Nurs 6501 Advanced Pathophysiology
Final And Midterm Questions And
Correct Answers (Verified Answers)
Plus Rationales 2026 Q&A | Instant
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1. A patient with chronic respiratory disease develops an arterial
blood gas showing pH 7.30, PaCO₂ 55 mmHg, and HCO₃⁻ 26
mEq/L. Which acid-base disturbance is most consistent with these
findings?
A. Metabolic acidosis
B. Respiratory alkalosis
C. Respiratory acidosis
D. Metabolic alkalosis
Answer: C. Respiratory acidosis
Rationale: The elevated PaCO₂ indicates inadequate alveolar
ventilation and retention of carbon dioxide. Because the pH is
decreased and bicarbonate has not risen substantially, the primary
disorder is acute or relatively uncompensated respiratory acidosis.
2. Which cellular adaptation occurs when a tissue increases the size
of individual cells in response to increased workload?
A. Hyperplasia
B. Metaplasia
C. Dysplasia
D. Hypertrophy
,Answer: D. Hypertrophy
Rationale: Hypertrophy refers to an increase in individual cell size. It
commonly occurs in tissues such as cardiac muscle, where mature
cells have limited capacity for cell division. Hyperplasia instead
involves an increase in cell number.
3. A patient has severe hypoalbuminemia. Which mechanism most
directly contributes to the development of peripheral edema?
A. Increased plasma oncotic pressure
B. Decreased plasma oncotic pressure
C. Decreased capillary hydrostatic pressure
D. Increased lymphatic drainage
Answer: B. Decreased plasma oncotic pressure
Rationale: Albumin is the major contributor to plasma colloid osmotic
pressure. When albumin concentration falls, fluid moves from the
intravascular space into the interstitial compartment, promoting
edema.
4. Which mechanism is primarily responsible for the early
inflammatory response following tissue injury?
A. Release of inflammatory mediators
B. Suppression of leukocyte migration
C. Decreased vascular permeability
D. Inhibition of complement activation
Answer: A. Release of inflammatory mediators
Rationale: Tissue injury activates inflammatory cells and signaling
pathways that release mediators such as histamine, prostaglandins,
leukotrienes, cytokines, and chemokines. These mediators produce
,vasodilation, altered vascular permeability, leukocyte recruitment, and
other components of inflammation.
5. A patient develops urticaria, bronchospasm, hypotension, and
facial swelling shortly after exposure to an allergen. Which
hypersensitivity reaction is most likely?
A. Type II
B. Type III
C. Type IV
D. Type I
Answer: D. Type I
Rationale: Type I hypersensitivity is an immediate, IgE-mediated
reaction. Allergen exposure causes mast-cell activation and release of
mediators such as histamine, resulting in vasodilation, increased
vascular permeability, bronchoconstriction, and other manifestations
of anaphylaxis.
6. Which immune cell is primarily responsible for producing
antibodies?
A. Neutrophil
B. Cytotoxic T cell
C. Plasma cell
D. Natural killer cell
Answer: C. Plasma cell
Rationale: Plasma cells are differentiated B lymphocytes specialized
for antibody production. Antibodies provide humoral immune defense
by recognizing specific antigens and facilitating neutralization,
opsonization, or other immune responses.
, 7. A patient with iron deficiency anemia has microcytosis and
hypochromia. Which finding is most directly related to the
pathophysiology?
A. Reduced hemoglobin synthesis
B. Excessive vitamin B12 absorption
C. Increased erythrocyte membrane synthesis
D. Increased globin-chain production
Answer: A. Reduced hemoglobin synthesis
Rationale: Iron is required for heme synthesis. Iron deficiency
therefore reduces hemoglobin production, producing smaller and less
hemoglobinized erythrocytes, which are described as microcytic and
hypochromic.
8. Which mechanism explains why patients with sickle cell disease
experience vaso-occlusive episodes?
A. Excessive platelet destruction
B. Increased plasma volume
C. Polymerization of abnormal hemoglobin during deoxygenation
D. Increased erythrocyte flexibility
Answer: C. Polymerization of abnormal hemoglobin during
deoxygenation
Rationale: Hemoglobin S polymerizes when deoxygenated, causing
erythrocytes to become rigid and sickle-shaped. These abnormal cells
can obstruct small vessels, causing ischemia, inflammation, and tissue
injury.
9. Which laboratory abnormality is most characteristic of
disseminated intravascular coagulation?
