NSG 530 Advanced Pathophysiology Exam 3 Study Guide 2026 UPDATE
1. A patient presents with weight gain, moon face, and a buffalo hump. Which condition is
most likely?
A. Addison’s Disease
B. Cushing’s Syndrome
C. Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
D. Pheochromocytoma
Answer: B
Rationale: Cushing’s syndrome is caused by excess cortisol, leading to characteristic fat
redistribution like moon face and a buffalo hump.
2. What is the primary pathophysiology behind Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus?
A. Autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells
B. Insulin resistance in peripheral tissues
C. Increased glucose production by the liver
D. Excessive secretion of glucagon
Answer: A
,Rationale: Type 1 Diabetes involves an autoimmune process where T-cells attack and
destroy insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas.
3. Which electrolyte imbalance is typically found in a patient with SIADH?
A. Hypernatremia
B. Hyponatremia
C. Hypokalemia
D. Hypercalcemia
Answer: B
Rationale: SIADH causes excessive water retention, which leads to dilutional
hyponatremia.
4. A patient with Graves’ disease is likely to exhibit which of the following laboratory results?
A. Low TSH and High T4
B. High TSH and Low T4
C. Low TSH and Low T4
D. High TSH and High T4
Answer: A
Rationale: Graves’ disease is hyperthyroidism; elevated T4 levels provide negative
feedback to the pituitary, resulting in suppressed TSH.
, 5. In Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA), why do Kussmaul respirations occur?
A. To compensate for metabolic alkalosis
B. To compensate for metabolic acidosis by blowing off CO2
C. To increase oxygen saturation
D. To reduce intracranial pressure
Answer: B
Rationale: Kussmaul respirations are deep, rapid breaths that serve as a compensatory
mechanism to exhale CO2 and reduce acidity in metabolic acidosis.
6. Which of the following is a characteristic feature of Crohn’s disease but not Ulcerative
Colitis?
A. Continuous lesions starting from the rectum
B. Involvement of only the mucosal layer
C. Strictly limited to the colon
D. Skip lesions and transmural inflammation
Answer: D
Rationale: Crohn’s disease features skip lesions and inflammation that affects the entire
thickness of the intestinal wall (transmural).
7. What is the most common cause of Prerenal Acute Kidney Injury (AKI)?
A. Nephrotoxic drugs
1. A patient presents with weight gain, moon face, and a buffalo hump. Which condition is
most likely?
A. Addison’s Disease
B. Cushing’s Syndrome
C. Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
D. Pheochromocytoma
Answer: B
Rationale: Cushing’s syndrome is caused by excess cortisol, leading to characteristic fat
redistribution like moon face and a buffalo hump.
2. What is the primary pathophysiology behind Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus?
A. Autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells
B. Insulin resistance in peripheral tissues
C. Increased glucose production by the liver
D. Excessive secretion of glucagon
Answer: A
,Rationale: Type 1 Diabetes involves an autoimmune process where T-cells attack and
destroy insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas.
3. Which electrolyte imbalance is typically found in a patient with SIADH?
A. Hypernatremia
B. Hyponatremia
C. Hypokalemia
D. Hypercalcemia
Answer: B
Rationale: SIADH causes excessive water retention, which leads to dilutional
hyponatremia.
4. A patient with Graves’ disease is likely to exhibit which of the following laboratory results?
A. Low TSH and High T4
B. High TSH and Low T4
C. Low TSH and Low T4
D. High TSH and High T4
Answer: A
Rationale: Graves’ disease is hyperthyroidism; elevated T4 levels provide negative
feedback to the pituitary, resulting in suppressed TSH.
, 5. In Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA), why do Kussmaul respirations occur?
A. To compensate for metabolic alkalosis
B. To compensate for metabolic acidosis by blowing off CO2
C. To increase oxygen saturation
D. To reduce intracranial pressure
Answer: B
Rationale: Kussmaul respirations are deep, rapid breaths that serve as a compensatory
mechanism to exhale CO2 and reduce acidity in metabolic acidosis.
6. Which of the following is a characteristic feature of Crohn’s disease but not Ulcerative
Colitis?
A. Continuous lesions starting from the rectum
B. Involvement of only the mucosal layer
C. Strictly limited to the colon
D. Skip lesions and transmural inflammation
Answer: D
Rationale: Crohn’s disease features skip lesions and inflammation that affects the entire
thickness of the intestinal wall (transmural).
7. What is the most common cause of Prerenal Acute Kidney Injury (AKI)?
A. Nephrotoxic drugs
