NSG 5140 –NSG 5140 Advanced Pathophysiology
Final Exam Review QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES
2026 Q&A |INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF SOUTH
COLLEGE BASED ON STANDARD ADVANCED
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY TOPICS TAUGHT AT SOUTH
COLLEGE
1. Which of the following best describes the pathophysiology
of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF)?
A. Systolic dysfunction with reduced cardiac contractility
B. Diastolic dysfunction with impaired ventricular relaxation
C. Acute myocardial infarction leading to necrosis
D. Volume overload due to renal failure
Rationale: HFpEF occurs primarily due to diastolic dysfunction,
where the ventricle cannot relax properly, leading to elevated
filling pressures despite a normal ejection fraction.
2. A patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD) has a PaO₂ of 55 mmHg and PaCO₂ of 60 mmHg. Which
statement is correct?
A. This indicates chronic respiratory acidosis with compensatory
metabolic alkalosis
,B. This indicates acute respiratory alkalosis
C. This is normal arterial blood gas for a healthy adult
D. This indicates metabolic acidosis
Rationale: COPD patients often develop chronic respiratory
acidosis due to CO₂ retention. The kidneys compensate over
time by increasing bicarbonate, resulting in metabolic alkalosis.
3. Which of the following is the primary mechanism of type 2
diabetes mellitus?
A. Autoimmune destruction of beta cells
B. Insulin resistance with relative insulin deficiency
C. Excess glucagon secretion from alpha cells
D. Overproduction of insulin by beta cells
Rationale: Type 2 diabetes is characterized by insulin resistance
in peripheral tissues and a relative decrease in insulin
production over time.
4. In acute kidney injury (AKI), which laboratory finding is
most consistent with prerenal azotemia?
A. Low BUN:creatinine ratio
B. Hyperkalemia
C. BUN:creatinine ratio > 20:1
D. Proteinuria
,Rationale: Prerenal azotemia, caused by decreased perfusion,
results in elevated BUN relative to creatinine due to increased
tubular reabsorption of urea.
5. Which electrolyte imbalance is most commonly associated
with chronic kidney disease?
A. Hypokalemia
B. Hypocalcemia
C. Hyperkalemia
D. Hypernatremia
Rationale: CKD leads to impaired potassium excretion, often
resulting in hyperkalemia, which can be life-threatening.
6. A patient presents with sudden, severe, crushing chest pain
radiating to the left arm. Which pathophysiologic process is
most likely?
A. Pulmonary embolism
B. Myocardial ischemia due to plaque rupture and thrombosis
C. Pericarditis
D. Aortic stenosis
Rationale: Acute coronary syndrome is caused by rupture of an
atherosclerotic plaque and subsequent thrombus formation,
leading to myocardial ischemia.
, 7. Which of the following is the hallmark feature of systemic
inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS)?
A. Localized infection
B. Hyperglycemia
C. Widespread inflammation with fever, tachycardia,
tachypnea, or leukocytosis
D. Hypovolemic shock
Rationale: SIRS is a systemic inflammatory response that can
result from infection, trauma, or other insults, defined by vital
sign changes and leukocyte count abnormalities.
8. Which type of shock is characterized by severe vasodilation
and relative hypovolemia despite normal intravascular
volume?
A. Cardiogenic shock
B. Hypovolemic shock
C. Distributive shock
D. Obstructive shock
Rationale: Distributive shock, such as in septic shock, involves
widespread vasodilation leading to inadequate tissue perfusion
despite normal circulating volume.
9. In hyperthyroidism, which of the following metabolic
changes is expected?
Final Exam Review QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES
2026 Q&A |INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF SOUTH
COLLEGE BASED ON STANDARD ADVANCED
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY TOPICS TAUGHT AT SOUTH
COLLEGE
1. Which of the following best describes the pathophysiology
of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF)?
A. Systolic dysfunction with reduced cardiac contractility
B. Diastolic dysfunction with impaired ventricular relaxation
C. Acute myocardial infarction leading to necrosis
D. Volume overload due to renal failure
Rationale: HFpEF occurs primarily due to diastolic dysfunction,
where the ventricle cannot relax properly, leading to elevated
filling pressures despite a normal ejection fraction.
2. A patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD) has a PaO₂ of 55 mmHg and PaCO₂ of 60 mmHg. Which
statement is correct?
A. This indicates chronic respiratory acidosis with compensatory
metabolic alkalosis
,B. This indicates acute respiratory alkalosis
C. This is normal arterial blood gas for a healthy adult
D. This indicates metabolic acidosis
Rationale: COPD patients often develop chronic respiratory
acidosis due to CO₂ retention. The kidneys compensate over
time by increasing bicarbonate, resulting in metabolic alkalosis.
3. Which of the following is the primary mechanism of type 2
diabetes mellitus?
A. Autoimmune destruction of beta cells
B. Insulin resistance with relative insulin deficiency
C. Excess glucagon secretion from alpha cells
D. Overproduction of insulin by beta cells
Rationale: Type 2 diabetes is characterized by insulin resistance
in peripheral tissues and a relative decrease in insulin
production over time.
4. In acute kidney injury (AKI), which laboratory finding is
most consistent with prerenal azotemia?
A. Low BUN:creatinine ratio
B. Hyperkalemia
C. BUN:creatinine ratio > 20:1
D. Proteinuria
,Rationale: Prerenal azotemia, caused by decreased perfusion,
results in elevated BUN relative to creatinine due to increased
tubular reabsorption of urea.
5. Which electrolyte imbalance is most commonly associated
with chronic kidney disease?
A. Hypokalemia
B. Hypocalcemia
C. Hyperkalemia
D. Hypernatremia
Rationale: CKD leads to impaired potassium excretion, often
resulting in hyperkalemia, which can be life-threatening.
6. A patient presents with sudden, severe, crushing chest pain
radiating to the left arm. Which pathophysiologic process is
most likely?
A. Pulmonary embolism
B. Myocardial ischemia due to plaque rupture and thrombosis
C. Pericarditis
D. Aortic stenosis
Rationale: Acute coronary syndrome is caused by rupture of an
atherosclerotic plaque and subsequent thrombus formation,
leading to myocardial ischemia.
, 7. Which of the following is the hallmark feature of systemic
inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS)?
A. Localized infection
B. Hyperglycemia
C. Widespread inflammation with fever, tachycardia,
tachypnea, or leukocytosis
D. Hypovolemic shock
Rationale: SIRS is a systemic inflammatory response that can
result from infection, trauma, or other insults, defined by vital
sign changes and leukocyte count abnormalities.
8. Which type of shock is characterized by severe vasodilation
and relative hypovolemia despite normal intravascular
volume?
A. Cardiogenic shock
B. Hypovolemic shock
C. Distributive shock
D. Obstructive shock
Rationale: Distributive shock, such as in septic shock, involves
widespread vasodilation leading to inadequate tissue perfusion
despite normal circulating volume.
9. In hyperthyroidism, which of the following metabolic
changes is expected?
