NURS 6501 ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
WALDEN UNIVERSITY MIDTERM EXAM
ACTUAL EXAM COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND
VERIFIED SOLUTIONS LATEST UPDATE THIS
YEAR
1
A 67-year-old patient with COPD has difficulty exhaling
fully due to airway narrowing. Which alteration best
explains air trapping?
A. Decreased surfactant
B. Loss of elastic recoil
C. Pulmonary fibrosis
D. Increased perfusion
Answer: B
Rationale: COPD involves destruction of elastin fibers,
leading to loss of elastic recoil and air trapping.
2
A patient’s ABG shows pH 7.30, PaCO₂ 52, HCO₃ 24.
What is the primary acid-base disorder?
A. Metabolic acidosis
B. Respiratory alkalosis
,C. Respiratory acidosis
D. Metabolic alkalosis
Answer: C
Rationale: Elevated PaCO₂ with low pH indicates
respiratory acidosis.
3
A genetic counselor explains a child inherits one mutated
allele from each parent causing enzyme deficiency. What
pattern does this describe?
A. X-linked recessive
B. Autosomal dominant
C. Mitochondrial
D. Autosomal recessive
Answer: D
Rationale: Autosomal recessive requires two mutated
alleles for expression.
4
During wound healing, macrophages release cytokines that
attract fibroblasts. What phase is this?
A. Remodeling
B. Maturation
,C. Proliferative
D. Hemostasis
Answer: C
Rationale: The proliferative phase features fibroblast
activity and collagen deposition.
5
A patient with chronic renal failure has hyperkalemia and
peaked T waves. What causes hyperkalemia?
A. Increased Aldosterone
B. Impaired excretion
C. Excess bicarbonate
D. Increased filtration
Answer: B
Rationale: Kidney failure impairs potassium excretion.
6
In septic shock, which mechanism lowers blood pressure?
A. Increased afterload
B. Systemic vasodilation
C. Coronary vasoconstriction
D. Increased preload
, Answer: B
Rationale: Sepsis causes widespread vasodilation and
hypotension.
7
A patient with Graves’ disease shows exophthalmos and
weight loss. What pathology drives symptoms?
A. Autoimmune stimulation of TSH receptors
B. Decreased T3 production
C. Tumor compression
D. Iodine deficiency
Answer: A
Rationale: Graves’ is caused by autoimmune TSH-receptor
stimulation.
8
Atherosclerotic plaques form from chronic endothelial
injury. Which is first step?
A. Smooth muscle apoptosis
B. Lipid accumulation
C. Platelet aggregation
D. Elastin destruction
WALDEN UNIVERSITY MIDTERM EXAM
ACTUAL EXAM COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND
VERIFIED SOLUTIONS LATEST UPDATE THIS
YEAR
1
A 67-year-old patient with COPD has difficulty exhaling
fully due to airway narrowing. Which alteration best
explains air trapping?
A. Decreased surfactant
B. Loss of elastic recoil
C. Pulmonary fibrosis
D. Increased perfusion
Answer: B
Rationale: COPD involves destruction of elastin fibers,
leading to loss of elastic recoil and air trapping.
2
A patient’s ABG shows pH 7.30, PaCO₂ 52, HCO₃ 24.
What is the primary acid-base disorder?
A. Metabolic acidosis
B. Respiratory alkalosis
,C. Respiratory acidosis
D. Metabolic alkalosis
Answer: C
Rationale: Elevated PaCO₂ with low pH indicates
respiratory acidosis.
3
A genetic counselor explains a child inherits one mutated
allele from each parent causing enzyme deficiency. What
pattern does this describe?
A. X-linked recessive
B. Autosomal dominant
C. Mitochondrial
D. Autosomal recessive
Answer: D
Rationale: Autosomal recessive requires two mutated
alleles for expression.
4
During wound healing, macrophages release cytokines that
attract fibroblasts. What phase is this?
A. Remodeling
B. Maturation
,C. Proliferative
D. Hemostasis
Answer: C
Rationale: The proliferative phase features fibroblast
activity and collagen deposition.
5
A patient with chronic renal failure has hyperkalemia and
peaked T waves. What causes hyperkalemia?
A. Increased Aldosterone
B. Impaired excretion
C. Excess bicarbonate
D. Increased filtration
Answer: B
Rationale: Kidney failure impairs potassium excretion.
6
In septic shock, which mechanism lowers blood pressure?
A. Increased afterload
B. Systemic vasodilation
C. Coronary vasoconstriction
D. Increased preload
, Answer: B
Rationale: Sepsis causes widespread vasodilation and
hypotension.
7
A patient with Graves’ disease shows exophthalmos and
weight loss. What pathology drives symptoms?
A. Autoimmune stimulation of TSH receptors
B. Decreased T3 production
C. Tumor compression
D. Iodine deficiency
Answer: A
Rationale: Graves’ is caused by autoimmune TSH-receptor
stimulation.
8
Atherosclerotic plaques form from chronic endothelial
injury. Which is first step?
A. Smooth muscle apoptosis
B. Lipid accumulation
C. Platelet aggregation
D. Elastin destruction
