NSG 3280 Pathophysiology Exam
1,2,3, 4 Questions and 100% Correct
Verified Answers 2026 Update
GUARANTEE
Exam 1: Cellular Regulation, Inflammation, & Metabolism (1–25)
1. A patient with chronic hepatitis B develops liver fibrosis. The nurse understands
this is an example of:
A. Dysplasia
B. Metaplasia
C. Pathologic hyperplasia
D. Physiologic hypertrophy
✔✔✔ANSW✔✔: C. Pathologic hyperplasia
Rationale: Pathologic hyperplasia is abnormal cell division in response to a
persistent stressor (e.g., hepatitis viruses, chronic inflammation). It increases the
risk of cancer (e.g., hepatocellular carcinoma).
2. A patient’s arterial blood gas shows pH 7.25, PaCO₂ 55 mm Hg, HCO₃⁻ 24
mEq/L. This indicates:
A. Metabolic acidosis
B. Metabolic alkalosis
C. Respiratory acidosis
D. Respiratory alkalosis
,✔✔✔ANSW✔✔: C. Respiratory acidosis
Rationale: Low pH (acidemia) + elevated PaCO₂ (>45) with normal HCO₃⁻
indicates acute respiratory acidosis due to hypoventilation.
3. Which of the following best describes necrosis?
A. Programmed cell death
B. Uncontrolled cell division
C. Cell death due to injury
D. Reversible cell swelling
✔✔✔ANSW✔✔: C. Cell death due to injury
Rationale: Necrosis is pathologic cell death caused by external factors (ischemia,
toxins, trauma). Apoptosis is programmed, normal cell death.
4. A patient ingests a large dose of acetaminophen. Which organ is most vulnerable
to toxicity?
A. Kidney
B. Heart
C. Liver
D. Lungs
✔✔✔ANSW✔✔: C. Liver
Rationale: Acetaminophen is metabolized in the liver via cytochrome P450.
Overdose depletes glutathione, leading to toxic metabolite (NAPQI) accumulation
and hepatic necrosis.
5. What is the primary intracellular cation?
A. Sodium
B. Calcium
C. Chloride
D. Potassium
,✔✔✔ANSW✔✔: D. Potassium
Rationale: Potassium (K⁺) maintains resting membrane potential, osmolality, and
enzyme function inside cells. Sodium is the main extracellular cation.
6. A patient with prolonged vomiting has shallow respirations, confusion, and a
serum pH of 7.55. This is:
A. Respiratory acidosis
B. Metabolic alkalosis
C. Metabolic acidosis
D. Respiratory alkalosis
✔✔✔ANSW✔✔: B. Metabolic alkalosis
Rationale: Vomiting causes loss of gastric acid (HCl), increasing HCO₃⁻ retention,
raising pH >7.45. Hypoventilation compensates.
7. Which immunoglobulin is elevated in parasitic infections and allergies?
A. IgA
B. IgE
C. IgG
D. IgM
✔✔✔ANSW✔✔: B. IgE
Rationale: IgE binds to mast cells and basophils, triggering histamine release. It
defends against parasites but causes Type I hypersensitivity in allergies.
8. A patient with sickle cell trait (AS) is at risk for sickling primarily under which
condition?
A. High oxygen tension
B. Hypoxia or dehydration
C. Alkalosis
D. Iron overload
, ✔✔✔ANSW✔✔: B. Hypoxia or dehydration
Rationale: Hypoxia, acidosis, dehydration, or infection triggers HbS
polymerization, causing RBC sickling. Trait carriers are generally asymptomatic
except under extreme stress.
9. The nurse identifies which finding as a classic sign of inflammation?
A. Pallor and cool skin
B. Paresthesia and paralysis
C. Rubor, tumor, calor, dolor
D. Ecchymosis and petechiae
✔✔✔ANSW✔✔: C. Rubor, tumor, calor, dolor
Rationale: Redness (rubor), swelling (tumor), heat (calor), pain (dolor) result from
vasodilation, increased permeability, and chemical mediators.
10. Which lab finding suggests acute inflammation?
A. Elevated CRP and ESR
B. Low WBC count
C. Low platelets
D. High HbA1c
✔✔✔ANSW✔✔: A. Elevated CRP and ESR
Rationale: C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) are
acute-phase reactants that rise within hours of inflammation or infection.
