MN 551 PATHO QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2025
The family of a 68-year-old man who is in the end stages of small cell lung cancer is distraught at his
visible body wasting that has worsened in recent weeks. Which of the following phenomena best
accounts for the patient's anorexia and cachexia? - (ANSWER)Products of the tumor itself as well as a
hypermetabolic state cause cachexia
A child possesses a trait that is the result of the interaction of two different genes, neither of which
could have produced the trait independently. Which of the following explanations best captures the
genetic explanation for this? - (ANSWER)The outcome is the result of the interaction between
collaborative genes.
A 45-year-old patient who experienced exposure to radiation during an industrial accident several years
prior is being assessed. Which of the following phenomena may underlie the genetic changes that have
been noted in the patient? - (ANSWER)Base pairs may have been rearranged by the radiation exposure.
Which of the following pregnant women has most likely encountered the greatest increase in the risk
that her child will have a fetal anomaly? - (ANSWER)A woman who has herpes simplex and recently
recovered from endocarditis
The nurse practitioner is providing care for a patient with a diagnosis of cirrhosis, and he notes that the
patient's sclerae are jaundiced. The nurse practitioner recalls that jaundice is caused by excess
accumulation of bilirubin, a pigment that can accumulate in which part of the cell? -
(ANSWER)Cytoplasm
A patient who has a diagnosis of lung cancer is scheduled to begin radiation treatment. The NP providing
pretreatment education is explaining some of the potential unwanted effects of the treatment. Which of
the following statements by the nurse is most accurate? - (ANSWER)"Some patients experience longer-
term irritation of skin adjacent to the treatment site."
A male patient of a nurse practitioner has an autosomal dominant disorder. The patient and his partner
are considering starting a family. Which of the patient's following statements indicates the patient has
an adequate understanding of the genetic basis of this health problem? - (ANSWER)"I know that a single
mutant allele is to blame for the health problem."
A group of researchers has identified that the prevalence of two particular genetic disorders share a
statistical correlation. Which of the following statements best conveys the genetic rationale for this
,MN 551 PATHO QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2025
situation? - (ANSWER)The genes causing each disorder are likely in the same section of the same
chromosome.
The NP is working with a family whose daughter has been recently diagnosed with the chromosomal
disorder Turner syndrome. The NP would recognize that which of the following statements about the
characteristics of human chromosomes is accurate? - (ANSWER)Autosomes contain the determination
of an individual's sex.
The NP is teaching a group of older adults about the value of including foods containing antioxidants in
their diet. Which of the following statements best captures the rationale underlying the NPs advice? -
(ANSWER)Antioxidants inhibit the actions of reactive oxygen species (ROS).
Which target of both chemotherapy and radiation treatment accounts for adverse as well as therapeutic
effects? - (ANSWER)Rapidly proliferating cells
Which of the following patients of a primary care nurse practitioner would not require extra screening
for cancer? - (ANSWER)A 38-year-old female with Down syndrome and congenital scoliosis
A 7-year-old boy is admitted to the hospital with a suspected diagnosis of lead toxicity. Which of the
following assessment findings is most congruent with the patient's diagnosis? hi - (ANSWER)Hemoglobin
9.9 g/dL
The NP is providing care for a 21-year-old female patient with gas gangrene of a compound fracture in
her arm. Which of the following assessment findings would the nurse most reasonably expect to find
when caring for a patient with a diagnosis of gas gangrene? - (ANSWER)Spreading edema
A community health nurse practitioner is teaching a group of female high school students about the
importance of regular Papanicolaou (Pap) smears. The nurse recognizes that which of the following
items underlies the rationale for this teaching? - (ANSWER)Cancer of the uterine cervix develops
incrementally at a cellular level.
Which of the following statements most accurately conveys an aspect of cell injury due to impaired
calcium homeostasis? - (ANSWER)Injured cells tend to accumulate calcium.
