UTA NURS 5315 Exam 3 Advanced
Pathophysiology Practice Test With 200 Recent
Exam Questions and Correct Answers/ NURS
5315 Exam 3 Prep Latest 2026-2027
Which condition is characterized by pancytopenia and a hypocellular bone marrow
on biopsy?
A. Sickle cell anemia
B. Iron deficiency anemia
C. Aplastic anemia
D. Hemolytic anemia - ANSWER-C. Aplastic anemia
Rationale: Aplastic anemia is a bone marrow failure disorder characterized by
pancytopenia and a hypocellular marrow due to reduced hematopoietic stem cells.
What is the most common trigger for vaso-occlusive crises in sickle cell anemia?
A. Excessive iron intake
B. Exposure to cold temperatures
C. Dehydration, infection, or hypoxia
D. Low vitamin B12 levels - ANSWER-C. Dehydration, infection, or hypoxia
Rationale: Vaso-occlusive crises in sickle cell anemia are commonly triggered by
dehydration, infections, or hypoxia, causing sickled cells to block blood flow and
lead to pain and potential organ damage.
1
,A 45-year-old patient presents with fatigue and lab results showing low MCV, low
MCHC, and high RDW. What is the most likely diagnosis?
A. Acute blood loss
B. Iron deficiency anemia
C. Vitamin B12 deficiency
D. Hemolytic anemia - ANSWER-B. Iron deficiency anemia
Rationale: Low MCV and MCHC are indicative of microcytic, hypochromic
anemia. High RDW suggests increased variability in red blood cell size, which is
characteristic of iron deficiency anemia.
What is the primary mechanism behind anemia of chronic illness?
A. Decreased iron intake
B. Increased erythropoietin production
C. Inhibition of erythropoietin and increased hepcidin levels
D. Excessive blood loss - ANSWER-C. Inhibition of erythropoietin and increased
hepcidin levels
Rationale: Proinflammatory cytokines in chronic illness inhibit erythropoietin
production and increase hepcidin levels, reducing iron absorption and iron release
despite normal or high iron stores.
Which iron study pattern is characteristic of anemia of chronic illness?
A. Low serum iron, low ferritin, high TIBC
B. High serum iron, low TIBC, high transferrin saturation
C. Low serum iron, high ferritin, low or normal TIBC
D. Normal serum iron, low ferritin, high TIBC - ANSWER-C. Low serum iron,
high ferritin, low or normal TIBC
2
,Rationale: Anemia of chronic illness typically presents with low serum iron, high
ferritin (due to inflammation), and low or normal TIBC due to reduced iron
availability despite adequate stores.
Which laboratory finding is typically elevated in hemolytic anemia?
A. Decreased bilirubin
B. Elevated haptoglobin
C. Elevated bilirubin
D. Decreased TIBC - ANSWER-C. Elevated bilirubin
Rationale: Hemolysis leads to the destruction of red blood cells, releasing bilirubin
into the bloodstream. Haptoglobin levels are typically decreased due to its binding
to free hemoglobin.
What is a hallmark finding in aplastic anemia?
A. Elevated reticulocyte count
B. Pancytopenia and hypocellular bone marrow
C. Increased hemoglobin synthesis
D. Elevated serum ferritin levels - ANSWER-B. Pancytopenia and hypocellular
bone marrow
Rationale: Aplastic anemia is characterized by pancytopenia (reduction in all blood
cell types) and hypocellular bone marrow on biopsy due to stem cell failure.
What clinical complication is associated with sickle cell anemia?
A. Pancytopenia
3
, B. Vaso-occlusive crises
C. Excessive erythropoietin production
D. Macrocytic red blood cells - ANSWER-B. Vaso-occlusive crises
Rationale: Vaso-occlusive crises in sickle cell anemia are triggered by conditions
like dehydration, infection, or hypoxia and can lead to complications such as
stroke, myocardial infarction, and pulmonary injury.
Which deficiency is associated with megaloblastic anemia and neurologic
symptoms?
A. Iron deficiency
B. Vitamin B12 deficiency
C. Folate deficiency
D. Aplastic anemia - ANSWER-B. Vitamin B12 deficiency
Rationale: Vitamin B12 deficiency impairs DNA synthesis and can cause
neurologic symptoms such as paresthesias and balance disturbances, along with
megaloblastic anemia.
What iron study findings are typically seen in hemolytic anemia?