11. The most common cause of hyponatremia in hospitalized patients is:
A. Diarrhea
B. SIADH
C. Kidney stones
D. Hyperaldosteronism
1,2,3, 4 Questions and 100% Correct
Verified Answers 2026 Update
GUARANTEE
Exam 1: Cellular Regulation, Inflammation, & Metabolism (1–25)
1. A patient with chronic hepatitis B develops liver fibrosis. The nurse understands
this is an example of:
A. Dysplasia
B. Metaplasia
C. Pathologic hyperplasia
D. Physiologic hypertrophy
✔✔✔ANSW✔✔: C. Pathologic hyperplasia
Rationale: Pathologic hyperplasia is abnormal cell division in response to a
persistent stressor (e.g., hepatitis viruses, chronic inflammation). It increases the
risk of cancer (e.g., hepatocellular carcinoma).
2. A patient’s arterial blood gas shows pH 7.25, PaCO₂ 55 mm Hg, HCO₃⁻ 24
mEq/L. This indicates:
A. Metabolic acidosis
B. Metabolic alkalosis
C. Respiratory acidosis
D. Respiratory alkalosis
,✔✔✔ANSW✔✔: C. Respiratory acidosis
Rationale: Low pH (acidemia) + elevated PaCO₂ (>45) with normal HCO₃⁻
indicates acute respiratory acidosis due to hypoventilation.
3. Which of the following best describes necrosis?
A. Programmed cell death
B. Uncontrolled cell division
C. Cell death due to injury
D. Reversible cell swelling
✔✔✔ANSW✔✔: C. Cell death due to injury
Rationale: Necrosis is pathologic cell death caused by external factors (ischemia,
toxins, trauma). Apoptosis is programmed, normal cell death.
4. A patient ingests a large dose of acetaminophen. Which organ is most vulnerable
to toxicity?
A. Kidney
B. Heart
C. Liver
D. Lungs
✔✔✔ANSW✔✔: C. Liver
Rationale: Acetaminophen is metabolized in the liver via cytochrome P450.
Overdose depletes glutathione, leading to toxic metabolite (NAPQI) accumulation
and hepatic necrosis.
5. What is the primary intracellular cation?
A. Sodium
B. Calcium
C. Chloride
D. Potassium
,✔✔✔ANSW✔✔: D. Potassium
Rationale: Potassium (K⁺) maintains resting membrane potential, osmolality, and
enzyme function inside cells. Sodium is the main extracellular cation.
6. A patient with prolonged vomiting has shallow respirations, confusion, and a
serum pH of 7.55. This is:
A. Respiratory acidosis
B. Metabolic alkalosis
C. Metabolic acidosis
D. Respiratory alkalosis
✔✔✔ANSW✔✔: B. Metabolic alkalosis
Rationale: Vomiting causes loss of gastric acid (HCl), increasing HCO₃⁻ retention,
raising pH >7.45. Hypoventilation compensates.
7. Which immunoglobulin is elevated in parasitic infections and allergies?
A. IgA
B. IgE
C. IgG
D. IgM
✔✔✔ANSW✔✔: B. IgE
Rationale: IgE binds to mast cells and basophils, triggering histamine release. It
defends against parasites but causes Type I hypersensitivity in allergies.
8. A patient with sickle cell trait (AS) is at risk for sickling primarily under which
condition?
A. High oxygen tension
B. Hypoxia or dehydration
C. Alkalosis
D. Iron overload
, ✔✔✔ANSW✔✔: B. Hypoxia or dehydration
Rationale: Hypoxia, acidosis, dehydration, or infection triggers HbS
polymerization, causing RBC sickling. Trait carriers are generally asymptomatic
except under extreme stress.
9. The nurse identifies which finding as a classic sign of inflammation?
A. Pallor and cool skin
B. Paresthesia and paralysis
C. Rubor, tumor, calor, dolor
D. Ecchymosis and petechiae
✔✔✔ANSW✔✔: C. Rubor, tumor, calor, dolor
Rationale: Redness (rubor), swelling (tumor), heat (calor), pain (dolor) result from
vasodilation, increased permeability, and chemical mediators.
10. Which lab finding suggests acute inflammation?
A. Elevated CRP and ESR
B. Low WBC count
C. Low platelets
D. High HbA1c
✔✔✔ANSW✔✔: A. Elevated CRP and ESR
Rationale: C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) are
acute-phase reactants that rise within hours of inflammation or infection.
11. The most common cause of hyponatremia in hospitalized patients is:
A. Diarrhea
B. SIADH
C. Kidney stones
D. Hyperaldosteronism
