PATHOPHYSIOLOGY FINAL EXAM RASMUSSEN NEWEST 2025 EXAM COMPLETE 280 QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS|ALREADY GRADED A+||BRAND NEW!!
A father experienced the onset of chest pain and dies suddenly. The family asks, "What caused him to
die so suddenly?" The health care provider's reply that is most appropriate would be, "There's a high
probability that your loved one developed an acute heart attack and experienced:
A. Acute ventricular arrhythmia."
B. High troponin levels."
C. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy."
D. Acute myocarditis." - ANSWER-A. Acute ventricular arrhythmia.
The most common causes of left-sided heart failure include:
A. Chronic pulmonary disease
B. Impaired renal blood flow
C. Tricuspid valve regurgitation
D. Acute myocardial infarction - ANSWER-D. Acute myocardial infarction
While lecturing on blood pressure, the nurse will emphasize that the body maintains its blood pressure
by adjusting the cardiac output to compensate for changes in which of the following physiologic
processes?
A. Release of stress hormones
B. Peripheral vascular resistance
C. Rigidity of the ventricular walls
D. Electrical impulses in the heart - ANSWER-B. Peripheral vascular resistance
Which of the following clients should most likely be assessed for orthostatic hypotension?
,A. A 78-year-old woman who has begun complaining of frequent headaches unrelieved by over-the-
counter analgesics
B. An 80-year-old elderly client who has experienced two falls since admission while attempting to
ambulate to the bathroom
C. A 42-year-old client who has a history of poorly controlled type 1 diabetes
D. A 65-year-old client whose vision has become much less acute in recent months and who has noticed
swelling in her ankles - ANSWER-B. An 80-year-old woman who has experienced two falls since
admission while attempting to ambulate to the bathroom
One of the principal mechanisms by which the heart compensates for increased workload is:
A. Endothelin vasoconstrictors
B. Ventricular wall tension increase
C. Myocardial hypertrophy
D. Sodium and water retention - ANSWER-C. Myocardial hypertrophy
A client with heart failure asks, "Why am I taking a 'water pill' when it's my heart that is having a
problem?" While educating the client about the Frank-Starling mechanism, which of the following
explanations is most appropriate to share?
A. "Your heart muscle is overstretched, so it's not able to pump all the blood out. The prescribed 'water
pills' help by decreasing your weight."
B. "Since your heart function is impaired, the lungs are not able to oxygenate the blood and your kidneys
are wearing out."
C. "You must be drinking way too many liquids. Your kidneys cannot filter all that you are drinking during
the day."
D. "Since your heart is not pumping efficiently, the kidneys are getting less blood flow; therefore, the
kidneys are holding on to sodium and water." - ANSWER-D. "Since your heart is not pumping efficiently,
the kidneys are getting less blood flow; therefore, the kidneys are holding on to sodium and water
If the parasympathetic neurotransmitter releases acetylcholine, the nurse should anticipate observing
what changes in the ECG pattern?
,A. Slowing of heart rate to below 60 beats/minute
B. Disorganized ventricular fibrillation
C. Complete cardiac standstill
D. Heart rate 150 beats/minute, labeled as supraventricular tachycardia - ANSWER-A. Slowing of heart
rate to below 60 beats/minute
A client with a history of emphysema from long-term cigarette smoking has loss of many alveoli. When
comparing the type I alveolar cell physiologic function with the primary role of type II alveoli, the nurse
would be aware that the type II alveoli are responsible for:
A. Gas exchange
B. Facilitation of bronchial circulation
C. Production of surfactant
D. Production of macrophages - ANSWER-C. Production of surfactant
Which of the following clients is at risk for developing a preventable disorder related to prolonged
immobility?
A. A middle-aged adult male diagnosed with bronchitis related to chronic smoking
B. A young adult female diagnosed with sarcoidosis requiring corticosteroids to return her to remission
C. A sleep apnea client related to a history of smoking who utilizes a C-PAP machine every night at
bedtime to maintain airway
D. A postsurgical client who is refusing to get out of bed and walk and will not wear those
"uncomfortable elastic stocking" - ANSWER-D. A postsurgical client who is refusing to get out of bed and
walk and will not wear those "uncomfortable elastic stockings"
Following surgery, a client had a chest x-ray that reported some opacities in the lung bases likely due to
atelectasis. Which of the following pathophysiologic processes will result from this condition?
A. Dead air space
B. Compensatory vasoconstriction
, C. Perfusion without ventilation
D. Ventilation without perfusion - ANSWER-C. Perfusion without ventilation
true or false: difficulty breathing is dyspnea - ANSWER-true
As a result of hypoxemia and polycythemia, persons with chronic obstructive bronchitis are prone to:
A. Expiratory airway collapse
B. Breakdown of elastin
C. Pulmonary hypertension
D. Left-sided heart failure - ANSWER-C. Pulmonary hypertension
True or false: shortness of breath when lying down is apnea - ANSWER-false
A 51-year-old man has been diagnosed with chronic bronchitis after a long history of recurrent
coughing. Which of the man's following statements demonstrates a sound understanding of his new
diagnosis?
A. "If I had quit smoking earlier than I did, I think I could have avoided getting bronchitis."
B. "I'm pretty sure that I first caught bronchitis from the person who has the cubicle next to mine at
work."
C. "I read on the Internet that I might have got bronchitis because I was born with an enzyme
deficiency."
D. "I think that I probably could have prevented this if I had got in the habit of exercising more when I
was younger." - ANSWER-A. "If I had quit smoking earlier than I did, I think I could have avoided getting
bronchitis."
