PATHO FINAL EXAM REVIEW QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS A GRADED 2026
1. What is the best way a nurse can assess if their client has altered brain function?
a. Normal cranial nerve assessment
b. Asking addition and subtraction questions
c. Altered level of consciousness
d. Vital signs
2. What hormones help to raise the blood sugar level to help maintain homeostasis?
a. Insulin
b. Thyroxine
c. Renin
d. Glucagon
3. What are signs of meningitis? Select all that apply.
a. Nuchal rigidity
b. Headache
c. Photopia
d. Weight gain
4. What are the immediate clinical manifestations noted after a spinal cord injury? Select all
that apply.
a. Loss of deep tendon reflexes
b. Headache
c. Irritability
d. Flaccid paralysis
5. This is a cause of edema.
a. Polyuria
b. Dehydration
c. Hypotension
d. Decreased plasma proteins
6. What is the normal range for sodium?
135-145 mEq/L
7. What type of seizure will the client have a sudden loss of muscle tone, lasting for
seconds, followed by postictal confusion?
Atonic Seizure
8. Describe a cerebral aneurysm.
Dilation (ballooning) of a portion of a blood vessel
9. What is amyotrophic lateral sclerosis?
Involves progressive destruction of motor neurons resulting in muscle atrophy
,PATHO FINAL EXAM REVIEW QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS A GRADED 2026
10. What are the causes of hepatic encephalopathy?
Alcoholism
Please choose the tool you would use to assess your clients level of consciousness?
Glascow coma scale
If your client’s toes are pointed downward, and the head and neck are arched backward, we would
chart that posture as?
Decerebrate
What happens in our body during the fight and flight response?
Increased heart rate and dilated pupils
What is an early symptom of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)?
Muscle twitching
Migraines are periodic severe headaches that may be completely incapacitating?
True
What manifestations would you see with a client diagnosed with Parkinsons disease?
Muscle rigidity, shuffling gait, muscular rigidity, masklike facial expressions
What manifestations of Huntington’s chorea?
Abrupt, bizarre, involuntary dance like movements, decline in mental functions
Does insufficient circulating blood volume describe what is happening in the body that is experiencing
hypovolemia?
True
,PATHO FINAL EXAM REVIEW QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS A GRADED 2026
Myasthenia gravis results in progressive muscle weakness?
True
Symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are caused by a deficit in which neurotransmitter?
Dopamine
Which type of intravenous solutions would cause fluid to shift from extracellular space to the
intracellular space?
Hypotonic solution
Which describes the pathophysiology of multiple sclerosis (MS)?
Demyelination of the neurons
Cerebral palsy can be described as:
Irreversible brain damage before, during, or after birth or infancy
Symptoms of transient ischemic attacks can last several days to several weeks?
False
What are the risk factors of an embolic stroke?
Arrial fibrillation, valvular prosthetics, rheumatic heart disease
What is ventilation?
It is the process of moving air into the lungs with subsequent distribution to the alveoli.
What is the pathophysiology of exercise-induced asthma?
Bronchospasm after exercise.
, PATHO FINAL EXAM REVIEW QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS A GRADED 2026
How is mycobacterium tuberculosis transmitted?
Airborne droplets inhaled into the lungs.
What is a pneumothorax?
A collapsed lung caused by the escape of air into the pleural cavity.
What is the difference between Asthma and Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Airflow obstruction caused by asthma is reversible whereas airflow obstruction in COPD is irreversible.
How does hemoglobin affect a client’s respiratory status?
Decreased hemoglobin causes reduced oxygen carrying capacity.
How doe hypoxia develop with pneumonia?
Oxygen diffusion is impaired by the congestion.
What causes contact dermatitis?
Contact with a skin allergen.
What causes a cold sore?
Herpes simplex type 1.
Describe a partial – thickness burn
A burn area in which the epidermis and part of the dermis is destroyed.
What would you expect to find if your client is diagnosed with pediculosis?
The presence of nits at the base of hair shafts.
Which burn extends into the deep tissues and has blackened skin?
