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ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
EXAM 1
EXAM PREPARATION & REVIEW
DISEASE PROCESSES • CELLULAR INJURY
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY Q&A
QUESTIONS, ANSWERS & STUDY MATERIAL
STUDY ANSWER DETAILED 2026/27
MATERIAL KEY RATIONALES EDITION
,ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY EXAM 1 (pdf) |
2026/2027 | DISEASE PROCESSES, CELLULAR INJURY
AND PATHOPHYSIOLOGY Q&A | ADVANCED
NURSING
1. A certain disease is currently found in 1 of every 10 people in the country and
1,000 people contract the disease yearly. The population of the country is
4,500,000. Which of the following statements is correct?
A. The prevalence of the disease is 10% and the incidence is .02%.
B. The prevalence of the disease is .02% and the incidence is 10%.
C. Neither is correct.
D. There is insufficient data.
Correct Answer: A. The prevalence of the disease is 10% and the incidence is .02%.
Rationale: Prevalence is the number of existing cases divided by the total population. 1 in
10 people equals 10%. Incidence is the number of new cases per population per year:
1,000 ÷ 4,500,000 = 0.000222, or approximately 0.02%. Option B reverses the two
measures. Option C is incorrect because Option A is accurate. Option D is incorrect
because the data provided are sufficient to calculate both measures.
2. In relation to disease development, the term "etiology" refers to which of the
following?
A. Number of people with the disease
B. Cause of the disease
C. Definition of the disease
D. Outcome of the disease
Correct Answer: B. Cause of the disease
Rationale: Etiology refers to the causative factors of a disease. Option A describes
prevalence or incidence. Option C describes nosology or classification. Option D describes
prognosis or outcomes.
3. Which of the following is(are) true about "symptoms"?
A. Objective and measurable
B. The same as "signs"
,C. Both of the above
D. Neither of the above
Correct Answer: D. Neither of the above
Rationale: Symptoms are subjective experiences reported by the patient, such as pain or
nausea. Option A describes signs, which are objective and measurable. Option B is false
because signs and symptoms are distinct. Option C is therefore false.
4. In 1992, there were 980 deaths in a Midwestern city with a population of
1,000,000. At the beginning of that year, 900 cases of AIDS existed in this
population. During the year, 250 new cases of AIDS were diagnosed, and 75
people died of the disease in 1992. Using the data given above, what was the
incidence rate (per 100,000 population) at the end of 1992 for AIDS?
A. 6
B. 25
C. 88
D. 116
Correct Answer: B. 25
Rationale: Incidence rate = (new cases ÷ population) × 100,000 = (250 ÷ 1,000,000) ×
100,000 = 25 per 100,000. Option A (6) does not correspond to the calculation. Option C
(88) appears to derive from an incorrect denominator. Option D (116) likely reflects adding
existing and new cases, which is not the definition of incidence.
5. What level of prevention is a blood pressure screening program for high school
students who are pregnant?
A. Primary
B. Secondary
C. Tertiary
Correct Answer: B. Secondary
Rationale: Secondary prevention focuses on early identification and treatment of disease
before complications develop. Screening for high blood pressure in a high-risk group
exemplifies this. Option A (primary) aims to prevent disease before it occurs. Option C
(tertiary) aims to prevent long-term consequences of established disease.
6. Mr. Forbes complains of "indigestion" and becomes sweaty and pale. His wife
takes him to the Emergency Department at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. A
, cardiac catheterization 2 days later shows partial blockage of his right coronary
artery (RCA). Blockage of the right coronary artery can lead to myocardial cell
injury because it results in which of the following?
A. Bilirubin accumulation in myocardial cells
B. Alteration in the genetic material of myocardial cells
C. Reduced energy production in myocardial cells
D. Activation of the complement system
Correct Answer: C. Reduced energy production in myocardial cells
Rationale: Coronary artery blockage reduces oxygen delivery, impairing mitochondrial
oxidative phosphorylation and ATP production. Option A is unrelated to ischemic injury.
Option B describes mutagenic or neoplastic change, not acute ischemia. Option D is a
mechanism of immune-mediated injury, not the direct consequence of arterial occlusion.
7. When myocardial cells are injured, the function of the Na-K membrane pump
may be impaired. Which of the following may then result?
A. Intracellular sodium will increase
B. Extracellular potassium will decrease
C. Cell volume will decrease
D. All of the above
Correct Answer: A. Intracellular sodium will increase
Rationale: The Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase pump normally extrudes three Na⁺ and imports two K⁺.
When it fails, Na⁺ accumulates intracellularly, drawing water in and causing cellular
swelling. Option B is incorrect—extracellular K⁺ rises as K⁺ leaks out of cells. Option C is
incorrect—cell volume increases, not decreases. Option D is therefore incorrect.
8. Mr. Forbes is being prepared for open heart surgery when he suffers a
myocardial infarction in which a large part of his left ventricle has suffered lethal
cell injury. Mr. Forbes' CPK-MB and LDH1, enzymes associated with myocardial
cells, are significantly elevated. What is the best explanation for this?
A. It is a sign that necrotic myocardial cells have released their cytoplasmic contents into
the blood.
