NURS 3366 PATHOPHYSIOLOGY – FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS
WITH CORRECT VERIFIED ANSWERS (2025–2026,
UPDATED) – COMPLETE EXAM PREPARATION| INSTANT
DOWNLOAND PDF!!!
Stats to memorize
pH
CO2
HCO3
PaO2
blood glucose
normal capillary refill
7.35-7.45
35-45
22-28
80-100
70-99
<2 seconds
Your patient comes in with diabetes insipidus. Explain the pathophysiology
behind their fluid volume deficit.
- under-secretion of ADH
- polyuria, dilute urine
- serum osmolality increase
- sunken eyes, dry membranes, poor skin turgor
A patient with brain damage comes into the ER. They have a sudden onset of
peripheral edema and crackling in the lungs. What could be the possible cause,
and why?
- SIADH
- large, over-secretion of ADH
- causes body to hold on to a ton of water (oliguria)
- fluid volume overload, causes water to shift into tissues
,A patient comes in exhibiting signs and symptoms of Grave's. What signs and
symptoms would lead you to believe they have entered crisis state?
thyroid storm
- extreme tachycardia, HF, shock, 103-105, agitation, delirium, seizures
- due to very high metabolism
Lab: T4 high, TSH low
What are the two main causes of hhpothyroidism?
Hashimoto's thyroiditis and endemic iodine deficieny
A comatose patient comes into the ER. Their medical record states that they
have hypothyroidism. Explain why they are likely in a coma.
myxedema crisis
-hypotension, hypoventilation, extremely low metabolism
- face is very bloated due to fat buildup behind the eyes
Lab: low T4, high TSH
When is PTH secreted and what cells in the bone does it affect?
hypocalcemia (low Ca), osteoclasts (to break up bone for calcium resorption)
When is calcitonin secreted and what cells in the bone does it affect?
hypercalcemia (too much calcium), osteoblasts (to build more bone, bring Ca out
of blood into bone)
A patient comes into the ER feeling lethargic and weak. You run a blood test and
find that their serum calcium levels are extremely high. What might be the
pathophysiological reasoning behind their symptoms?
hypercalcemia = hyperpolarized
- muscles take longer to contract, making the person feel weak and lethargic
- might be hypercalcemic due to over secretion of PTH, which normally increases
Ca in the blood
- could also be undersecretion of calcitonin, not bringing in enough Ca into the
bone
A patient comes into the ER experiencing tetany and muscle spasms. You run a
blood test and their labs come back with very low levels of calcium. You check
, for a Chvostek's sign, and they are positive. What is the most likely cause of
these symptoms?
hypocalcemia = hypopolarized
- muscles take less time to contract, makes person spasm easily
- might be hypocalcemia due to oversecretion of calcitonin, which normally
decreases the Ca in the blood
- could also be due to undersecretion of PTH, which would normally increase Ca in
blood
A 70 year old woman comes into the ER with a fractured femur. After
completing a bone scan, it is confirmed that she has osteoporosis. What are
some of the causes for her osteoporosis?
- CKD, long term hypocalcemia problems
- problem with nephron
- oversecretion of PTH
- undersecretion of calcitonin
- age-related, too much osteoclastic activity
- menopause, less estrogen means more osteoclast activity
A 18 year old male is scheduled to have his undescended testes removed. He
asks why this procedure is necessary. Explain.
-cryptorchidism increases the risk for testicular cancer
- removal is one of the best ways to prevent this
What is the biggest problem, and often one of the first signs, that someone with
BPH (benign prostate hyperplasia) may experience?
- compression of the urethra
- weak flow, slow to start, leads to urinary retention
- can cause hydronephrosis and postrenal AKI
An 70 year old African American male comes in for a routine checkup. He
mentions his concern about prostate cancer. What are other risk factors that
may increase his concern?
- diet high in fat, family history, and high levels of testosterone
WITH CORRECT VERIFIED ANSWERS (2025–2026,
UPDATED) – COMPLETE EXAM PREPARATION| INSTANT
DOWNLOAND PDF!!!
Stats to memorize
pH
CO2
HCO3
PaO2
blood glucose
normal capillary refill
7.35-7.45
35-45
22-28
80-100
70-99
<2 seconds
Your patient comes in with diabetes insipidus. Explain the pathophysiology
behind their fluid volume deficit.
- under-secretion of ADH
- polyuria, dilute urine
- serum osmolality increase
- sunken eyes, dry membranes, poor skin turgor
A patient with brain damage comes into the ER. They have a sudden onset of
peripheral edema and crackling in the lungs. What could be the possible cause,
and why?
- SIADH
- large, over-secretion of ADH
- causes body to hold on to a ton of water (oliguria)
- fluid volume overload, causes water to shift into tissues
,A patient comes in exhibiting signs and symptoms of Grave's. What signs and
symptoms would lead you to believe they have entered crisis state?
thyroid storm
- extreme tachycardia, HF, shock, 103-105, agitation, delirium, seizures
- due to very high metabolism
Lab: T4 high, TSH low
What are the two main causes of hhpothyroidism?
Hashimoto's thyroiditis and endemic iodine deficieny
A comatose patient comes into the ER. Their medical record states that they
have hypothyroidism. Explain why they are likely in a coma.
myxedema crisis
-hypotension, hypoventilation, extremely low metabolism
- face is very bloated due to fat buildup behind the eyes
Lab: low T4, high TSH
When is PTH secreted and what cells in the bone does it affect?
hypocalcemia (low Ca), osteoclasts (to break up bone for calcium resorption)
When is calcitonin secreted and what cells in the bone does it affect?
hypercalcemia (too much calcium), osteoblasts (to build more bone, bring Ca out
of blood into bone)
A patient comes into the ER feeling lethargic and weak. You run a blood test and
find that their serum calcium levels are extremely high. What might be the
pathophysiological reasoning behind their symptoms?
hypercalcemia = hyperpolarized
- muscles take longer to contract, making the person feel weak and lethargic
- might be hypercalcemic due to over secretion of PTH, which normally increases
Ca in the blood
- could also be undersecretion of calcitonin, not bringing in enough Ca into the
bone
A patient comes into the ER experiencing tetany and muscle spasms. You run a
blood test and their labs come back with very low levels of calcium. You check
, for a Chvostek's sign, and they are positive. What is the most likely cause of
these symptoms?
hypocalcemia = hypopolarized
- muscles take less time to contract, makes person spasm easily
- might be hypocalcemia due to oversecretion of calcitonin, which normally
decreases the Ca in the blood
- could also be due to undersecretion of PTH, which would normally increase Ca in
blood
A 70 year old woman comes into the ER with a fractured femur. After
completing a bone scan, it is confirmed that she has osteoporosis. What are
some of the causes for her osteoporosis?
- CKD, long term hypocalcemia problems
- problem with nephron
- oversecretion of PTH
- undersecretion of calcitonin
- age-related, too much osteoclastic activity
- menopause, less estrogen means more osteoclast activity
A 18 year old male is scheduled to have his undescended testes removed. He
asks why this procedure is necessary. Explain.
-cryptorchidism increases the risk for testicular cancer
- removal is one of the best ways to prevent this
What is the biggest problem, and often one of the first signs, that someone with
BPH (benign prostate hyperplasia) may experience?
- compression of the urethra
- weak flow, slow to start, leads to urinary retention
- can cause hydronephrosis and postrenal AKI
An 70 year old African American male comes in for a routine checkup. He
mentions his concern about prostate cancer. What are other risk factors that
may increase his concern?
- diet high in fat, family history, and high levels of testosterone
