PATHOPHYSIOLOGY MIDTERM
EXAM GUIDE WITH ALL CORRECT
ANSWERS UPDATED 2026.
Questions and answers
A patient has severe mental retardation caused by a deletion of part of
chromosome 5. What genetic disorder will the nurse see documented in the
chart?
Answer: Cri du chat syndrome
A 20-year-old pregnant female gives birth to a stillborn child. Autopsy reveals
that the fetus has 92 chromosomes. What term may be on the autopsy
report to describe this condition?
Answer: Tetraploidy
Why is potassium able to diffuse easily in and out of cells?
Answer: Because the resting plasma membrane is more permeable to
potassium
A runner has depleted all the oxygen available for muscle energy. Which of
the following will facilitate his continued muscle performance?
Answer: Anaerobic glycolysis
What causes the rapid change in the resting membrane potential that
initiates an action potential?
Answer: Sodium gates open, and sodium rushes into the cell, changing the
membrane potential from negative to positive.
A 12-year-old male is diagnosed with Klinefelter syndrome. His karyotype
would reveal which of the following?
Answer: XXY