A. Low bilirubin and elevated haptoglobin
B. Elevated bilirubin and decreased haptoglobin
C. High TIBC and low serum iron
D. Low ferritin and elevated serum iron - ANSWER-B. Elevated bilirubin and
decreased haptoglobin
4
Pathophysiology Practice Test With 200 Recent
Exam Questions and Correct Answers/ NURS
5315 Exam 3 Prep Latest 2026-2027
Which condition is characterized by pancytopenia and a hypocellular bone marrow
on biopsy?
A. Sickle cell anemia
B. Iron deficiency anemia
C. Aplastic anemia
D. Hemolytic anemia - ANSWER-C. Aplastic anemia
Rationale: Aplastic anemia is a bone marrow failure disorder characterized by
pancytopenia and a hypocellular marrow due to reduced hematopoietic stem cells.
What is the most common trigger for vaso-occlusive crises in sickle cell anemia?
A. Excessive iron intake
B. Exposure to cold temperatures
C. Dehydration, infection, or hypoxia
D. Low vitamin B12 levels - ANSWER-C. Dehydration, infection, or hypoxia
Rationale: Vaso-occlusive crises in sickle cell anemia are commonly triggered by
dehydration, infections, or hypoxia, causing sickled cells to block blood flow and
lead to pain and potential organ damage.
1
,A 45-year-old patient presents with fatigue and lab results showing low MCV, low
MCHC, and high RDW. What is the most likely diagnosis?
A. Acute blood loss
B. Iron deficiency anemia
C. Vitamin B12 deficiency
D. Hemolytic anemia - ANSWER-B. Iron deficiency anemia
Rationale: Low MCV and MCHC are indicative of microcytic, hypochromic
anemia. High RDW suggests increased variability in red blood cell size, which is
characteristic of iron deficiency anemia.
What is the primary mechanism behind anemia of chronic illness?
A. Decreased iron intake
B. Increased erythropoietin production
C. Inhibition of erythropoietin and increased hepcidin levels
D. Excessive blood loss - ANSWER-C. Inhibition of erythropoietin and increased
hepcidin levels
Rationale: Proinflammatory cytokines in chronic illness inhibit erythropoietin
production and increase hepcidin levels, reducing iron absorption and iron release
despite normal or high iron stores.
Which iron study pattern is characteristic of anemia of chronic illness?
A. Low serum iron, low ferritin, high TIBC
B. High serum iron, low TIBC, high transferrin saturation
C. Low serum iron, high ferritin, low or normal TIBC
D. Normal serum iron, low ferritin, high TIBC - ANSWER-C. Low serum iron,
high ferritin, low or normal TIBC
2
,Rationale: Anemia of chronic illness typically presents with low serum iron, high
ferritin (due to inflammation), and low or normal TIBC due to reduced iron
availability despite adequate stores.
Which laboratory finding is typically elevated in hemolytic anemia?
A. Decreased bilirubin
B. Elevated haptoglobin
C. Elevated bilirubin
D. Decreased TIBC - ANSWER-C. Elevated bilirubin
Rationale: Hemolysis leads to the destruction of red blood cells, releasing bilirubin
into the bloodstream. Haptoglobin levels are typically decreased due to its binding
to free hemoglobin.
What is a hallmark finding in aplastic anemia?
A. Elevated reticulocyte count
B. Pancytopenia and hypocellular bone marrow
C. Increased hemoglobin synthesis
D. Elevated serum ferritin levels - ANSWER-B. Pancytopenia and hypocellular
bone marrow
Rationale: Aplastic anemia is characterized by pancytopenia (reduction in all blood
cell types) and hypocellular bone marrow on biopsy due to stem cell failure.
What clinical complication is associated with sickle cell anemia?
A. Pancytopenia
3
, B. Vaso-occlusive crises
C. Excessive erythropoietin production
D. Macrocytic red blood cells - ANSWER-B. Vaso-occlusive crises
Rationale: Vaso-occlusive crises in sickle cell anemia are triggered by conditions
like dehydration, infection, or hypoxia and can lead to complications such as
stroke, myocardial infarction, and pulmonary injury.
Which deficiency is associated with megaloblastic anemia and neurologic
symptoms?
A. Iron deficiency
B. Vitamin B12 deficiency
C. Folate deficiency
D. Aplastic anemia - ANSWER-B. Vitamin B12 deficiency
Rationale: Vitamin B12 deficiency impairs DNA synthesis and can cause
neurologic symptoms such as paresthesias and balance disturbances, along with
megaloblastic anemia.
What iron study findings are typically seen in hemolytic anemia?
A. Low bilirubin and elevated haptoglobin
B. Elevated bilirubin and decreased haptoglobin
C. High TIBC and low serum iron
D. Low ferritin and elevated serum iron - ANSWER-B. Elevated bilirubin and
decreased haptoglobin
4
