Essentials of Pathophysiology - Rasmussen
Question
How do kidney tubules maintain a normal pH in response to fever and
respiratory infection?
A. Excrete bicarbonate and retain acid
B. Secrete acid and reabsorb bicarbonate
C. Increase urine output
D. Decrease filtration rate - VERIFIED ANSWER- B. Secrete acid and
reabsorb bicarbonate
Rationale: The kidneys maintain acid-base balance by actively secreting
hydrogen ions (acid) into urine and reabsorbing/regenerating bicarbonate.
Question
Why does metabolic acidosis occur?
A. Excessive base intake
B. Excessive production of fixed acids (DKA, lactic acidosis), loss of buffers
(bicarbonate loss), or inability of kidney to eliminate acids (renal failure)
C. Respiratory depression
D. Excessive vomiting - VERIFIED ANSWER- B. Excessive production of fixed
acids (DKA, lactic acidosis), loss of buffers (bicarbonate loss), or inability
of kidney to eliminate acids (renal failure)
Rationale: Metabolic acidosis results from acid gain, bicarbonate loss, or failed
renal acid excretion, with decreased blood pH and bicarbonate.
Question
What is the serum marker ordered when screening for prostate cancer?
A. CEA
,B. AFP
C. PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen)
D. CA-125 - VERIFIED ANSWER- C. PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen)
Rationale: PSA is a protein produced by prostate cells; elevated levels may
indicate prostate cancer, though benign conditions also increase PSA.
Question
What are complications of hydronephrosis?
A. Infection only
B. Ischemia and necrosis; swelling and buildup of fluid in the kidney; backflow,
swelling pressure
C. Hematuria and proteinuria
D. Hypertension and edema - VERIFIED ANSWER- B. Ischemia and necrosis;
swelling and buildup of fluid in the kidney; backflow, swelling pressure
Rationale: Hydronephrosis causes pressure-induced renal damage, leading to
ischemia, tubular atrophy, fibrosis, and eventually irreversible nephron loss.
Question
What is the cause of increased glomerular filtration rate?
A. Decreased renal blood flow
B. Increase in the glomerular capillary hydrostatic pressure
C. Increased capsular pressure
D. Decreased plasma proteins - VERIFIED ANSWER- B. Increase in the
glomerular capillary hydrostatic pressure
Rationale: GFR increases when glomerular capillary hydrostatic pressure
rises, forcing more fluid across the filtration membrane.
Question
What is the most common cause of pyelonephritis?
A. Klebsiella
B. E. coli; ascending UTI
C. Proteus
,D. Enterococcus - VERIFIED ANSWER- B. E. coli; ascending UTI
Rationale: Escherichia coli is the most common pathogen causing
pyelonephritis, typically ascending from the lower urinary tract.
Question
What are the risk factors for developing chronic renal failure?
A. Young age, female gender
B. Too much NSAIDs, chronic kidney disease, diabetes type 1, hypertension
C. Low protein diet, exercise
D. High fluid intake, vegetarian diet - VERIFIED ANSWER- B. Too much
NSAIDs, chronic kidney disease, diabetes type 1, hypertension
Rationale: Major risk factors include diabetes, hypertension, chronic NSAID
use, and pre-existing kidney disease, all causing progressive nephron damage.
Question
Fibrotic tubules with deficiency in spermatogenesis, infertility.
A. Testicular torsion
B. Cryptorchidism Complications
C. Hydrocele
D. Orchitis - VERIFIED ANSWER- B. Cryptorchidism Complications
Rationale: Cryptorchidism (undescended testes) leads to tubular fibrosis and
impaired spermatogenesis due to higher intra-abdominal temperature, causing
infertility if untreated.
Question
Absence of menstruation
A. Menorrhagia
B. Metrorrhagia
C. Amenorrhea
D. Dysmenorrhea - VERIFIED ANSWER- C. Amenorrhea
, Rationale: Amenorrhea is the absence of menstrual bleeding, which can be
primary (never menstruated) or secondary (cessation after previous periods).
Question
Hormonal disturbances, Stress, Neoplasms (ovarian, adrenal, pituitary tumors)
A. Dysmenorrhea Causes
B. Menorrhagia Causes
C. Amenorrhea Causes
D. Metrorrhagia Causes - VERIFIED ANSWER- C. Amenorrhea Causes
Rationale: Amenorrhea results from disruptions in the hypothalamic-pituitary-
ovarian axis, including hormonal imbalances, stress, and tumors affecting
these regulatory centers.
Question
Cardiovascular disease, Hypervolemia, Depression
A. Complications of Dialysis
B. Complications of Hypertension
C. Complications of Diabetes
D. Complications of Heart Failure - VERIFIED ANSWER- A. Complications of
Dialysis
Rationale: Dialysis patients experience cardiovascular complications from fluid
overload (hypervolemia) and significant psychological impact including
depression.
Question
Inflammation of the prostate. Most common association is E. coli.
A. Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy
B. Prostatitis
C. Prostate Cancer
D. Cystitis - VERIFIED ANSWER- B. Prostatitis
Rationale: Prostatitis is prostate inflammation, typically bacterial with E. coli
as the most common pathogen, causing pelvic pain and urinary symptoms.