NUR 565 Week 5 – Endocrine System Case EXAM
PRACTICE QUESTIONS PLUS RATIONALES 2026
|INSTANT DOWNOAD PDF
1. A patient with fatigue, weight gain, cold intolerance, and
constipation most likely has which disorder?
A. Hyperthyroidism
B. Hypothyroidism
C. Cushing syndrome
D. Addison disease
👉 Correct answer: B. Hypothyroidism — These classic
symptoms reflect decreased metabolic activity due to low
thyroid hormone.
2. Which lab value is most indicative of primary
hypothyroidism?
A. Low TSH, low T4
B. High TSH, low T4
C. Low TSH, high T4
D. Normal TSH, low T4
👉 Correct answer: B — Primary hypothyroidism shows thyroid
failure with compensatory elevated TSH.
,3. A patient with Graves disease is expected to have which
finding?
A. Weight gain
B. Bradycardia
C. Exophthalmos
D. Dry skin
👉 Correct answer: C — Graves disease causes autoimmune
stimulation leading to exophthalmos.
4. Which hormone is responsible for lowering blood glucose
levels?
A. Glucagon
B. Cortisol
C. Insulin
D. Epinephrine
👉 Correct answer: C — Insulin promotes glucose uptake into
cells.
5. A patient with polyuria, polydipsia, and polyphagia should
be evaluated for:
A. SIADH
B. Diabetes mellitus
C. Addison disease
D. Hypothyroidism
,👉 Correct answer: B — The “three polys” are hallmark signs of
diabetes mellitus.
6. Type 1 diabetes mellitus is best described as:
A. Insulin resistance
B. Autoimmune destruction of beta cells
C. Lifestyle-related glucose intolerance
D. Excess cortisol production
👉 Correct answer: B — Type 1 DM results from autoimmune
beta-cell destruction.
7. Which lab confirms long-term glycemic control?
A. Fasting glucose
B. Random glucose
C. HbA1c
D. Urine glucose
👉 Correct answer: C — HbA1c reflects average glucose over ~3
months.
8. A patient with moon face, truncal obesity, and purple striae
likely has:
A. Addison disease
B. Hyperthyroidism
C. Cushing syndrome
D. Acromegaly
, 👉 Correct answer: C — These are classic manifestations of
excess cortisol.
9. Which hormone is overproduced in Cushing syndrome?
A. Aldosterone
B. Cortisol
C. Insulin
D. Thyroxine
👉 Correct answer: B — Cushing syndrome results from cortisol
excess.
10. A patient with hypotension, hyperpigmentation, and
hyponatremia most likely has:
A. SIADH
B. Cushing syndrome
C. Addison disease
D. Diabetes insipidus
👉 Correct answer: C — Primary adrenal insufficiency causes
low cortisol and aldosterone.
THYROID & PITUITARY CASES
11. Which test is most sensitive for detecting thyroid
dysfunction?
PRACTICE QUESTIONS PLUS RATIONALES 2026
|INSTANT DOWNOAD PDF
1. A patient with fatigue, weight gain, cold intolerance, and
constipation most likely has which disorder?
A. Hyperthyroidism
B. Hypothyroidism
C. Cushing syndrome
D. Addison disease
👉 Correct answer: B. Hypothyroidism — These classic
symptoms reflect decreased metabolic activity due to low
thyroid hormone.
2. Which lab value is most indicative of primary
hypothyroidism?
A. Low TSH, low T4
B. High TSH, low T4
C. Low TSH, high T4
D. Normal TSH, low T4
👉 Correct answer: B — Primary hypothyroidism shows thyroid
failure with compensatory elevated TSH.
,3. A patient with Graves disease is expected to have which
finding?
A. Weight gain
B. Bradycardia
C. Exophthalmos
D. Dry skin
👉 Correct answer: C — Graves disease causes autoimmune
stimulation leading to exophthalmos.
4. Which hormone is responsible for lowering blood glucose
levels?
A. Glucagon
B. Cortisol
C. Insulin
D. Epinephrine
👉 Correct answer: C — Insulin promotes glucose uptake into
cells.
5. A patient with polyuria, polydipsia, and polyphagia should
be evaluated for:
A. SIADH
B. Diabetes mellitus
C. Addison disease
D. Hypothyroidism
,👉 Correct answer: B — The “three polys” are hallmark signs of
diabetes mellitus.
6. Type 1 diabetes mellitus is best described as:
A. Insulin resistance
B. Autoimmune destruction of beta cells
C. Lifestyle-related glucose intolerance
D. Excess cortisol production
👉 Correct answer: B — Type 1 DM results from autoimmune
beta-cell destruction.
7. Which lab confirms long-term glycemic control?
A. Fasting glucose
B. Random glucose
C. HbA1c
D. Urine glucose
👉 Correct answer: C — HbA1c reflects average glucose over ~3
months.
8. A patient with moon face, truncal obesity, and purple striae
likely has:
A. Addison disease
B. Hyperthyroidism
C. Cushing syndrome
D. Acromegaly
, 👉 Correct answer: C — These are classic manifestations of
excess cortisol.
9. Which hormone is overproduced in Cushing syndrome?
A. Aldosterone
B. Cortisol
C. Insulin
D. Thyroxine
👉 Correct answer: B — Cushing syndrome results from cortisol
excess.
10. A patient with hypotension, hyperpigmentation, and
hyponatremia most likely has:
A. SIADH
B. Cushing syndrome
C. Addison disease
D. Diabetes insipidus
👉 Correct answer: C — Primary adrenal insufficiency causes
low cortisol and aldosterone.
THYROID & PITUITARY CASES
11. Which test is most sensitive for detecting thyroid
dysfunction?