,MN 551 PATHO QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2025
A woman is surprised to read on the Internet that certain infections can cause cancer and has sought
clarification from her nurse practitioner during an office visit. How can the NP best respond to the
woman's query? - (ANSWER)"There are many viruses, but only a very few of them have been shown to
cause cancer in humans."
The nurse practitioner working in occupational health has been asked to speak to a group of factory
workers about the importance of wearing gloves when working with strong chemicals such as
turpentine and paint thinner. Which of the following characteristics of cell membranes underlies the
nurse's teaching? - (ANSWER)Cell membranes are impermeable to all but lipid-soluble substances.
A 6-year-old girl with a diagnosis of Marfan syndrome is being assessed at a community health clinic.
Which of the following assessments would be the health care professional's lowest priority? -
(ANSWER)Tests of kidney function
A nurse practitioner employed in a hospitalist notices that a patient is experiencing muscle atrophy
following 2 weeks in traction after a motor vehicle accident. Which of the following factors has most
likely contributed to the atrophy of the patient's muscle cells? - (ANSWER)A reduction of skeletal muscle
use secondary to the traction treatment
A nurse practitioner is educating a patient with a recent diagnosis of diabetes about the roles that
glucose and insulin play in the disease pathology and the fact that glucose must enter the cell in order to
provide energy for the patient. The nurse practitioner knows that which of the following processes
allows glucose to enter body cells - (ANSWER)Facilitated diffusion
A researcher is involved in the production of insulin through recombinant DNA technology. Which of the
following statements could the researcher best provide as a rationale for her work? - (ANSWER)The
gene fragment responsible for insulin production can be isolated and reproduced.
A student nurse practitioner asks her preceptor about the origins of different tissues, and their cellular
origins during the process of development. Which of the following statements by the preceptor best
describes the process of cell differentiation? - (ANSWER)"A fertilized ovum undergoes a series of
divisions, yielding many different cell types."
, MN 551 PATHO QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2025
A 77-year-old male patient with a diagnosis of stomach cancer has been found to have metastases in his
liver. The patient and his family are surprised at this turn of events, stating that they don't see how he
could have developed cancer in his liver. Which of the following facts would underlie the reply that the
care team provides? - (ANSWER)The portal circulatory system brings venous blood from the
gastrointestinal tract into the liver.
The nurse practitioner is seeing a client who has an acute exacerbation of Crohn's disease. The NP
recognizes the fact that the disease involves the inflammation and irritation of the intestinal lining.
Which of the following types of tissue is most likely involved in the patient's pathology? -
(ANSWER)Simple columnar epithelium
An infant who is four days postpartum has been diagnosed with a single-gene disorder. The parents of
the child have a number of questions about the etiology of the health problem, which the physician is
attempting to address in detail. Which of the following teaching points most accurately captures an
aspect of single-gene congenital disorders? - (ANSWER)A particular defect can be caused by mutations
at one of several different loci.
Following a biopsy, a 54-year-old man has been diagnosed as having a benign neoplastic tumor. Which
of the following characteristics most likely applies to his tumor? - (ANSWER)The well-differentiated
neoplastic cells are clustered together in a single mass.
As part of an orientation to a genetic counseling practice, a group of medical students is differentiating
between autosomal recessive disorders and autosomal dominant disorders. Which of the following
statements is true of autosomal recessive disorders? - (ANSWER)They tend to have a more uniform
symptomatology than autosomal dominant disorders.
A nurse practitioner employed in the emergency department admits a patient who has experienced
severe frostbite to his hands and toes after becoming lost on a ski trail. The NP recognizes that which of
the following phenomena has caused the tissue damage? - (ANSWER)Decreased blood flow has induced
hypoxia.
A new older female patient at a long-term care facility has a diagnosis of type 1 neurofibromatosis (NF-
1). As part of the intake assessment protocol for the facility, the clinical educator is teaching the care
staff about the diagnosis. Which of the following statements most accurately conveys an aspect of
neurofibromatosis? - (ANSWER)"Her diagnosis puts her at higher risk of developing a malignant
neoplasm."
