NU104
Pathophysiology for Nursing
Final Exam Prep
(With Solutions)
2025
1
,1. Which process best explains the development of cellular injury due to
hypoxia?
A) Increased ATP production
B) Decreased lactic acid accumulation
C) ATP depletion leading to loss of sodium-potassium pump function
D) Enhanced aerobic metabolism
Answer: C
Rationale: Hypoxia impairs aerobic metabolism, leading to ATP depletion.
Without ATP, the sodium-potassium pump fails, causing cellular swelling
and injury.
2. What is the primary mediator responsible for vasodilation and
increased permeability during acute inflammation?
A) Platelet-activating factor
B) Histamine
C) Prostaglandins
D) Bradykinin
Answer: B
Rationale: Histamine is released by mast cells early in inflammation and
causes vasodilation and increased vascular permeability to facilitate
immune cell migration.
3. A nurse notes a patient with liver cirrhosis has spider angiomas. This is
due to which pathophysiological mechanism?
A) Portal hypertension causing collateral vessel formation
B) Decreased estrogen metabolism leading to vascular dilation
C) Hyperbilirubinemia causing vascular obstruction
D) Decreased vitamin K leading to bleeding
2
,Answer: B
Rationale: Cirrhosis reduces estrogen metabolism, which causes vascular
dilation manifesting as spider angiomas.
4. In congestive heart failure, which compensatory mechanism initially
helps maintain cardiac output?
A) Decreased preload
B) Activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system
C) Decreased sympathetic tone
D) Vasodilation
Answer: B
Rationale: RAAS activation increases sodium and water retention to raise
preload, temporarily improving cardiac output.
5. Which type of hypersensitivity reaction involves immune complex
deposition causing tissue damage?
A) Type I
B) Type II
C) Type III
D) Type IV
Answer: C
Rationale: Type III hypersensitivity involves antigen-antibody complexes
depositing in tissues, triggering complement activation and
inflammation.
6. What is the main abnormality in patients with type 2 diabetes
mellitus?
A) Absolute insulin deficiency
B) Insulin resistance with relative insulin deficiency
C) Autoimmune destruction of beta cells
D) Overproduction of insulin
Answer: B
3
, Rationale: Type 2 diabetes is characterized by peripheral insulin
resistance and inadequate compensatory insulin secretion.
7. Which change is primarily responsible for the development of
atherosclerosis?
A) Monocyte infiltration into vessel walls leading to foam cell formation
B) Vasospasm of coronary arteries
C) Acute platelet aggregation without inflammation
D) Hypertrophy of vascular smooth muscle only
Answer: A
Rationale: Monocytes enter vessel walls, become foam cells by ingesting
lipids, triggering plaque formation characteristic of atherosclerosis.
8. What is the pathophysiological basis of acute respiratory distress
syndrome (ARDS)?
A) Hyperinflation of alveoli due to obstruction
B) Damage to the alveolar-capillary membrane leading to increased
permeability
C) Bronchospasm causing airway narrowing
D) Loss of surfactant production leading to alveolar collapse
Answer: B
Rationale: In ARDS, inflammation damages the alveolar-capillary barrier,
causing leakage of protein-rich fluid and impaired gas exchange.
9. Which finding best correlates with left-sided heart failure?
A) Peripheral edema
B) Ascites
C) Pulmonary congestion and dyspnea
D) Jugular venous distention
Answer: C
Rationale: Left-sided failure causes blood backup into pulmonary
circulation, resulting in congestion and breathing difficulty.
4
Pathophysiology for Nursing
Final Exam Prep
(With Solutions)
2025
1
,1. Which process best explains the development of cellular injury due to
hypoxia?
A) Increased ATP production
B) Decreased lactic acid accumulation
C) ATP depletion leading to loss of sodium-potassium pump function
D) Enhanced aerobic metabolism
Answer: C
Rationale: Hypoxia impairs aerobic metabolism, leading to ATP depletion.
Without ATP, the sodium-potassium pump fails, causing cellular swelling
and injury.
2. What is the primary mediator responsible for vasodilation and
increased permeability during acute inflammation?
A) Platelet-activating factor
B) Histamine
C) Prostaglandins
D) Bradykinin
Answer: B
Rationale: Histamine is released by mast cells early in inflammation and
causes vasodilation and increased vascular permeability to facilitate
immune cell migration.
3. A nurse notes a patient with liver cirrhosis has spider angiomas. This is
due to which pathophysiological mechanism?
A) Portal hypertension causing collateral vessel formation
B) Decreased estrogen metabolism leading to vascular dilation
C) Hyperbilirubinemia causing vascular obstruction
D) Decreased vitamin K leading to bleeding
2
,Answer: B
Rationale: Cirrhosis reduces estrogen metabolism, which causes vascular
dilation manifesting as spider angiomas.
4. In congestive heart failure, which compensatory mechanism initially
helps maintain cardiac output?
A) Decreased preload
B) Activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system
C) Decreased sympathetic tone
D) Vasodilation
Answer: B
Rationale: RAAS activation increases sodium and water retention to raise
preload, temporarily improving cardiac output.
5. Which type of hypersensitivity reaction involves immune complex
deposition causing tissue damage?
A) Type I
B) Type II
C) Type III
D) Type IV
Answer: C
Rationale: Type III hypersensitivity involves antigen-antibody complexes
depositing in tissues, triggering complement activation and
inflammation.
6. What is the main abnormality in patients with type 2 diabetes
mellitus?
A) Absolute insulin deficiency
B) Insulin resistance with relative insulin deficiency
C) Autoimmune destruction of beta cells
D) Overproduction of insulin
Answer: B
3
, Rationale: Type 2 diabetes is characterized by peripheral insulin
resistance and inadequate compensatory insulin secretion.
7. Which change is primarily responsible for the development of
atherosclerosis?
A) Monocyte infiltration into vessel walls leading to foam cell formation
B) Vasospasm of coronary arteries
C) Acute platelet aggregation without inflammation
D) Hypertrophy of vascular smooth muscle only
Answer: A
Rationale: Monocytes enter vessel walls, become foam cells by ingesting
lipids, triggering plaque formation characteristic of atherosclerosis.
8. What is the pathophysiological basis of acute respiratory distress
syndrome (ARDS)?
A) Hyperinflation of alveoli due to obstruction
B) Damage to the alveolar-capillary membrane leading to increased
permeability
C) Bronchospasm causing airway narrowing
D) Loss of surfactant production leading to alveolar collapse
Answer: B
Rationale: In ARDS, inflammation damages the alveolar-capillary barrier,
causing leakage of protein-rich fluid and impaired gas exchange.
9. Which finding best correlates with left-sided heart failure?
A) Peripheral edema
B) Ascites
C) Pulmonary congestion and dyspnea
D) Jugular venous distention
Answer: C
Rationale: Left-sided failure causes blood backup into pulmonary
circulation, resulting in congestion and breathing difficulty.
4