Third degree burn.
1. What is the best way a nurse can assess if their client has altered brain function?
a. Normal cranial nerve assessment
b. Asking addition and subtraction questions
c. Altered level of consciousness
d. Vital signs
2. What hormones help to raise the blood sugar level to help maintain homeostasis?
a. Insulin
b. Thyroxine
c. Renin
d. Glucagon
3. What are signs of meningitis? Select all that apply.
a. Nuchal rigidity
b. Headache
c. Photopia
d. Weight gain
4. What are the immediate clinical manifestations noted after a spinal cord injury? Select all
that apply.
a. Loss of deep tendon reflexes
b. Headache
c. Irritability
d. Flaccid paralysis
5. This is a cause of edema.
a. Polyuria
b. Dehydration
c. Hypotension
d. Decreased plasma proteins
6. What is the normal range for sodium?
135-145 mEq/L
7. What type of seizure will the client have a sudden loss of muscle tone, lasting for
seconds, followed by postictal confusion?
Atonic Seizure
8. Describe a cerebral aneurysm.
Dilation (ballooning) of a portion of a blood vessel
9. What is amyotrophic lateral sclerosis?
Involves progressive destruction of motor neurons resulting in muscle atrophy
,PATHO FINAL EXAM REVIEW QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS A GRADED 2026
10. What are the causes of hepatic encephalopathy?
Alcoholism
Please choose the tool you would use to assess your clients level of consciousness?
Glascow coma scale
If your client’s toes are pointed downward, and the head and neck are arched backward, we would
chart that posture as?
Decerebrate
What happens in our body during the fight and flight response?
Increased heart rate and dilated pupils
What is an early symptom of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)?
Muscle twitching
Migraines are periodic severe headaches that may be completely incapacitating?
True
What manifestations would you see with a client diagnosed with Parkinsons disease?
Muscle rigidity, shuffling gait, muscular rigidity, masklike facial expressions
What manifestations of Huntington’s chorea?
Abrupt, bizarre, involuntary dance like movements, decline in mental functions
Does insufficient circulating blood volume describe what is happening in the body that is experiencing
hypovolemia?
True
,PATHO FINAL EXAM REVIEW QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS A GRADED 2026
Myasthenia gravis results in progressive muscle weakness?
True
Symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are caused by a deficit in which neurotransmitter?
Dopamine
Which type of intravenous solutions would cause fluid to shift from extracellular space to the
intracellular space?
Hypotonic solution
Which describes the pathophysiology of multiple sclerosis (MS)?
Demyelination of the neurons
Cerebral palsy can be described as:
Irreversible brain damage before, during, or after birth or infancy
Symptoms of transient ischemic attacks can last several days to several weeks?
False
What are the risk factors of an embolic stroke?
Arrial fibrillation, valvular prosthetics, rheumatic heart disease
What is ventilation?
It is the process of moving air into the lungs with subsequent distribution to the alveoli.
What is the pathophysiology of exercise-induced asthma?
Bronchospasm after exercise.
, PATHO FINAL EXAM REVIEW QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS A GRADED 2026
How is mycobacterium tuberculosis transmitted?
Airborne droplets inhaled into the lungs.
What is a pneumothorax?
A collapsed lung caused by the escape of air into the pleural cavity.
What is the difference between Asthma and Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Airflow obstruction caused by asthma is reversible whereas airflow obstruction in COPD is irreversible.
How does hemoglobin affect a client’s respiratory status?
Decreased hemoglobin causes reduced oxygen carrying capacity.
How doe hypoxia develop with pneumonia?
Oxygen diffusion is impaired by the congestion.
What causes contact dermatitis?
Contact with a skin allergen.
What causes a cold sore?
Herpes simplex type 1.
Describe a partial – thickness burn
A burn area in which the epidermis and part of the dermis is destroyed.
What would you expect to find if your client is diagnosed with pediculosis?
The presence of nits at the base of hair shafts.
Which burn extends into the deep tissues and has blackened skin?
Third degree burn.
