NPRO 1100 EXAM 2 VERIFIED EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS - LATEST VERSION 2026/2027
1. What is homeostasis?
ANSWER : Homeostasis is the body's ability to maintain a relatively stable
internal environment despite changes inside or outside the body.
2. What is the primary role of sodium in the body?
ANSWER : Sodium is the major extracellular cation and helps regulate fluid
balance, nerve impulses, and muscle contraction.
3. What is the normal serum sodium range?
ANSWER : Approximately 135–145 mEq/L.
4. What is hyponatremia?
ANSWER : Hyponatremia is a serum sodium concentration below 135 mEq/L.
5. What are common manifestations of hyponatremia?
ANSWER : Headache, confusion, weakness, nausea, lethargy, muscle cramps,
seizures, and decreased level of consciousness can occur.
6. What is hypernatremia?
ANSWER : Hypernatremia is a serum sodium concentration above 145 mEq/L.
7. What are common causes of hypernatremia?
ANSWER : Water loss, inadequate water intake, excessive sodium intake,
diabetes insipidus, and some conditions causing excessive fluid loss.
8. What are manifestations of hypernatremia?
ANSWER : Thirst, dry mucous membranes, restlessness, irritability, weakness,
confusion, and seizures may occur.
9. What is the primary intracellular cation?
ANSWER : Potassium is the major intracellular cation.
,10. What is the normal serum potassium range?
ANSWER : Approximately 3.5–5.0 mEq/L.
11. What is hypokalemia?
ANSWER : Hypokalemia is a serum potassium level below approximately 3.5
mEq/L.
12. What can cause hypokalemia?
ANSWER : Diuretic therapy, vomiting, diarrhea, inadequate potassium intake,
and excessive gastrointestinal losses can cause hypokalemia.
13. What are important manifestations of hypokalemia?
ANSWER : Muscle weakness, fatigue, constipation, decreased reflexes,
dysrhythmias, and potentially respiratory muscle weakness.
14. Why is potassium imbalance potentially dangerous?
ANSWER : Potassium strongly affects cardiac electrical activity, so severe
abnormalities can cause life-threatening dysrhythmias.
15. What is hyperkalemia?
ANSWER : Hyperkalemia is a serum potassium concentration above
approximately 5.0 mEq/L.
16. What are common causes of hyperkalemia?
ANSWER : Renal failure, potassium-retaining medications, tissue breakdown,
metabolic acidosis, and excessive potassium administration can cause
hyperkalemia.
17. What cardiac changes can occur with hyperkalemia?
ANSWER : Hyperkalemia can produce conduction abnormalities, peaked T
waves, widened QRS complexes, dysrhythmias, and cardiac arrest.
18. What is the major extracellular anion?
ANSWER : Chloride is the major extracellular anion.
19. What is the normal chloride range?
ANSWER : Approximately 98–106 mEq/L.
20. What is the primary function of chloride?
ANSWER : Chloride helps maintain extracellular fluid volume, osmotic
pressure, and acid-base balance.
21. What is the normal serum calcium range?
ANSWER : Approximately 8.5–10.5 mg/dL, depending on the laboratory.
, 22. What are major functions of calcium?
ANSWER : Calcium supports bone structure, muscle contraction, nerve
transmission, blood clotting, and cardiac function.
23. What is hypocalcemia?
ANSWER : Hypocalcemia is a serum calcium level below the normal reference
range.
24. What are manifestations of hypocalcemia?
ANSWER : Tingling, numbness, muscle cramps, tetany, hyperactive reflexes,
and seizures may occur.
25. What is hypercalcemia?
ANSWER : Hypercalcemia is an abnormally elevated serum calcium
concentration.
26. What manifestations may occur with hypercalcemia?
ANSWER : Weakness, constipation, nausea, confusion, increased urination,
kidney stones, and cardiac conduction abnormalities may occur.
27. What is the role of magnesium?
ANSWER : Magnesium supports neuromuscular function, enzyme activity,
cardiac function, and bone health.
28. What is hypomagnesemia?
ANSWER : Hypomagnesemia is an abnormally low serum magnesium level.
29. What manifestations can occur with hypomagnesemia?
ANSWER : Tremors, muscle cramps, hyperreflexia, weakness, seizures, and
dysrhythmias may occur.
30. What is hypermagnesemia?
ANSWER : Hypermagnesemia is an abnormally elevated serum magnesium
level.
31. What manifestations can occur with hypermagnesemia?
ANSWER : Hypotension, lethargy, decreased deep-tendon reflexes, muscle
weakness, respiratory depression, and cardiac abnormalities may occur.
32. What is phosphorus important for?
ANSWER : Phosphorus supports bone and tooth formation, cellular energy
production, and acid-base regulation.
