PATHOPHYSIOLOGY FINAL RASMUSSEN
UNIVERSITY COMPREHENSIVE
PREDICTOR PRACTICE EXAMS AND
RETAKE EXAM NEWEST 2026 LATEST
VERSION
"hemorrhagic stroke - CORRECT ANSWER=> occurs when a blood vessel in the brain leaks or
ruptures; also known as a bleed"
"Alzheimer's Disease - CORRECT ANSWER=> •Most common form of dementia.
•Brain tissue degenerates and atrophies, causing a steady decline in memory and mental
abilities.
•The exact etiology is unknown, but associated with three pathologic characteristics
-Amyloid plaques mix with a collection of additional proteins, neuron remnants, and other
nerve cell pieces.
-Neurofibrillary tangles: abnormal collections of a protein called tau that clumps together.
-Connections between neurons responsible for memory and learning are lost; neurons cannot
survive when their connections to other neurons are lost."
"Alzheimer's Disease Manifestations and Treatment - CORRECT ANSWER=> Manifestations
•Insidious onset
•Course may extend 10-20 years
•Include memory loss, problems with abstract thinking, difficulty finding the right word to
express thoughts or even follow conversations, difficulty reading and writing, disorientation
(even in familiar surroundings), loss of judgment, difficulty performing familiar tasks, personality
changes, hallucinations, and incontinence of bowel or bladder
•Treatment:
-No cure, nor therapies that will slow the progression
1|Page
,-Medications to manage symptoms and maximize functioning: cholinesterase inhibitors (e.g.,
donepezil [Aricept], rivastigmine [Exelon], galantamine [Razadyne]), memantine (Namenda),
vitamin E, ginkgo, and Huperzine A
-Other strategies: memory aids (e.g., calendars), nutritional support, physical exercise, cognitive
activities, safety precautions (e.g., supervision and removing clutter), maintaining a calm
environment, social interactions, coping strategies, and support"
"Multiple Sclerosis Manifestations - CORRECT ANSWER=> •Vary depending on the degree of
damage and the specific nerves affected.
•Characterized by remissions and exacerbations.
•Exacerbations may last for days to months.
•Fever, hot baths, sun exposure, and stress can trigger or worsen these episodes.
May progress without remissions.
•Fatigue
•Loss of balance
•Muscle spasms
•Paresthesia or abnormal sensation in any area
•Problems moving arms or legs
•Weakness in one or more arms or legs
•Unsteady gait
•Lack of coordination
•Tremor in one or more arms or legs
•Constipation and stool leakage
•Urinary frequency, urgency, hesitancy, or incontinence
•Vision issues (e.g., diplopia and vision loss)
•Decreased attention span, poor judgment, and memory loss
•Difficulty reasoning and solving problems
•Dizziness
•Hearing loss
•Sexual dysfunction
•Slurred speech
Dysphagia"
"Seizure - CORRECT ANSWER=> •Seizure: transient physical or behavior alteration that results
from an abnormal electrical activity in the brain
2|Page
, •Causes: altered membrane ion channels, altered extracellular electrolytes, and imbalanced
excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters"
"Epilepsy - CORRECT ANSWER=> •Epilepsy: seizure disorder resulting from spontaneous firing of
abnormal neurons; characterized by recurrent seizures for which there is no underlying or
correctable cause
•Complications: brain damage, traumatic brain injury, aspiration, mood disorders, and status
epilepticus (seizures that last longer than 20 minutes or subsequent seizures occur before the
individual has fully regained consciousness)"
"Spinal Cord Injury - CORRECT ANSWER=> •Result from direct injury to the spinal cord or
indirectly from damage to surrounding bones, tissues, or blood vessels.
•Causes: motor vehicle accidents, falls, violence, sports injuries, and weakening vertebral
structures (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis or osteoporosis).
•Direct damage can occur if the spinal cord is pulled, pressed sideways, or compressed.
-This damage may occur if the head, neck, or back twists abnormally during an accident or
injury.
•Hemorrhage, fluid accumulation, and edema can occur inside or outside the spinal cord (but
within the spinal canal).
•The accumulation of blood or fluid can compress the spinal cord and damage it.
•Spinal shock: temporary suppression of neurologic function because of spinal cord
compression; neurologic function gradually returns.
Complications
•Loss of neurologic functioning
•Varying degrees of paralysis
•Cauda equina syndrome: injury to the nerve roots in the area of the cauda equina
•Autonomic hyperreflexia: a massive sympathetic response that can cause headaches,
hypertension, tachycardia, seizures, stroke, and death; most commonly associated with injuries
above T6
•Neurogenic shock: an abnormal vasomotor response secondary to disruption of sympathetic
impulses
•Respiratory failure
•Effects of immobility (e.g., constipation, pulmonary infections, urinary infections, thrombus,
impaired skin integrity, contractures)
•Changes in bowel and bladder function
3|Page
UNIVERSITY COMPREHENSIVE
PREDICTOR PRACTICE EXAMS AND
RETAKE EXAM NEWEST 2026 LATEST
VERSION
"hemorrhagic stroke - CORRECT ANSWER=> occurs when a blood vessel in the brain leaks or
ruptures; also known as a bleed"
"Alzheimer's Disease - CORRECT ANSWER=> •Most common form of dementia.
•Brain tissue degenerates and atrophies, causing a steady decline in memory and mental
abilities.
•The exact etiology is unknown, but associated with three pathologic characteristics
-Amyloid plaques mix with a collection of additional proteins, neuron remnants, and other
nerve cell pieces.
-Neurofibrillary tangles: abnormal collections of a protein called tau that clumps together.
-Connections between neurons responsible for memory and learning are lost; neurons cannot
survive when their connections to other neurons are lost."
"Alzheimer's Disease Manifestations and Treatment - CORRECT ANSWER=> Manifestations
•Insidious onset
•Course may extend 10-20 years
•Include memory loss, problems with abstract thinking, difficulty finding the right word to
express thoughts or even follow conversations, difficulty reading and writing, disorientation
(even in familiar surroundings), loss of judgment, difficulty performing familiar tasks, personality
changes, hallucinations, and incontinence of bowel or bladder
•Treatment:
-No cure, nor therapies that will slow the progression
1|Page
,-Medications to manage symptoms and maximize functioning: cholinesterase inhibitors (e.g.,
donepezil [Aricept], rivastigmine [Exelon], galantamine [Razadyne]), memantine (Namenda),
vitamin E, ginkgo, and Huperzine A
-Other strategies: memory aids (e.g., calendars), nutritional support, physical exercise, cognitive
activities, safety precautions (e.g., supervision and removing clutter), maintaining a calm
environment, social interactions, coping strategies, and support"
"Multiple Sclerosis Manifestations - CORRECT ANSWER=> •Vary depending on the degree of
damage and the specific nerves affected.
•Characterized by remissions and exacerbations.
•Exacerbations may last for days to months.
•Fever, hot baths, sun exposure, and stress can trigger or worsen these episodes.
May progress without remissions.
•Fatigue
•Loss of balance
•Muscle spasms
•Paresthesia or abnormal sensation in any area
•Problems moving arms or legs
•Weakness in one or more arms or legs
•Unsteady gait
•Lack of coordination
•Tremor in one or more arms or legs
•Constipation and stool leakage
•Urinary frequency, urgency, hesitancy, or incontinence
•Vision issues (e.g., diplopia and vision loss)
•Decreased attention span, poor judgment, and memory loss
•Difficulty reasoning and solving problems
•Dizziness
•Hearing loss
•Sexual dysfunction
•Slurred speech
Dysphagia"
"Seizure - CORRECT ANSWER=> •Seizure: transient physical or behavior alteration that results
from an abnormal electrical activity in the brain
2|Page
, •Causes: altered membrane ion channels, altered extracellular electrolytes, and imbalanced
excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters"
"Epilepsy - CORRECT ANSWER=> •Epilepsy: seizure disorder resulting from spontaneous firing of
abnormal neurons; characterized by recurrent seizures for which there is no underlying or
correctable cause
•Complications: brain damage, traumatic brain injury, aspiration, mood disorders, and status
epilepticus (seizures that last longer than 20 minutes or subsequent seizures occur before the
individual has fully regained consciousness)"
"Spinal Cord Injury - CORRECT ANSWER=> •Result from direct injury to the spinal cord or
indirectly from damage to surrounding bones, tissues, or blood vessels.
•Causes: motor vehicle accidents, falls, violence, sports injuries, and weakening vertebral
structures (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis or osteoporosis).
•Direct damage can occur if the spinal cord is pulled, pressed sideways, or compressed.
-This damage may occur if the head, neck, or back twists abnormally during an accident or
injury.
•Hemorrhage, fluid accumulation, and edema can occur inside or outside the spinal cord (but
within the spinal canal).
•The accumulation of blood or fluid can compress the spinal cord and damage it.
•Spinal shock: temporary suppression of neurologic function because of spinal cord
compression; neurologic function gradually returns.
Complications
•Loss of neurologic functioning
•Varying degrees of paralysis
•Cauda equina syndrome: injury to the nerve roots in the area of the cauda equina
•Autonomic hyperreflexia: a massive sympathetic response that can cause headaches,
hypertension, tachycardia, seizures, stroke, and death; most commonly associated with injuries
above T6
•Neurogenic shock: an abnormal vasomotor response secondary to disruption of sympathetic
impulses
•Respiratory failure
•Effects of immobility (e.g., constipation, pulmonary infections, urinary infections, thrombus,
impaired skin integrity, contractures)
•Changes in bowel and bladder function
3|Page