The family of a 68-year-old man who is in the end stages of small cell lung cancer is distraught at his
visible body wasting that has worsened in recent weeks. Which of the following phenomena best
accounts for the patient's anorexia and cachexia? - (ANSWER)Products of the tumor itself as well as a
hypermetabolic state cause cachexia
A child possesses a trait that is the result of the interaction of two different genes, neither of which
could have produced the trait independently. Which of the following explanations best captures the
genetic explanation for this? - (ANSWER)The outcome is the result of the interaction between
collaborative genes.
A 45-year-old patient who experienced exposure to radiation during an industrial accident several years
prior is being assessed. Which of the following phenomena may underlie the genetic changes that have
been noted in the patient? - (ANSWER)Base pairs may have been rearranged by the radiation exposure.
Which of the following pregnant women has most likely encountered the greatest increase in the risk
that her child will have a fetal anomaly? - (ANSWER)A woman who has herpes simplex and recently
recovered from endocarditis
The nurse practitioner is providing care for a patient with a diagnosis of cirrhosis, and he notes that the
patient's sclerae are jaundiced. The nurse practitioner recalls that jaundice is caused by excess
accumulation of bilirubin, a pigment that can accumulate in which part of the cell? -
(ANSWER)Cytoplasm
A patient who has a diagnosis of lung cancer is scheduled to begin radiation treatment. The NP providing
pretreatment education is explaining some of the potential unwanted effects of the treatment. Which of
the following statements by the nurse is most accurate? - (ANSWER)"Some patients experience longer-
term irritation of skin adjacent to the treatment site."
A male patient of a nurse practitioner has an autosomal dominant disorder. The patient and his partner
are considering starting a family. Which of the patient's following statements indicates the patient has
an adequate understanding of the genetic basis of this health problem? - (ANSWER)"I know that a single
mutant allele is to blame for the health problem."
A group of researchers has identified that the prevalence of two particular genetic disorders share a
statistical correlation. Which of the following statements best conveys the genetic rationale for this
,MN 551 PATHO QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2025
situation? - (ANSWER)The genes causing each disorder are likely in the same section of the same
chromosome.
The NP is working with a family whose daughter has been recently diagnosed with the chromosomal
disorder Turner syndrome. The NP would recognize that which of the following statements about the
characteristics of human chromosomes is accurate? - (ANSWER)Autosomes contain the determination
of an individual's sex.
The NP is teaching a group of older adults about the value of including foods containing antioxidants in
their diet. Which of the following statements best captures the rationale underlying the NPs advice? -
(ANSWER)Antioxidants inhibit the actions of reactive oxygen species (ROS).
Which target of both chemotherapy and radiation treatment accounts for adverse as well as therapeutic
effects? - (ANSWER)Rapidly proliferating cells
Which of the following patients of a primary care nurse practitioner would not require extra screening
for cancer? - (ANSWER)A 38-year-old female with Down syndrome and congenital scoliosis
A 7-year-old boy is admitted to the hospital with a suspected diagnosis of lead toxicity. Which of the
following assessment findings is most congruent with the patient's diagnosis? hi - (ANSWER)Hemoglobin
9.9 g/dL
The NP is providing care for a 21-year-old female patient with gas gangrene of a compound fracture in
her arm. Which of the following assessment findings would the nurse most reasonably expect to find
when caring for a patient with a diagnosis of gas gangrene? - (ANSWER)Spreading edema
A community health nurse practitioner is teaching a group of female high school students about the
importance of regular Papanicolaou (Pap) smears. The nurse recognizes that which of the following
items underlies the rationale for this teaching? - (ANSWER)Cancer of the uterine cervix develops
incrementally at a cellular level.
Which of the following statements most accurately conveys an aspect of cell injury due to impaired
calcium homeostasis? - (ANSWER)Injured cells tend to accumulate calcium.
