D236 NURS 2508
Pathophysiology
Final Assessment Prep
(With Solutions)
2025
1
,1. A patient with chronic hypertension develops concentric left
ventricular hypertrophy. What is the underlying mechanism?
A. Decreased preload
B. Increased afterload causing myocardial remodeling
C. Coronary ischemia
D. Reduced contractility
Answer: B. Rationale: Sustained high afterload forces myocardium to
thicken.
2. A patient with COPD presents with secondary polycythemia. Cause?
A. Dehydration
B. Chronic hypoxemia stimulating erythropoietin release
C. Iron deficiency
D. Renal failure
Answer: B. Rationale: Hypoxia drives RBC production.
3. In septic shock, hypotension persists despite fluids. Mechanism?
A. Increased preload
B. Systemic vasodilation due to inflammatory mediators
C. Decreased cardiac output only
D. Increased vascular resistance
Answer: B. Rationale: Sepsis causes distributive shock.
4. A patient with nephrotic syndrome develops edema. Pathophysiologic
basis?
A. Sodium excess
B. Loss of plasma proteins → decreased oncotic pressure
C. Increased hydrostatic pressure
D. Lymphatic obstruction
Answer: B. Rationale: Hypoalbuminemia reduces plasma oncotic
pressure.
2
, 5. In type 1 diabetes, ketoacidosis occurs because:
A. Increased insulin secretion
B. Unopposed lipolysis and ketone body formation
C. Excess glucose uptake
D. Renal failure
Answer: B. Rationale: Insulin deficiency promotes ketogenesis.
6. A patient with cirrhosis develops hepatic encephalopathy. Cause?
A. Hypoglycemia
B. Accumulation of ammonia crossing blood‑brain barrier
C. Portal hypertension alone
D. Vitamin deficiency
Answer: B. Rationale: Ammonia toxicity impairs neuronal function.
7. In myocardial infarction, troponin elevation reflects:
A. Increased preload
B. Cardiomyocyte necrosis releasing intracellular proteins
C. Coronary vasospasm
D. Hypertrophy
Answer: B. Rationale: Necrosis releases troponin.
8. A patient with Graves’ disease shows exophthalmos. Mechanism?
A. Increased TSH
B. Autoimmune stimulation causing fibroblast proliferation and
glycosaminoglycan deposition
C. Pituitary adenoma
D. Hypothyroidism
Answer: B. Rationale: Autoimmune orbitopathy drives tissue expansion.
9. In acute pancreatitis, hypocalcemia occurs due to:
A. Renal loss
B. Saponification of fat binding calcium
C. Vitamin D deficiency
D. Hyperparathyroidism
Answer: B. Rationale: Fat necrosis consumes calcium.
3
Pathophysiology
Final Assessment Prep
(With Solutions)
2025
1
,1. A patient with chronic hypertension develops concentric left
ventricular hypertrophy. What is the underlying mechanism?
A. Decreased preload
B. Increased afterload causing myocardial remodeling
C. Coronary ischemia
D. Reduced contractility
Answer: B. Rationale: Sustained high afterload forces myocardium to
thicken.
2. A patient with COPD presents with secondary polycythemia. Cause?
A. Dehydration
B. Chronic hypoxemia stimulating erythropoietin release
C. Iron deficiency
D. Renal failure
Answer: B. Rationale: Hypoxia drives RBC production.
3. In septic shock, hypotension persists despite fluids. Mechanism?
A. Increased preload
B. Systemic vasodilation due to inflammatory mediators
C. Decreased cardiac output only
D. Increased vascular resistance
Answer: B. Rationale: Sepsis causes distributive shock.
4. A patient with nephrotic syndrome develops edema. Pathophysiologic
basis?
A. Sodium excess
B. Loss of plasma proteins → decreased oncotic pressure
C. Increased hydrostatic pressure
D. Lymphatic obstruction
Answer: B. Rationale: Hypoalbuminemia reduces plasma oncotic
pressure.
2
, 5. In type 1 diabetes, ketoacidosis occurs because:
A. Increased insulin secretion
B. Unopposed lipolysis and ketone body formation
C. Excess glucose uptake
D. Renal failure
Answer: B. Rationale: Insulin deficiency promotes ketogenesis.
6. A patient with cirrhosis develops hepatic encephalopathy. Cause?
A. Hypoglycemia
B. Accumulation of ammonia crossing blood‑brain barrier
C. Portal hypertension alone
D. Vitamin deficiency
Answer: B. Rationale: Ammonia toxicity impairs neuronal function.
7. In myocardial infarction, troponin elevation reflects:
A. Increased preload
B. Cardiomyocyte necrosis releasing intracellular proteins
C. Coronary vasospasm
D. Hypertrophy
Answer: B. Rationale: Necrosis releases troponin.
8. A patient with Graves’ disease shows exophthalmos. Mechanism?
A. Increased TSH
B. Autoimmune stimulation causing fibroblast proliferation and
glycosaminoglycan deposition
C. Pituitary adenoma
D. Hypothyroidism
Answer: B. Rationale: Autoimmune orbitopathy drives tissue expansion.
9. In acute pancreatitis, hypocalcemia occurs due to:
A. Renal loss
B. Saponification of fat binding calcium
C. Vitamin D deficiency
D. Hyperparathyroidism
Answer: B. Rationale: Fat necrosis consumes calcium.
3