B. It is a sign of reversible fatty accumulation in the myocardial cells
C. It is a sign that the myocardial cells are undergoing hypertrophy.
D. None of the above.
ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
EXAM 1
EXAM PREPARATION & REVIEW
DISEASE PROCESSES • CELLULAR INJURY
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY Q&A
QUESTIONS, ANSWERS & STUDY MATERIAL
STUDY ANSWER DETAILED 2026/27
MATERIAL KEY RATIONALES EDITION
,ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY EXAM 1 (pdf) |
2026/2027 | DISEASE PROCESSES, CELLULAR INJURY
AND PATHOPHYSIOLOGY Q&A | ADVANCED
NURSING
1. A certain disease is currently found in 1 of every 10 people in the country and
1,000 people contract the disease yearly. The population of the country is
4,500,000. Which of the following statements is correct?
A. The prevalence of the disease is 10% and the incidence is .02%.
B. The prevalence of the disease is .02% and the incidence is 10%.
C. Neither is correct.
D. There is insufficient data.
Correct Answer: A. The prevalence of the disease is 10% and the incidence is .02%.
Rationale: Prevalence is the number of existing cases divided by the total population. 1 in
10 people equals 10%. Incidence is the number of new cases per population per year:
1,000 ÷ 4,500,000 = 0.000222, or approximately 0.02%. Option B reverses the two
measures. Option C is incorrect because Option A is accurate. Option D is incorrect
because the data provided are sufficient to calculate both measures.
2. In relation to disease development, the term "etiology" refers to which of the
following?
A. Number of people with the disease
B. Cause of the disease
C. Definition of the disease
D. Outcome of the disease
Correct Answer: B. Cause of the disease
Rationale: Etiology refers to the causative factors of a disease. Option A describes
prevalence or incidence. Option C describes nosology or classification. Option D describes
prognosis or outcomes.
3. Which of the following is(are) true about "symptoms"?
A. Objective and measurable
B. The same as "signs"
,C. Both of the above
D. Neither of the above
Correct Answer: D. Neither of the above
Rationale: Symptoms are subjective experiences reported by the patient, such as pain or
nausea. Option A describes signs, which are objective and measurable. Option B is false
because signs and symptoms are distinct. Option C is therefore false.
4. In 1992, there were 980 deaths in a Midwestern city with a population of
1,000,000. At the beginning of that year, 900 cases of AIDS existed in this
population. During the year, 250 new cases of AIDS were diagnosed, and 75
people died of the disease in 1992. Using the data given above, what was the
incidence rate (per 100,000 population) at the end of 1992 for AIDS?
A. 6
B. 25
C. 88
D. 116
Correct Answer: B. 25
Rationale: Incidence rate = (new cases ÷ population) × 100,000 = (250 ÷ 1,000,000) ×
100,000 = 25 per 100,000. Option A (6) does not correspond to the calculation. Option C
(88) appears to derive from an incorrect denominator. Option D (116) likely reflects adding
existing and new cases, which is not the definition of incidence.
5. What level of prevention is a blood pressure screening program for high school
students who are pregnant?
A. Primary
B. Secondary
C. Tertiary
Correct Answer: B. Secondary
Rationale: Secondary prevention focuses on early identification and treatment of disease
before complications develop. Screening for high blood pressure in a high-risk group
exemplifies this. Option A (primary) aims to prevent disease before it occurs. Option C
(tertiary) aims to prevent long-term consequences of established disease.
6. Mr. Forbes complains of "indigestion" and becomes sweaty and pale. His wife
takes him to the Emergency Department at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. A
, cardiac catheterization 2 days later shows partial blockage of his right coronary
artery (RCA). Blockage of the right coronary artery can lead to myocardial cell
injury because it results in which of the following?
A. Bilirubin accumulation in myocardial cells
B. Alteration in the genetic material of myocardial cells
C. Reduced energy production in myocardial cells
D. Activation of the complement system
Correct Answer: C. Reduced energy production in myocardial cells
Rationale: Coronary artery blockage reduces oxygen delivery, impairing mitochondrial
oxidative phosphorylation and ATP production. Option A is unrelated to ischemic injury.
Option B describes mutagenic or neoplastic change, not acute ischemia. Option D is a
mechanism of immune-mediated injury, not the direct consequence of arterial occlusion.
7. When myocardial cells are injured, the function of the Na-K membrane pump
may be impaired. Which of the following may then result?
A. Intracellular sodium will increase
B. Extracellular potassium will decrease
C. Cell volume will decrease
D. All of the above
Correct Answer: A. Intracellular sodium will increase
Rationale: The Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase pump normally extrudes three Na⁺ and imports two K⁺.
When it fails, Na⁺ accumulates intracellularly, drawing water in and causing cellular
swelling. Option B is incorrect—extracellular K⁺ rises as K⁺ leaks out of cells. Option C is
incorrect—cell volume increases, not decreases. Option D is therefore incorrect.
8. Mr. Forbes is being prepared for open heart surgery when he suffers a
myocardial infarction in which a large part of his left ventricle has suffered lethal
cell injury. Mr. Forbes' CPK-MB and LDH1, enzymes associated with myocardial
cells, are significantly elevated. What is the best explanation for this?
A. It is a sign that necrotic myocardial cells have released their cytoplasmic contents into
the blood.
B. It is a sign of reversible fatty accumulation in the myocardial cells
C. It is a sign that the myocardial cells are undergoing hypertrophy.
D. None of the above.
