NURS 3366 PATHOPHYSIOLOGY – FINAL EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT VERIFIED ANSWERS
UPDATED (2026–2027) | 100% CORRECT.
Introduction:
This document contains the full set of final exam questions and answers for NURS
3366 Pathophysiology (academic year 2026–2027). It includes detailed, verified
explanations covering key pathophysiology concepts such as endocrine disorders,
renal and cardiovascular conditions, neurological pathologies, autoimmune
diseases, infectious diseases, gastrointestinal and hepatic disorders, and metabolic
imbalances. The material is comprehensive and updated, making it highly useful
for exam review and clinical application practice.
1. Stats to memorize
7.35-7.45
pH
35-45
CO2
22-28
HCO3
80-100
PaO2
70-99 blood
glucose
<2 seconds normal
capillary refill
2. Your patient comes in with diabetes insipidus. Ex-
- under-secretion of ADH plain the pathophysiology
behind their fluid volume
, - polyuria, dilute urine deficit.
- serum osmolality in- crease
- sunken eyes, dry mem- branes, poor skin turgor
3. A patient with brain damage comes into the ER. They - SIADH have a sudden onset
of peripheral edema and crack- - large, over-secretion of ling in the lungs. What could
be the possible cause, ADH
and why? - causes body to hold on to
a ton of water
(oliguria) - fluid
volume overload,
causes water to shift
into tissues
4. A patient comes in exhibiting signs and symptoms of thyroid storm
Grave's. What signs and symptoms would lead you to - extreme tachycardia, HF,
believe they have entered crisis state? shock, 103-105, agitation,
delirium, seizures -
due to very high
metabo- lism
Lab: T4 high, TSH
low
5.
What are the two main causes of hhpothyroidism? Hashimoto's thyroiditis and
endemic iodine
deficieny
6. A comatose patient comes into the ER. Their medical myxedema crisis record states that
they have hypothyroidism. Explain -hypotension, hypoventila- why they are likely
in a coma. tion, extremely low metab-
olism
- face is very
bloated due to fat
buildup behind the
eyes
, Lab: low T4, high
TSH
7.
When is PTH secreted and what cells in the bone does hypocalcemia (low Ca), os- it
affect? teoclasts (to break up bone
for calcium
resorption)
8. When is calcitonin secreted and what cells in the bone hypercalcemia (too much
does it affect? calcium), osteoblasts (to build more bone, bring Ca
out of blood into bone)
9. A patient comes into the ER feeling lethargic and hypercalcemia = hyperpo- weak.
You run a blood test and find that their serum larized calcium levels are extremely
high. What might be - muscles take longer to the pathophysiological reasoning
behind their symp- contract, making the per-
toms? son feel weak and lethar-
gic
- might be hypercalcemic due to over secretion of PTH, which normally in- creases
Ca in the blood - could also be under- secretion of calcitonin, not
bringing in enough Ca into
the bone
10. A patient comes into the ER experiencing tetany and hypocalcemia = hypopolar-
muscle spasms. You run a blood test and their labs ized
come back with very low levels of calcium. You check - muscles take less time
for a Chvostek's sign, and they are positive. What is to contract, makes person
the most likely cause of these symptoms? spasm easily
- might be hypocalcemia due to oversecretion of cal- citonin, which
normally de-
creases the Ca in the blood - could also be due to un- dersecretion of PTH, which
would normally increase Ca in blood
, 11. A 18 year old male is scheduled to have his unde- -cryptorchidism increases scended
testes removed. He asks why this procedure the risk for testicular can-
is necessary. Explain. cer
12. What is the biggest problem, and often one of the first signs,
that someone with BPH (benign prostate hyperplasia) may
experience?
13. An 70 year old African American male comes in for a
routine checkup. He mentions his concern about
- removal is one of the best ways to prevent this
- compression of the ure- thra
- weak flow, slow to start, leads to urinary retention - can
cause hydronephrosis and postrenal AKI
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT VERIFIED ANSWERS
UPDATED (2026–2027) | 100% CORRECT.
Introduction:
This document contains the full set of final exam questions and answers for NURS
3366 Pathophysiology (academic year 2026–2027). It includes detailed, verified
explanations covering key pathophysiology concepts such as endocrine disorders,
renal and cardiovascular conditions, neurological pathologies, autoimmune
diseases, infectious diseases, gastrointestinal and hepatic disorders, and metabolic
imbalances. The material is comprehensive and updated, making it highly useful
for exam review and clinical application practice.
1. Stats to memorize
7.35-7.45
pH
35-45
CO2
22-28
HCO3
80-100
PaO2
70-99 blood
glucose
<2 seconds normal
capillary refill
2. Your patient comes in with diabetes insipidus. Ex-
- under-secretion of ADH plain the pathophysiology
behind their fluid volume
, - polyuria, dilute urine deficit.
- serum osmolality in- crease
- sunken eyes, dry mem- branes, poor skin turgor
3. A patient with brain damage comes into the ER. They - SIADH have a sudden onset
of peripheral edema and crack- - large, over-secretion of ling in the lungs. What could
be the possible cause, ADH
and why? - causes body to hold on to
a ton of water
(oliguria) - fluid
volume overload,
causes water to shift
into tissues
4. A patient comes in exhibiting signs and symptoms of thyroid storm
Grave's. What signs and symptoms would lead you to - extreme tachycardia, HF,
believe they have entered crisis state? shock, 103-105, agitation,
delirium, seizures -
due to very high
metabo- lism
Lab: T4 high, TSH
low
5.
What are the two main causes of hhpothyroidism? Hashimoto's thyroiditis and
endemic iodine
deficieny
6. A comatose patient comes into the ER. Their medical myxedema crisis record states that
they have hypothyroidism. Explain -hypotension, hypoventila- why they are likely
in a coma. tion, extremely low metab-
olism
- face is very
bloated due to fat
buildup behind the
eyes
, Lab: low T4, high
TSH
7.
When is PTH secreted and what cells in the bone does hypocalcemia (low Ca), os- it
affect? teoclasts (to break up bone
for calcium
resorption)
8. When is calcitonin secreted and what cells in the bone hypercalcemia (too much
does it affect? calcium), osteoblasts (to build more bone, bring Ca
out of blood into bone)
9. A patient comes into the ER feeling lethargic and hypercalcemia = hyperpo- weak.
You run a blood test and find that their serum larized calcium levels are extremely
high. What might be - muscles take longer to the pathophysiological reasoning
behind their symp- contract, making the per-
toms? son feel weak and lethar-
gic
- might be hypercalcemic due to over secretion of PTH, which normally in- creases
Ca in the blood - could also be under- secretion of calcitonin, not
bringing in enough Ca into
the bone
10. A patient comes into the ER experiencing tetany and hypocalcemia = hypopolar-
muscle spasms. You run a blood test and their labs ized
come back with very low levels of calcium. You check - muscles take less time
for a Chvostek's sign, and they are positive. What is to contract, makes person
the most likely cause of these symptoms? spasm easily
- might be hypocalcemia due to oversecretion of cal- citonin, which
normally de-
creases the Ca in the blood - could also be due to un- dersecretion of PTH, which
would normally increase Ca in blood
, 11. A 18 year old male is scheduled to have his unde- -cryptorchidism increases scended
testes removed. He asks why this procedure the risk for testicular can-
is necessary. Explain. cer
12. What is the biggest problem, and often one of the first signs,
that someone with BPH (benign prostate hyperplasia) may
experience?
13. An 70 year old African American male comes in for a
routine checkup. He mentions his concern about
- removal is one of the best ways to prevent this
- compression of the ure- thra
- weak flow, slow to start, leads to urinary retention - can
cause hydronephrosis and postrenal AKI
