Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology Test Bank
(2nd Edition) – Nancy Tkacs | 200 Practice Questions &
Detailed Answers | All Chapters 117 | A+ Graded
1. The characteristic, localized cardinal signs of acute inflammation include:
A. Fever
B. Fatigue
C. Redness
D. Granuloma
Answer: C
Rationale: The cardinal signs of acute inflammation are rubor (redness), tumor (swelling), calor (heat),
and dolor (pain). Redness results from increased blood flow to the inflamed area.
2. The vascular, hemodynamic stage of acute inflammation is initiated by momentary vasoconstriction
followed by vasodilation that causes localized:
A. Bleeding
B. Congestion
C. Pale skin
D. Coolness
Answer: B
Rationale: The vascular stage of acute inflammation begins with brief vasoconstriction, followed by
vasodilation that increases blood flow and causes localized congestion (redness and warmth).
3. The cellular stage of acute inflammation is marked by the movement of leukocytes into the area.
Which cell arrives early in great numbers?
,A. Basophils
B. Lymphocytes
C. Neutrophils
D. Platelets
Answer: C
Rationale: Neutrophils are the first leukocytes to arrive at the site of acute inflammation, typically within
minutes to hours, and are the predominant cells in the early inflammatory response.
4. The phagocytosis process involves three distinct steps. What is the initial step?
A. Engulfment
B. Intracellular killing
C. Recognition and attachment
D. Degranulation
Answer: C
Rationale: Phagocytosis begins with recognition and attachment of the phagocyte to the target particle,
followed by engulfment and then intracellular killing/digestion.
5. Which ion movement primarily determines a neuron's resting membrane potential?
A. Sodium influx through leak channels
B. Potassium efflux through leak channels
C. Calcium influx through voltagegated channels
D. Chloride efflux through GABA receptors
Answer: B
Rationale: The resting membrane potential (~70 mV) lies near the potassium equilibrium potential
because neuronal membranes are most permeable to K⁺ at rest. Potassium efflux through leak channels
is the primary determinant.
,6. Hypoxia stabilizes which transcription factor to upregulate erythropoietin?
A. NFκB
B. HIF1α
C. CREB
D. STAT3
Answer: B
Rationale: Low oxygen levels prevent HIF1α degradation, allowing it to translocate to the nucleus and
transcriptionally activate hypoxiaresponsive genes, including erythropoietin (EPO).
7. Loss of Na⁺/K⁺ ATPase activity leads to:
A. Cell shrinkage from water loss
B. Intracellular K⁺ accumulation
C. Intracellular Na⁺ accumulation and cell swelling
D. Hyperpolarization of the membrane
Answer: C
Rationale: Na⁺/K⁺ ATPase maintains the concentration gradients by pumping 3 Na⁺ out and 2 K⁺ in. Loss
of this activity causes intracellular Na⁺ accumulation, followed by water influx and cell swelling.
8. The absolute refractory period of a neuron is due to:
A. Closing of K⁺ leak channels
B. Inactivation of voltagegated Na⁺ channels
C. Activation of Ca²⁺ channels
, D. Opening of Cl⁻ channels
Answer: B
Rationale: After depolarization, voltagegated Na⁺ channels enter an inactivated state that prevents
reopening until the membrane repolarizes. This ensures unidirectional propagation of action potentials.
9. Dopamine from the substantia nigra excites movement through which pathway?
A. Indirect D2 pathway
B. Direct D1 pathway
C. Corticospinal tract
D. Rubrospinal tract
Answer: B
Rationale: Dopamine stimulates D1 receptors in the direct basal ganglia pathway, enhancing movement.
Loss of this dopaminergic input in Parkinson's disease reduces movement.
10. Lesion of Broca's area causes:
A. Fluent aphasia with poor comprehension
B. Nonfluent aphasia with intact comprehension
C. Pure alexia
D. Global aphasia
Answer: B
Rationale: Broca's area (inferior frontal gyrus) is responsible for speech production. Lesions result in
nonfluent (expressive) aphasia with relatively intact comprehension.
11. Which of the following core body temperatures is within normal range?
(2nd Edition) – Nancy Tkacs | 200 Practice Questions &
Detailed Answers | All Chapters 117 | A+ Graded
1. The characteristic, localized cardinal signs of acute inflammation include:
A. Fever
B. Fatigue
C. Redness
D. Granuloma
Answer: C
Rationale: The cardinal signs of acute inflammation are rubor (redness), tumor (swelling), calor (heat),
and dolor (pain). Redness results from increased blood flow to the inflamed area.
2. The vascular, hemodynamic stage of acute inflammation is initiated by momentary vasoconstriction
followed by vasodilation that causes localized:
A. Bleeding
B. Congestion
C. Pale skin
D. Coolness
Answer: B
Rationale: The vascular stage of acute inflammation begins with brief vasoconstriction, followed by
vasodilation that increases blood flow and causes localized congestion (redness and warmth).
3. The cellular stage of acute inflammation is marked by the movement of leukocytes into the area.
Which cell arrives early in great numbers?
,A. Basophils
B. Lymphocytes
C. Neutrophils
D. Platelets
Answer: C
Rationale: Neutrophils are the first leukocytes to arrive at the site of acute inflammation, typically within
minutes to hours, and are the predominant cells in the early inflammatory response.
4. The phagocytosis process involves three distinct steps. What is the initial step?
A. Engulfment
B. Intracellular killing
C. Recognition and attachment
D. Degranulation
Answer: C
Rationale: Phagocytosis begins with recognition and attachment of the phagocyte to the target particle,
followed by engulfment and then intracellular killing/digestion.
5. Which ion movement primarily determines a neuron's resting membrane potential?
A. Sodium influx through leak channels
B. Potassium efflux through leak channels
C. Calcium influx through voltagegated channels
D. Chloride efflux through GABA receptors
Answer: B
Rationale: The resting membrane potential (~70 mV) lies near the potassium equilibrium potential
because neuronal membranes are most permeable to K⁺ at rest. Potassium efflux through leak channels
is the primary determinant.
,6. Hypoxia stabilizes which transcription factor to upregulate erythropoietin?
A. NFκB
B. HIF1α
C. CREB
D. STAT3
Answer: B
Rationale: Low oxygen levels prevent HIF1α degradation, allowing it to translocate to the nucleus and
transcriptionally activate hypoxiaresponsive genes, including erythropoietin (EPO).
7. Loss of Na⁺/K⁺ ATPase activity leads to:
A. Cell shrinkage from water loss
B. Intracellular K⁺ accumulation
C. Intracellular Na⁺ accumulation and cell swelling
D. Hyperpolarization of the membrane
Answer: C
Rationale: Na⁺/K⁺ ATPase maintains the concentration gradients by pumping 3 Na⁺ out and 2 K⁺ in. Loss
of this activity causes intracellular Na⁺ accumulation, followed by water influx and cell swelling.
8. The absolute refractory period of a neuron is due to:
A. Closing of K⁺ leak channels
B. Inactivation of voltagegated Na⁺ channels
C. Activation of Ca²⁺ channels
, D. Opening of Cl⁻ channels
Answer: B
Rationale: After depolarization, voltagegated Na⁺ channels enter an inactivated state that prevents
reopening until the membrane repolarizes. This ensures unidirectional propagation of action potentials.
9. Dopamine from the substantia nigra excites movement through which pathway?
A. Indirect D2 pathway
B. Direct D1 pathway
C. Corticospinal tract
D. Rubrospinal tract
Answer: B
Rationale: Dopamine stimulates D1 receptors in the direct basal ganglia pathway, enhancing movement.
Loss of this dopaminergic input in Parkinson's disease reduces movement.
10. Lesion of Broca's area causes:
A. Fluent aphasia with poor comprehension
B. Nonfluent aphasia with intact comprehension
C. Pure alexia
D. Global aphasia
Answer: B
Rationale: Broca's area (inferior frontal gyrus) is responsible for speech production. Lesions result in
nonfluent (expressive) aphasia with relatively intact comprehension.
11. Which of the following core body temperatures is within normal range?
