivity refers to the varying degrees of phenotypic expression of a
genetic condition among individuals with the same genotype.
Question 9
What is the most common cause of Down syndrome?
A. Paternal nondisjunction
B. Maternal translocations
C. Maternal nondisjunction
D. Paternal translocation
Answer: C
Rationale: Maternal nondisjunction during meiosis is the most common cause of
Down syndrome (trisomy 21).
pg. 3
, Question 10
What does activation of the classical pathway begin with?
A. Viruses
B. Antigen-antibody complexes
C. Mast cells
D. Macrophages
Answer: B
Rationale: Activation of the classical complement pathway begins with the formation
of antigen-antibody complexes (immune complexes) that activate C1.
Question 11
In the coagulation (clotting) cascade, the intrinsic and the extrinsic pathways converge
at which factor?
A. XII
B. VII
C. X
D. V
Answer: C
Rationale: Both the intrinsic and extrinsic pathways converge at factor X, which is the
common pathway of the coagulation cascade.
Question 12
What effect does the process of histamine binding to the histamine-2 (H2) receptor have
on inflammation?
A. Inhibition
B. Activation
C. Acceleration
D. Termination
Answer: A
Rationale: Binding histamine to the H2 receptor is generally anti-inflammatory
because it results in suppression of leukocyte function.
Question 13
Frequently when H1 and H2 receptors are located on the same cells, they act in what
fashion?
A. Synergistically
pg. 4