,MN 551 PATHO QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2025
A woman is surprised to read on the Internet that certain infections can cause cancer and has sought
clarification from her nurse practitioner during an office visit. How can the NP best respond to the
woman's query? - (ANSWER)"There are many viruses, but only a very few of them have been shown to
cause cancer in humans."
The nurse practitioner working in occupational health has been asked to speak to a group of factory
workers about the importance of wearing gloves when working with strong chemicals such as
turpentine and paint thinner. Which of the following characteristics of cell membranes underlies the
nurse's teaching? - (ANSWER)Cell membranes are impermeable to all but lipid-soluble substances.
A 6-year-old girl with a diagnosis of Marfan syndrome is being assessed at a community health clinic.
Which of the following assessments would be the health care professional's lowest priority? -
(ANSWER)Tests of kidney function
A nurse practitioner employed in a hospitalist notices that a patient is experiencing muscle atrophy
following 2 weeks in traction after a motor vehicle accident. Which of the following factors has most
likely contributed to the atrophy of the patient's muscle cells? - (ANSWER)A reduction of skeletal muscle
use secondary to the traction treatment
A nurse practitioner is educating a patient with a recent diagnosis of diabetes about the roles that
glucose and insulin play in the disease pathology and the fact that glucose must enter the cell in order to
provide energy for the patient. The nurse practitioner knows that which of the following processes
allows glucose to enter body cells - (ANSWER)Facilitated diffusion
A researcher is involved in the production of insulin through recombinant DNA technology. Which of the
following statements could the researcher best provide as a rationale for her work? - (ANSWER)The
gene fragment responsible for insulin production can be isolated and reproduced.
A student nurse practitioner asks her preceptor about the origins of different tissues, and their cellular
origins during the process of development. Which of the following statements by the preceptor best
describes the process of cell differentiation? - (ANSWER)"A fertilized ovum undergoes a series of
divisions, yielding many different cell types."
, MN 551 PATHO QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2025
A 77-year-old male patient with a diagnosis of stomach cancer has been found to have metastases in his
liver. The patient and his family are surprised at this turn of events, stating that they don't see how he
could have developed cancer in his liver. Which of the following facts would underlie the reply that the
care team provides? - (ANSWER)The portal circulatory system brings venous blood from the
gastrointestinal tract into the liver.
The nurse practitioner is seeing a client who has an acute exacerbation of Crohn's disease. The NP
recognizes the fact that the disease involves the inflammation and irritation of the intestinal lining.
Which of the following types of tissue is most likely involved in the patient's pathology? -
(ANSWER)Simple columnar epithelium
An infant who is four days postpartum has been diagnosed with a single-gene disorder. The parents of
the child have a number of questions about the etiology of the health problem, which the physician is
attempting to address in detail. Which of the following teaching points most accurately captures an
aspect of single-gene congenital disorders? - (ANSWER)A particular defect can be caused by mutations
at one of several different loci.
Following a biopsy, a 54-year-old man has been diagnosed as having a benign neoplastic tumor. Which
of the following characteristics most likely applies to his tumor? - (ANSWER)The well-differentiated
neoplastic cells are clustered together in a single mass.
As part of an orientation to a genetic counseling practice, a group of medical students is differentiating
between autosomal recessive disorders and autosomal dominant disorders. Which of the following
statements is true of autosomal recessive disorders? - (ANSWER)They tend to have a more uniform
symptomatology than autosomal dominant disorders.
A nurse practitioner employed in the emergency department admits a patient who has experienced
severe frostbite to his hands and toes after becoming lost on a ski trail. The NP recognizes that which of
the following phenomena has caused the tissue damage? - (ANSWER)Decreased blood flow has induced
hypoxia.
A new older female patient at a long-term care facility has a diagnosis of type 1 neurofibromatosis (NF-
1). As part of the intake assessment protocol for the facility, the clinical educator is teaching the care
staff about the diagnosis. Which of the following statements most accurately conveys an aspect of
neurofibromatosis? - (ANSWER)"Her diagnosis puts her at higher risk of developing a malignant
neoplasm."
