ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY EXAM 2 200 PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH
DETAILED ANSWERS VERSION 200 QUESTIONS | OA PRACTICE EXAM
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SECTION 1: CARDIOVASCULAR PATHOPHYSIOLOGY (Questions 1-35)
Q001. A patient with hypertension develops left ventricular hypertrophy. This is an example of
which type of cellular adaptation?
a) Hypertrophy
b) Hyperplasia
c) Metaplasia
d) Dysplasia
Answer: a
Explanation: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size leading to organ enlargement. The left
ventricle hypertrophies in response to increased afterload from hypertension .
Q002. A patient with chronic heart failure develops peripheral edema. This is primarily due to:
a) Decreased hydrostatic pressure
b) Increased hydrostatic pressure
c) Decreased capillary permeability
d) Increased plasma oncotic pressure
Answer: b
Explanation: In heart failure, reduced cardiac output leads to venous congestion and increased
capillary hydrostatic pressure, forcing fluid into the interstitial space .
Q003. Which finding is characteristic of left-sided heart failure?
,a) Pulmonary crackles
b) Jugular venous distention
c) Peripheral edema
d) Hepatomegaly
Answer: a
Explanation: Left-sided heart failure causes pulmonary congestion, presenting with dyspnea,
crackles, and orthopnea. Right-sided failure causes systemic congestion (JVD, peripheral edema)
.
Q004. A patient with right-sided heart failure would most likely present with:
a) Pulmonary crackles
b) Jugular venous distention
c) Orthopnea
d) Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea
Answer: b
Explanation: Right-sided heart failure causes systemic venous congestion, leading to jugular
venous distention, hepatomegaly, and peripheral edema .
Q005. A patient with a myocardial infarction has elevated levels of which cardiac biomarker?
a) C-reactive protein
b) Troponin
c) B-type natriuretic peptide
d) Homocysteine
Answer: b
Explanation: Cardiac troponin is the most sensitive and specific biomarker for myocardial injury.
Elevation indicates myocardial necrosis .
,Q006. A patient with heart failure has elevated levels of which biomarker?
a) Troponin
b) B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP)
c) Creatine kinase-MB
d) Myoglobin
Answer: b
Explanation: BNP is released from ventricular myocytes in response to increased wall tension,
making it a valuable marker for heart failure .
Q007. Which ECG finding is diagnostic of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI)?
a) T wave inversion
b) ST-segment elevation in two contiguous leads
c) Pathologic Q waves
d) Prolonged QT interval
Answer: b
Explanation: STEMI is diagnosed by ST-segment elevation of at least 1 mm in two contiguous
leads (or 2 mm in precordial leads) .
Q008. A patient with pericarditis would have which ECG finding?
a) ST-segment elevation in a single lead
b) Diffuse ST-segment elevation
c) ST-segment depression
d) Pathologic Q waves
Answer: b
Explanation: Pericarditis typically presents with diffuse ST-segment elevation across multiple
leads, often with PR segment depression .
, Q009. A patient with atrial fibrillation has which ECG finding?
a) Sawtooth waves
b) Absent P waves with irregularly irregular rhythm
c) Wide QRS complexes
d) Prolonged PR interval
Answer: b
Explanation: Atrial fibrillation is characterized by absent P waves and an irregularly irregular
ventricular response .
Q010. A patient with atrial flutter has which ECG finding?
a) Sawtooth waves (flutter waves)
b) Absent P waves
c) Wide QRS complexes
d) Prolonged PR interval
Answer: a
Explanation: Atrial flutter is characterized by sawtooth flutter waves, typically at a rate of 250-
350 bpm .
Q011. A patient with ventricular tachycardia would have which ECG finding?
a) Narrow QRS complexes
b) Wide QRS complexes (>120 ms) at a rate >100 bpm
c) Absent P waves with irregular rhythm
d) Prolonged PR interval
Answer: b
Explanation: Ventricular tachycardia presents with wide QRS complexes (>120 ms) at a rate
typically >100 bpm .
