1
NURS 6501 Actual Midterm Exam 2025 –
Advanced Pathophysiology | Verified
Answers | Flashcards & Graded A+
1. What is the primary mechanism by which cellular injury occurs in hypoxia?
A. Increased ATP production
B. Impaired sodium-potassium pump
C. Enhanced mitochondrial function
D. Decreased reactive oxygen species
Correct Answer: B. Impaired sodium-potassium pump
Rationale: Hypoxia reduces ATP production due to impaired oxidative phosphorylation,
leading to failure of the sodium-potassium pump, causing cellular swelling and injury.
2. Which type of hypersensitivity reaction is associated with anaphylaxis?
A. Type I
B. Type II
C. Type III
D. Type IV
Correct Answer: A. Type I
Rationale: Anaphylaxis is a Type I (immediate) hypersensitivity reaction mediated by
IgE, leading to mast cell degranulation and histamine release.
3. What is the hallmark feature of apoptosis?
A. Cellular swelling
B. Nuclear fragmentation
C. Membrane rupture
D. Inflammatory response
Correct Answer: B. Nuclear fragmentation
Rationale: Apoptosis is programmed cell death characterized by nuclear fragmentation,
chromatin condensation, and no inflammation, unlike necrosis.
4. Which electrolyte imbalance is most commonly associated with cardiac
arrhythmias?
A. Hypercalcemia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hyponatremia
D. Hypermagnesemia
Correct Answer: B. Hypokalemia
Rationale: Hypokalemia disrupts membrane potential, leading to cardiac arrhythmias by
altering repolarization, particularly in ventricular tissue.
5. What is the primary pathophysiological mechanism of type 1 diabetes mellitus?
A. Insulin resistance
B. Autoimmune beta-cell destruction
, 2
C. Excessive glucagon secretion
D. Impaired glucose uptake
Correct Answer: B. Autoimmune beta-cell destruction
Rationale: Type 1 diabetes results from autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells,
leading to absolute insulin deficiency.
6. Which of the following is a characteristic of benign tumors?
A. Metastasis
B. Anaplasia
C. Encapsulation
D. Rapid growth
Correct Answer: C. Encapsulation
Rationale: Benign tumors are encapsulated, well-differentiated, and do not metastasize,
unlike malignant tumors.
7. What is the primary cause of edema in nephrotic syndrome?
A. Increased hydrostatic pressure
B. Decreased oncotic pressure
C. Lymphatic obstruction
D. Sodium retention
Correct Answer: B. Decreased oncotic pressure
Rationale: Nephrotic syndrome causes proteinuria, reducing plasma albumin and oncotic
pressure, leading to fluid leakage into interstitial spaces.
8. Which inflammatory mediator is primarily responsible for fever?
A. Histamine
B. Prostaglandin E2
C. Bradykinin
D. Leukotriene
Correct Answer: B. Prostaglandin E2
Rationale: Prostaglandin E2 acts on the hypothalamus to reset the body’s thermostat,
inducing fever during inflammation.
9. What is the primary pathophysiological feature of Parkinson’s disease?
A. Loss of dopamine-producing neurons
B. Amyloid plaque formation
C. Demyelination of neurons
D. Excessive glutamate release
Correct Answer: A. Loss of dopamine-producing neurons
Rationale: Parkinson’s disease results from degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the
substantia nigra, leading to motor symptoms.
10. Which condition is characterized by autoantibodies against thyroid-stimulating
hormone receptors?
A. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
B. Graves’ disease
C. Myxedema
D. Thyroid cancer
Correct Answer: B. Graves’ disease
Rationale: Graves’ disease is caused by autoantibodies that stimulate TSH receptors,
leading to hyperthyroidism.
NURS 6501 Actual Midterm Exam 2025 –
Advanced Pathophysiology | Verified
Answers | Flashcards & Graded A+
1. What is the primary mechanism by which cellular injury occurs in hypoxia?
A. Increased ATP production
B. Impaired sodium-potassium pump
C. Enhanced mitochondrial function
D. Decreased reactive oxygen species
Correct Answer: B. Impaired sodium-potassium pump
Rationale: Hypoxia reduces ATP production due to impaired oxidative phosphorylation,
leading to failure of the sodium-potassium pump, causing cellular swelling and injury.
2. Which type of hypersensitivity reaction is associated with anaphylaxis?
A. Type I
B. Type II
C. Type III
D. Type IV
Correct Answer: A. Type I
Rationale: Anaphylaxis is a Type I (immediate) hypersensitivity reaction mediated by
IgE, leading to mast cell degranulation and histamine release.
3. What is the hallmark feature of apoptosis?
A. Cellular swelling
B. Nuclear fragmentation
C. Membrane rupture
D. Inflammatory response
Correct Answer: B. Nuclear fragmentation
Rationale: Apoptosis is programmed cell death characterized by nuclear fragmentation,
chromatin condensation, and no inflammation, unlike necrosis.
4. Which electrolyte imbalance is most commonly associated with cardiac
arrhythmias?
A. Hypercalcemia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hyponatremia
D. Hypermagnesemia
Correct Answer: B. Hypokalemia
Rationale: Hypokalemia disrupts membrane potential, leading to cardiac arrhythmias by
altering repolarization, particularly in ventricular tissue.
5. What is the primary pathophysiological mechanism of type 1 diabetes mellitus?
A. Insulin resistance
B. Autoimmune beta-cell destruction
, 2
C. Excessive glucagon secretion
D. Impaired glucose uptake
Correct Answer: B. Autoimmune beta-cell destruction
Rationale: Type 1 diabetes results from autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells,
leading to absolute insulin deficiency.
6. Which of the following is a characteristic of benign tumors?
A. Metastasis
B. Anaplasia
C. Encapsulation
D. Rapid growth
Correct Answer: C. Encapsulation
Rationale: Benign tumors are encapsulated, well-differentiated, and do not metastasize,
unlike malignant tumors.
7. What is the primary cause of edema in nephrotic syndrome?
A. Increased hydrostatic pressure
B. Decreased oncotic pressure
C. Lymphatic obstruction
D. Sodium retention
Correct Answer: B. Decreased oncotic pressure
Rationale: Nephrotic syndrome causes proteinuria, reducing plasma albumin and oncotic
pressure, leading to fluid leakage into interstitial spaces.
8. Which inflammatory mediator is primarily responsible for fever?
A. Histamine
B. Prostaglandin E2
C. Bradykinin
D. Leukotriene
Correct Answer: B. Prostaglandin E2
Rationale: Prostaglandin E2 acts on the hypothalamus to reset the body’s thermostat,
inducing fever during inflammation.
9. What is the primary pathophysiological feature of Parkinson’s disease?
A. Loss of dopamine-producing neurons
B. Amyloid plaque formation
C. Demyelination of neurons
D. Excessive glutamate release
Correct Answer: A. Loss of dopamine-producing neurons
Rationale: Parkinson’s disease results from degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the
substantia nigra, leading to motor symptoms.
10. Which condition is characterized by autoantibodies against thyroid-stimulating
hormone receptors?
A. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
B. Graves’ disease
C. Myxedema
D. Thyroid cancer
Correct Answer: B. Graves’ disease
Rationale: Graves’ disease is caused by autoantibodies that stimulate TSH receptors,
leading to hyperthyroidism.