Final And Midterm Questions And
Correct Answers (Verified Answers)
Plus Rationales 2026 Q&A | Instant
Download Pdf
1. A patient with chronic respiratory disease develops an arterial
blood gas showing pH 7.30, PaCO₂ 55 mmHg, and HCO₃⁻ 26
mEq/L. Which acid-base disturbance is most consistent with these
findings?
A. Metabolic acidosis
B. Respiratory alkalosis
C. Respiratory acidosis
D. Metabolic alkalosis
Answer: C. Respiratory acidosis
Rationale: The elevated PaCO₂ indicates inadequate alveolar
ventilation and retention of carbon dioxide. Because the pH is
decreased and bicarbonate has not risen substantially, the primary
disorder is acute or relatively uncompensated respiratory acidosis.
2. Which cellular adaptation occurs when a tissue increases the size
of individual cells in response to increased workload?
A. Hyperplasia
B. Metaplasia
C. Dysplasia
D. Hypertrophy
,Answer: D. Hypertrophy
Rationale: Hypertrophy refers to an increase in individual cell size. It
commonly occurs in tissues such as cardiac muscle, where mature
cells have limited capacity for cell division. Hyperplasia instead
involves an increase in cell number.
3. A patient has severe hypoalbuminemia. Which mechanism most
directly contributes to the development of peripheral edema?
A. Increased plasma oncotic pressure
B. Decreased plasma oncotic pressure
C. Decreased capillary hydrostatic pressure
D. Increased lymphatic drainage
Answer: B. Decreased plasma oncotic pressure
Rationale: Albumin is the major contributor to plasma colloid osmotic
pressure. When albumin concentration falls, fluid moves from the
intravascular space into the interstitial compartment, promoting
edema.
4. Which mechanism is primarily responsible for the early
inflammatory response following tissue injury?
A. Release of inflammatory mediators
B. Suppression of leukocyte migration
C. Decreased vascular permeability
D. Inhibition of complement activation
Answer: A. Release of inflammatory mediators
Rationale: Tissue injury activates inflammatory cells and signaling
pathways that release mediators such as histamine, prostaglandins,
leukotrienes, cytokines, and chemokines. These mediators produce
,vasodilation, altered vascular permeability, leukocyte recruitment, and
other components of inflammation.
5. A patient develops urticaria, bronchospasm, hypotension, and
facial swelling shortly after exposure to an allergen. Which
hypersensitivity reaction is most likely?
A. Type II
B. Type III
C. Type IV
D. Type I
Answer: D. Type I
Rationale: Type I hypersensitivity is an immediate, IgE-mediated
reaction. Allergen exposure causes mast-cell activation and release of
mediators such as histamine, resulting in vasodilation, increased
vascular permeability, bronchoconstriction, and other manifestations
of anaphylaxis.
6. Which immune cell is primarily responsible for producing
antibodies?
A. Neutrophil
B. Cytotoxic T cell
C. Plasma cell
D. Natural killer cell
Answer: C. Plasma cell
Rationale: Plasma cells are differentiated B lymphocytes specialized
for antibody production. Antibodies provide humoral immune defense
by recognizing specific antigens and facilitating neutralization,
opsonization, or other immune responses.
, 7. A patient with iron deficiency anemia has microcytosis and
hypochromia. Which finding is most directly related to the
pathophysiology?
A. Reduced hemoglobin synthesis
B. Excessive vitamin B12 absorption
C. Increased erythrocyte membrane synthesis
D. Increased globin-chain production
Answer: A. Reduced hemoglobin synthesis
Rationale: Iron is required for heme synthesis. Iron deficiency
therefore reduces hemoglobin production, producing smaller and less
hemoglobinized erythrocytes, which are described as microcytic and
hypochromic.
8. Which mechanism explains why patients with sickle cell disease
experience vaso-occlusive episodes?
A. Excessive platelet destruction
B. Increased plasma volume
C. Polymerization of abnormal hemoglobin during deoxygenation
D. Increased erythrocyte flexibility
Answer: C. Polymerization of abnormal hemoglobin during
deoxygenation
Rationale: Hemoglobin S polymerizes when deoxygenated, causing
erythrocytes to become rigid and sickle-shaped. These abnormal cells
can obstruct small vessels, causing ischemia, inflammation, and tissue
injury.
9. Which laboratory abnormality is most characteristic of
disseminated intravascular coagulation?