ANSWERS - LATEST VERSION 2026/2027
1. What is homeostasis?
ANSWER : Homeostasis is the body's ability to maintain a relatively stable
internal environment despite changes inside or outside the body.
2. What is the primary role of sodium in the body?
ANSWER : Sodium is the major extracellular cation and helps regulate fluid
balance, nerve impulses, and muscle contraction.
3. What is the normal serum sodium range?
ANSWER : Approximately 135–145 mEq/L.
4. What is hyponatremia?
ANSWER : Hyponatremia is a serum sodium concentration below 135 mEq/L.
5. What are common manifestations of hyponatremia?
ANSWER : Headache, confusion, weakness, nausea, lethargy, muscle cramps,
seizures, and decreased level of consciousness can occur.
6. What is hypernatremia?
ANSWER : Hypernatremia is a serum sodium concentration above 145 mEq/L.
7. What are common causes of hypernatremia?
ANSWER : Water loss, inadequate water intake, excessive sodium intake,
diabetes insipidus, and some conditions causing excessive fluid loss.
8. What are manifestations of hypernatremia?
ANSWER : Thirst, dry mucous membranes, restlessness, irritability, weakness,
confusion, and seizures may occur.
9. What is the primary intracellular cation?
ANSWER : Potassium is the major intracellular cation.
,10. What is the normal serum potassium range?
ANSWER : Approximately 3.5–5.0 mEq/L.
11. What is hypokalemia?
ANSWER : Hypokalemia is a serum potassium level below approximately 3.5
mEq/L.
12. What can cause hypokalemia?
ANSWER : Diuretic therapy, vomiting, diarrhea, inadequate potassium intake,
and excessive gastrointestinal losses can cause hypokalemia.
13. What are important manifestations of hypokalemia?
ANSWER : Muscle weakness, fatigue, constipation, decreased reflexes,
dysrhythmias, and potentially respiratory muscle weakness.
14. Why is potassium imbalance potentially dangerous?
ANSWER : Potassium strongly affects cardiac electrical activity, so severe
abnormalities can cause life-threatening dysrhythmias.
15. What is hyperkalemia?
ANSWER : Hyperkalemia is a serum potassium concentration above
approximately 5.0 mEq/L.
16. What are common causes of hyperkalemia?
ANSWER : Renal failure, potassium-retaining medications, tissue breakdown,
metabolic acidosis, and excessive potassium administration can cause
hyperkalemia.
17. What cardiac changes can occur with hyperkalemia?
ANSWER : Hyperkalemia can produce conduction abnormalities, peaked T
waves, widened QRS complexes, dysrhythmias, and cardiac arrest.
18. What is the major extracellular anion?
ANSWER : Chloride is the major extracellular anion.
19. What is the normal chloride range?
ANSWER : Approximately 98–106 mEq/L.
20. What is the primary function of chloride?
ANSWER : Chloride helps maintain extracellular fluid volume, osmotic
pressure, and acid-base balance.
21. What is the normal serum calcium range?
ANSWER : Approximately 8.5–10.5 mg/dL, depending on the laboratory.
, 22. What are major functions of calcium?
ANSWER : Calcium supports bone structure, muscle contraction, nerve
transmission, blood clotting, and cardiac function.
23. What is hypocalcemia?
ANSWER : Hypocalcemia is a serum calcium level below the normal reference
range.
24. What are manifestations of hypocalcemia?
ANSWER : Tingling, numbness, muscle cramps, tetany, hyperactive reflexes,
and seizures may occur.
25. What is hypercalcemia?
ANSWER : Hypercalcemia is an abnormally elevated serum calcium
concentration.
26. What manifestations may occur with hypercalcemia?
ANSWER : Weakness, constipation, nausea, confusion, increased urination,
kidney stones, and cardiac conduction abnormalities may occur.
27. What is the role of magnesium?
ANSWER : Magnesium supports neuromuscular function, enzyme activity,
cardiac function, and bone health.
28. What is hypomagnesemia?
ANSWER : Hypomagnesemia is an abnormally low serum magnesium level.
29. What manifestations can occur with hypomagnesemia?
ANSWER : Tremors, muscle cramps, hyperreflexia, weakness, seizures, and
dysrhythmias may occur.
30. What is hypermagnesemia?
ANSWER : Hypermagnesemia is an abnormally elevated serum magnesium
level.
31. What manifestations can occur with hypermagnesemia?
ANSWER : Hypotension, lethargy, decreased deep-tendon reflexes, muscle
weakness, respiratory depression, and cardiac abnormalities may occur.
32. What is phosphorus important for?
ANSWER : Phosphorus supports bone and tooth formation, cellular energy
production, and acid-base regulation.
