NURS 3366 PATHOPHYSIOLOGY –
FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS WITH
CORRECT VERIFIED ANSWERS (2025–
2026, UPDATED) – COMPLETE EXAM
PREPARATION
Introduction:
This document contains the full set of final exam questions
and answers for NURS 3366 Pathophysiology (academic year
2025–2026). It includes detailed, verified explanations
covering key pathophysiology concepts such as endocrine
disorders, renal and cardiovascular conditions, neurological
pathologies, autoimmune diseases, infectious diseases,
gastrointestinal and hepatic disorders, and metabolic
imbalances. The material is comprehensive and updated,
making it highly useful for exam review and clinical
application practice.
,1. Stats to memorize
7.35-7.45
pH
35-45
CO2
22-28
HCO3
80-100
PaO2
70-99
blood glucose
<2 seconds
normal capillary refill
2. Your patient comes in with diabetes insipidus. Ex-
- under-secretion of ADH
plain the pathophysiology behind their fluid volume
- polyuria, dilute urine
deficit.
- serum osmolality in-
crease
- sunken eyes, dry mem-
branes, poor skin turgor
3. A patient with brain damage comes into the ER. They - SIADH
have a sudden onset of peripheral edema and crack- - large, over-secretion of
ling in the lungs. What could be the possible cause, ADH
and why? - causes body to hold on to
a ton of water (oliguria)
- fluid volume overload,
causes water to shift into
tissues
4. A patient comes in exhibiting signs and symptoms of thyroid storm
Grave's. What signs and symptoms would lead you to - extreme tachycardia, HF,
believe they have entered crisis state? shock, 103-105, agitation,
delirium, seizures
- due to very high metabo-
lism
Lab: T4 high, TSH low
, 5. What are the two main causes of hhpothyroidism? Hashimoto's thyroiditis and
endemic iodine deficieny
6. A comatose patient comes into the ER. Their medical myxedema crisis
record states that they have hypothyroidism. Explain -hypotension, hypoventila-
why they are likely in a coma. tion, extremely low metab-
olism
- face is very bloated due
to fat buildup behind the
eyes
Lab: low T4, high TSH
7. When is PTH secreted and what cells in the bone does hypocalcemia (low Ca), os-
it affect? teoclasts (to break up bone
for calcium resorption)
8. When is calcitonin secreted and what cells in the bone hypercalcemia (too much
does it affect? calcium), osteoblasts (to
build more bone, bring Ca
out of blood into bone)
9. A patient comes into the ER feeling lethargic and hypercalcemia = hyperpo-
weak. You run a blood test and find that their serum larized
calcium levels are extremely high. What might be - muscles take longer to
the pathophysiological reasoning behind their symp- contract, making the per-
toms? son feel weak and lethar-
gic
- might be hypercalcemic
due to over secretion of
PTH, which normally in-
creases Ca in the blood
- could also be under-
secretion of calcitonin, not
FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS WITH
CORRECT VERIFIED ANSWERS (2025–
2026, UPDATED) – COMPLETE EXAM
PREPARATION
Introduction:
This document contains the full set of final exam questions
and answers for NURS 3366 Pathophysiology (academic year
2025–2026). It includes detailed, verified explanations
covering key pathophysiology concepts such as endocrine
disorders, renal and cardiovascular conditions, neurological
pathologies, autoimmune diseases, infectious diseases,
gastrointestinal and hepatic disorders, and metabolic
imbalances. The material is comprehensive and updated,
making it highly useful for exam review and clinical
application practice.
,1. Stats to memorize
7.35-7.45
pH
35-45
CO2
22-28
HCO3
80-100
PaO2
70-99
blood glucose
<2 seconds
normal capillary refill
2. Your patient comes in with diabetes insipidus. Ex-
- under-secretion of ADH
plain the pathophysiology behind their fluid volume
- polyuria, dilute urine
deficit.
- serum osmolality in-
crease
- sunken eyes, dry mem-
branes, poor skin turgor
3. A patient with brain damage comes into the ER. They - SIADH
have a sudden onset of peripheral edema and crack- - large, over-secretion of
ling in the lungs. What could be the possible cause, ADH
and why? - causes body to hold on to
a ton of water (oliguria)
- fluid volume overload,
causes water to shift into
tissues
4. A patient comes in exhibiting signs and symptoms of thyroid storm
Grave's. What signs and symptoms would lead you to - extreme tachycardia, HF,
believe they have entered crisis state? shock, 103-105, agitation,
delirium, seizures
- due to very high metabo-
lism
Lab: T4 high, TSH low
, 5. What are the two main causes of hhpothyroidism? Hashimoto's thyroiditis and
endemic iodine deficieny
6. A comatose patient comes into the ER. Their medical myxedema crisis
record states that they have hypothyroidism. Explain -hypotension, hypoventila-
why they are likely in a coma. tion, extremely low metab-
olism
- face is very bloated due
to fat buildup behind the
eyes
Lab: low T4, high TSH
7. When is PTH secreted and what cells in the bone does hypocalcemia (low Ca), os-
it affect? teoclasts (to break up bone
for calcium resorption)
8. When is calcitonin secreted and what cells in the bone hypercalcemia (too much
does it affect? calcium), osteoblasts (to
build more bone, bring Ca
out of blood into bone)
9. A patient comes into the ER feeling lethargic and hypercalcemia = hyperpo-
weak. You run a blood test and find that their serum larized
calcium levels are extremely high. What might be - muscles take longer to
the pathophysiological reasoning behind their symp- contract, making the per-
toms? son feel weak and lethar-
gic
- might be hypercalcemic
due to over secretion of
PTH, which normally in-
creases Ca in the blood
- could also be under-
secretion of calcitonin, not