The pathogenic capacity of the tubercle bacillus is related to:
A. The initiation of a cell-mediated immune response
B. Its inherent destructive capabilities
CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS|ALREADY GRADED A+||BRAND NEW!!
A father experienced the onset of chest pain and dies suddenly. The family asks, "What caused him to
die so suddenly?" The health care provider's reply that is most appropriate would be, "There's a high
probability that your loved one developed an acute heart attack and experienced:
A. Acute ventricular arrhythmia."
B. High troponin levels."
C. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy."
D. Acute myocarditis." - ANSWER-A. Acute ventricular arrhythmia.
The most common causes of left-sided heart failure include:
A. Chronic pulmonary disease
B. Impaired renal blood flow
C. Tricuspid valve regurgitation
D. Acute myocardial infarction - ANSWER-D. Acute myocardial infarction
While lecturing on blood pressure, the nurse will emphasize that the body maintains its blood pressure
by adjusting the cardiac output to compensate for changes in which of the following physiologic
processes?
A. Release of stress hormones
B. Peripheral vascular resistance
C. Rigidity of the ventricular walls
D. Electrical impulses in the heart - ANSWER-B. Peripheral vascular resistance
Which of the following clients should most likely be assessed for orthostatic hypotension?
,A. A 78-year-old woman who has begun complaining of frequent headaches unrelieved by over-the-
counter analgesics
B. An 80-year-old elderly client who has experienced two falls since admission while attempting to
ambulate to the bathroom
C. A 42-year-old client who has a history of poorly controlled type 1 diabetes
D. A 65-year-old client whose vision has become much less acute in recent months and who has noticed
swelling in her ankles - ANSWER-B. An 80-year-old woman who has experienced two falls since
admission while attempting to ambulate to the bathroom
One of the principal mechanisms by which the heart compensates for increased workload is:
A. Endothelin vasoconstrictors
B. Ventricular wall tension increase
C. Myocardial hypertrophy
D. Sodium and water retention - ANSWER-C. Myocardial hypertrophy
A client with heart failure asks, "Why am I taking a 'water pill' when it's my heart that is having a
problem?" While educating the client about the Frank-Starling mechanism, which of the following
explanations is most appropriate to share?
A. "Your heart muscle is overstretched, so it's not able to pump all the blood out. The prescribed 'water
pills' help by decreasing your weight."
B. "Since your heart function is impaired, the lungs are not able to oxygenate the blood and your kidneys
are wearing out."
C. "You must be drinking way too many liquids. Your kidneys cannot filter all that you are drinking during
the day."
D. "Since your heart is not pumping efficiently, the kidneys are getting less blood flow; therefore, the
kidneys are holding on to sodium and water." - ANSWER-D. "Since your heart is not pumping efficiently,
the kidneys are getting less blood flow; therefore, the kidneys are holding on to sodium and water
If the parasympathetic neurotransmitter releases acetylcholine, the nurse should anticipate observing
what changes in the ECG pattern?
,A. Slowing of heart rate to below 60 beats/minute
B. Disorganized ventricular fibrillation
C. Complete cardiac standstill
D. Heart rate 150 beats/minute, labeled as supraventricular tachycardia - ANSWER-A. Slowing of heart
rate to below 60 beats/minute
A client with a history of emphysema from long-term cigarette smoking has loss of many alveoli. When
comparing the type I alveolar cell physiologic function with the primary role of type II alveoli, the nurse
would be aware that the type II alveoli are responsible for:
A. Gas exchange
B. Facilitation of bronchial circulation
C. Production of surfactant
D. Production of macrophages - ANSWER-C. Production of surfactant
Which of the following clients is at risk for developing a preventable disorder related to prolonged
immobility?
A. A middle-aged adult male diagnosed with bronchitis related to chronic smoking
B. A young adult female diagnosed with sarcoidosis requiring corticosteroids to return her to remission
C. A sleep apnea client related to a history of smoking who utilizes a C-PAP machine every night at
bedtime to maintain airway
D. A postsurgical client who is refusing to get out of bed and walk and will not wear those
"uncomfortable elastic stocking" - ANSWER-D. A postsurgical client who is refusing to get out of bed and
walk and will not wear those "uncomfortable elastic stockings"
Following surgery, a client had a chest x-ray that reported some opacities in the lung bases likely due to
atelectasis. Which of the following pathophysiologic processes will result from this condition?
A. Dead air space
B. Compensatory vasoconstriction
, C. Perfusion without ventilation
D. Ventilation without perfusion - ANSWER-C. Perfusion without ventilation
true or false: difficulty breathing is dyspnea - ANSWER-true
As a result of hypoxemia and polycythemia, persons with chronic obstructive bronchitis are prone to:
A. Expiratory airway collapse
B. Breakdown of elastin
C. Pulmonary hypertension
D. Left-sided heart failure - ANSWER-C. Pulmonary hypertension
True or false: shortness of breath when lying down is apnea - ANSWER-false
A 51-year-old man has been diagnosed with chronic bronchitis after a long history of recurrent
coughing. Which of the man's following statements demonstrates a sound understanding of his new
diagnosis?
A. "If I had quit smoking earlier than I did, I think I could have avoided getting bronchitis."
B. "I'm pretty sure that I first caught bronchitis from the person who has the cubicle next to mine at
work."
C. "I read on the Internet that I might have got bronchitis because I was born with an enzyme
deficiency."
D. "I think that I probably could have prevented this if I had got in the habit of exercising more when I
was younger." - ANSWER-A. "If I had quit smoking earlier than I did, I think I could have avoided getting
bronchitis."
The pathogenic capacity of the tubercle bacillus is related to:
A. The initiation of a cell-mediated immune response
B. Its inherent destructive capabilities