DETAILED ANSWERS VERSION 200 QUESTIONS | OA PRACTICE EXAM
---
SECTION 1: CARDIOVASCULAR PATHOPHYSIOLOGY (Questions 1-35)
Q001. A patient with hypertension develops left ventricular hypertrophy. This is an example of
which type of cellular adaptation?
a) Hypertrophy
b) Hyperplasia
c) Metaplasia
d) Dysplasia
Answer: a
Explanation: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size leading to organ enlargement. The left
ventricle hypertrophies in response to increased afterload from hypertension .
Q002. A patient with chronic heart failure develops peripheral edema. This is primarily due to:
a) Decreased hydrostatic pressure
b) Increased hydrostatic pressure
c) Decreased capillary permeability
d) Increased plasma oncotic pressure
Answer: b
Explanation: In heart failure, reduced cardiac output leads to venous congestion and increased
capillary hydrostatic pressure, forcing fluid into the interstitial space .
Q003. Which finding is characteristic of left-sided heart failure?
,a) Pulmonary crackles
b) Jugular venous distention
c) Peripheral edema
d) Hepatomegaly
Answer: a
Explanation: Left-sided heart failure causes pulmonary congestion, presenting with dyspnea,
crackles, and orthopnea. Right-sided failure causes systemic congestion (JVD, peripheral edema)
.
Q004. A patient with right-sided heart failure would most likely present with:
a) Pulmonary crackles
b) Jugular venous distention
c) Orthopnea
d) Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea
Answer: b
Explanation: Right-sided heart failure causes systemic venous congestion, leading to jugular
venous distention, hepatomegaly, and peripheral edema .
Q005. A patient with a myocardial infarction has elevated levels of which cardiac biomarker?
a) C-reactive protein
b) Troponin
c) B-type natriuretic peptide
d) Homocysteine
Answer: b
Explanation: Cardiac troponin is the most sensitive and specific biomarker for myocardial injury.
Elevation indicates myocardial necrosis .
,Q006. A patient with heart failure has elevated levels of which biomarker?
a) Troponin
b) B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP)
c) Creatine kinase-MB
d) Myoglobin
Answer: b
Explanation: BNP is released from ventricular myocytes in response to increased wall tension,
making it a valuable marker for heart failure .
Q007. Which ECG finding is diagnostic of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI)?
a) T wave inversion
b) ST-segment elevation in two contiguous leads
c) Pathologic Q waves
d) Prolonged QT interval
Answer: b
Explanation: STEMI is diagnosed by ST-segment elevation of at least 1 mm in two contiguous
leads (or 2 mm in precordial leads) .
Q008. A patient with pericarditis would have which ECG finding?
a) ST-segment elevation in a single lead
b) Diffuse ST-segment elevation
c) ST-segment depression
d) Pathologic Q waves
Answer: b
Explanation: Pericarditis typically presents with diffuse ST-segment elevation across multiple
leads, often with PR segment depression .
, Q009. A patient with atrial fibrillation has which ECG finding?
a) Sawtooth waves
b) Absent P waves with irregularly irregular rhythm
c) Wide QRS complexes
d) Prolonged PR interval
Answer: b
Explanation: Atrial fibrillation is characterized by absent P waves and an irregularly irregular
ventricular response .
Q010. A patient with atrial flutter has which ECG finding?
a) Sawtooth waves (flutter waves)
b) Absent P waves
c) Wide QRS complexes
d) Prolonged PR interval
Answer: a
Explanation: Atrial flutter is characterized by sawtooth flutter waves, typically at a rate of 250-
350 bpm .
Q011. A patient with ventricular tachycardia would have which ECG finding?
a) Narrow QRS complexes
b) Wide QRS complexes (>120 ms) at a rate >100 bpm
c) Absent P waves with irregular rhythm
d) Prolonged PR interval
Answer: b
Explanation: Ventricular tachycardia presents with wide QRS complexes (>120 ms) at a rate
typically >100 bpm .
