NR 570 Advanced Pathophysiology Exam
Prep 2026/2027 | Comprehensive Nursing
Practice Questions and Answers | Advanced
Pathophysiology Study Guide
Overview
• This is a 200-question NCLEX-style practice exam for NR 570 Advanced
Pathophysiology, covering all major body systems and core
pathophysiological concepts (cellular injury, fluid/electrolyte/acid-base
balance, immune function, cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, endocrine, GI,
hematologic, neurologic, musculoskeletal, and genetics).
• Use this set to test recall of mechanisms and clinical manifestations first,
then review every EXPERT RATIONALE (even for questions you got right) to
deepen understanding of the "why" behind each disease process — this
builds the reasoning skills needed for exam-style application questions.
1. Which of the following best describes the process of apoptosis?
A. Uncontrolled cell swelling leading to membrane rupture
B. Programmed cell death that does not trigger an inflammatory response
C. Cell death caused by ischemia and lack of oxygen
D. Cellular necrosis due to enzymatic digestion
E. A reversible form of cellular adaptation
Correct Answer: B
EXPERT RATIONALE: Apoptosis is a programmed, energy-dependent process of cell
death that allows for the orderly removal of cells without spilling intracellular
contents, thus avoiding an inflammatory response. This differs from necrosis, which
is unregulated and triggers inflammation.
,2. A nurse is reviewing a client's lab results and notes a significantly elevated
C-reactive protein (CRP) level. This finding is most consistent with which
process?
A. Chronic dehydration
B. Acute systemic inflammation
C. Hypoglycemia
D. Decreased clotting ability
E. Vitamin D deficiency
Correct Answer: B
EXPERT RATIONALE: CRP is an acute-phase protein produced by the liver in
response to inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6. Elevated CRP indicates active
systemic inflammation, often due to infection, tissue injury, or chronic
inflammatory disease.
3. Which type of hypersensitivity reaction is responsible for anaphylaxis?
A. Type I
B. Type II
C. Type III
D. Type IV
E. Type V
Correct Answer: A
EXPERT RATIONALE: Type I hypersensitivity reactions are IgE-mediated and involve
mast cell and basophil degranulation, releasing histamine and other mediators that
cause the rapid-onset, systemic symptoms seen in anaphylaxis.
,4. A client with a genetic mutation causing a single amino acid substitution in
hemoglobin develops sickle cell disease. This is an example of which type of
mutation?
A. Frameshift mutation
B. Point mutation
C. Chromosomal deletion
D. Trinucleotide repeat expansion
E. Nondisjunction
Correct Answer: B
EXPERT RATIONALE: A point mutation involves the substitution of a single
nucleotide base, which in sickle cell disease results in the replacement of glutamic
acid with valine at position 6 of the beta-globin chain, altering hemoglobin structure
and function.
5. Which mechanism is primarily responsible for the cardinal signs of
inflammation (redness, heat, swelling, pain)?
A. Decreased capillary permeability
B. Vasodilation and increased capillary permeability
C. Vasoconstriction and decreased blood flow
D. Increased platelet aggregation only
E. Decreased white blood cell migration
Correct Answer: B
EXPERT RATIONALE: Inflammatory mediators such as histamine and
prostaglandins cause vasodilation (redness, heat) and increased capillary
permeability, allowing fluid and proteins to leak into tissue, resulting in swelling and
pain due to pressure on nerve endings.
, 6. A client has a karyotype showing 47 chromosomes with an extra
chromosome 21. This condition is known as which type of chromosomal
abnormality?
A. Translocation
B. Monosomy
C. Trisomy
D. Deletion
E. Inversion
Correct Answer: C
EXPERT RATIONALE: Trisomy refers to the presence of an extra copy of a
chromosome, resulting in three copies instead of the normal two. Trisomy 21
causes Down syndrome and results from nondisjunction during meiosis.
7. Which of the following best describes the term "allele"?
A. The physical location of a gene on a chromosome
B. One of two or more versions of a gene
C. A complete set of an organism's genetic material
D. The process of gene expression
E. A segment of non-coding DNA
Correct Answer: B
EXPERT RATIONALE: An allele is one of two or more alternative versions of a gene
that arise by mutation and are found at the same place on a chromosome.
Individuals inherit one allele from each parent.
8. A client undergoing chemotherapy develops neutropenia. The nurse
understands this places the client at increased risk for which complication?
Prep 2026/2027 | Comprehensive Nursing
Practice Questions and Answers | Advanced
Pathophysiology Study Guide
Overview
• This is a 200-question NCLEX-style practice exam for NR 570 Advanced
Pathophysiology, covering all major body systems and core
pathophysiological concepts (cellular injury, fluid/electrolyte/acid-base
balance, immune function, cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, endocrine, GI,
hematologic, neurologic, musculoskeletal, and genetics).
• Use this set to test recall of mechanisms and clinical manifestations first,
then review every EXPERT RATIONALE (even for questions you got right) to
deepen understanding of the "why" behind each disease process — this
builds the reasoning skills needed for exam-style application questions.
1. Which of the following best describes the process of apoptosis?
A. Uncontrolled cell swelling leading to membrane rupture
B. Programmed cell death that does not trigger an inflammatory response
C. Cell death caused by ischemia and lack of oxygen
D. Cellular necrosis due to enzymatic digestion
E. A reversible form of cellular adaptation
Correct Answer: B
EXPERT RATIONALE: Apoptosis is a programmed, energy-dependent process of cell
death that allows for the orderly removal of cells without spilling intracellular
contents, thus avoiding an inflammatory response. This differs from necrosis, which
is unregulated and triggers inflammation.
,2. A nurse is reviewing a client's lab results and notes a significantly elevated
C-reactive protein (CRP) level. This finding is most consistent with which
process?
A. Chronic dehydration
B. Acute systemic inflammation
C. Hypoglycemia
D. Decreased clotting ability
E. Vitamin D deficiency
Correct Answer: B
EXPERT RATIONALE: CRP is an acute-phase protein produced by the liver in
response to inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6. Elevated CRP indicates active
systemic inflammation, often due to infection, tissue injury, or chronic
inflammatory disease.
3. Which type of hypersensitivity reaction is responsible for anaphylaxis?
A. Type I
B. Type II
C. Type III
D. Type IV
E. Type V
Correct Answer: A
EXPERT RATIONALE: Type I hypersensitivity reactions are IgE-mediated and involve
mast cell and basophil degranulation, releasing histamine and other mediators that
cause the rapid-onset, systemic symptoms seen in anaphylaxis.
,4. A client with a genetic mutation causing a single amino acid substitution in
hemoglobin develops sickle cell disease. This is an example of which type of
mutation?
A. Frameshift mutation
B. Point mutation
C. Chromosomal deletion
D. Trinucleotide repeat expansion
E. Nondisjunction
Correct Answer: B
EXPERT RATIONALE: A point mutation involves the substitution of a single
nucleotide base, which in sickle cell disease results in the replacement of glutamic
acid with valine at position 6 of the beta-globin chain, altering hemoglobin structure
and function.
5. Which mechanism is primarily responsible for the cardinal signs of
inflammation (redness, heat, swelling, pain)?
A. Decreased capillary permeability
B. Vasodilation and increased capillary permeability
C. Vasoconstriction and decreased blood flow
D. Increased platelet aggregation only
E. Decreased white blood cell migration
Correct Answer: B
EXPERT RATIONALE: Inflammatory mediators such as histamine and
prostaglandins cause vasodilation (redness, heat) and increased capillary
permeability, allowing fluid and proteins to leak into tissue, resulting in swelling and
pain due to pressure on nerve endings.
, 6. A client has a karyotype showing 47 chromosomes with an extra
chromosome 21. This condition is known as which type of chromosomal
abnormality?
A. Translocation
B. Monosomy
C. Trisomy
D. Deletion
E. Inversion
Correct Answer: C
EXPERT RATIONALE: Trisomy refers to the presence of an extra copy of a
chromosome, resulting in three copies instead of the normal two. Trisomy 21
causes Down syndrome and results from nondisjunction during meiosis.
7. Which of the following best describes the term "allele"?
A. The physical location of a gene on a chromosome
B. One of two or more versions of a gene
C. A complete set of an organism's genetic material
D. The process of gene expression
E. A segment of non-coding DNA
Correct Answer: B
EXPERT RATIONALE: An allele is one of two or more alternative versions of a gene
that arise by mutation and are found at the same place on a chromosome.
Individuals inherit one allele from each parent.
8. A client undergoing chemotherapy develops neutropenia. The nurse
understands this places the client at increased risk for which complication?
