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NURS 6501 ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY WALDEN
UNIVERSITY FINAL EXAM 2026-2027 BANK QUESTIONS
WITH DETAILED VERIFIED ANSWERS EXAM QUESTIONS
WILL COME FROM HERE (100% CORRECT ANSWERS A+
GRADED
1. A patient with a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD) presents with increased dyspnea and pursed-lip breathing. This
breathing pattern is an adaptive mechanism that primarily helps to:
A. Increase oxygen intake
B. Decrease carbon dioxide production
C. Prevent alveolar collapse during exhalation
D. Strengthen the diaphragm muscle
Answer: C. Pursed-lip breathing creates positive end-expiratory
pressure (PEEP) in the airways, which helps prevent premature airway
closure and alveolar collapse during exhalation in patients with COPD.
2. Which of the following blood gas abnormalities is characteristic of an
acute asthma exacerbation in the early stages?
A. Increased PaCO₂ and decreased pH
B. Decreased PaCO₂ and increased pH
C. Increased PaCO₂ and increased HCO₃⁻
D. Normal PaCO₂ and decreased pH
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Answer: B. Early in an acute asthma attack, hyperventilation leads to
increased CO₂ removal, causing respiratory alkalosis (decreased PaCO₂,
increased pH).
3. A patient with chronic hypertension develops left ventricular
hypertrophy. This cardiac adaptation is an example of:
A. Pathologic atrophy
B. Pathologic hyperplasia
C. Pathologic hypertrophy
D. Physiologic metaplasia
Answer: C. Chronic pressure overload from hypertension causes an
increase in cardiac myocyte size, which is pathologic hypertrophy.
4. In a patient with hypovolemic shock, which of the following
compensatory mechanisms is activated first?
A. Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system
B. Baroreceptor-mediated sympathetic nervous system activation
C. Increased erythropoietin production
D. Antidiuretic hormone release from the posterior pituitary
Answer: B. Baroreceptors detect decreased arterial pressure and
immediately activate the sympathetic nervous system to increase heart
rate and vasoconstriction.
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5. Which type of hypersensitivity reaction is involved in the
pathogenesis of allergic asthma?
A. Type I (IgE-mediated)
B. Type II (Antibody-mediated cytotoxicity)
C. Type III (Immune complex-mediated)
D. Type IV (Cell-mediated)
Answer: A. Allergic asthma is triggered by allergen cross-linking IgE on
mast cells, causing degranulation and release of inflammatory
mediators.
6. A patient with a 40-pack-year smoking history develops a non-small
cell lung carcinoma. Which gene mutation is most commonly associated
with this type of lung cancer?
A. BRCA1
B. p53
C. APC
D. NF1
Answer: B. Mutations in the p53 tumor suppressor gene are among the
most common genetic alterations found in smoking-related non-small
cell lung cancer.
7. The presence of a "boot-shaped" heart on a chest radiograph is
classically associated with which congenital heart defect?
A. Atrial septal defect
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B. Ventricular septal defect
C. Tetralogy of Fallot
D. Patent ductus arteriosus
Answer: C. The boot-shaped heart (coeur en sabot) in Tetralogy of
Fallot results from right ventricular hypertrophy and an upturned
cardiac apex.
8. In diabetic ketoacidosis, which of the following laboratory findings is
expected?
A. Increased serum bicarbonate
B. Decreased anion gap
C. Increased serum osmolality
D. Decreased serum potassium
Answer: C. Hyperglycemia and the presence of ketone bodies increase
serum osmolality. Initial potassium is usually normal or high due to
acidosis shifting K+ extracellularly, despite total body depletion.
9. The primary mechanism of edema formation in patients with
nephrotic syndrome is:
A. Increased capillary hydrostatic pressure
B. Decreased plasma oncotic pressure
C. Lymphatic obstruction
D. Increased capillary permeability
NURS 6501 ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY WALDEN
UNIVERSITY FINAL EXAM 2026-2027 BANK QUESTIONS
WITH DETAILED VERIFIED ANSWERS EXAM QUESTIONS
WILL COME FROM HERE (100% CORRECT ANSWERS A+
GRADED
1. A patient with a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD) presents with increased dyspnea and pursed-lip breathing. This
breathing pattern is an adaptive mechanism that primarily helps to:
A. Increase oxygen intake
B. Decrease carbon dioxide production
C. Prevent alveolar collapse during exhalation
D. Strengthen the diaphragm muscle
Answer: C. Pursed-lip breathing creates positive end-expiratory
pressure (PEEP) in the airways, which helps prevent premature airway
closure and alveolar collapse during exhalation in patients with COPD.
2. Which of the following blood gas abnormalities is characteristic of an
acute asthma exacerbation in the early stages?
A. Increased PaCO₂ and decreased pH
B. Decreased PaCO₂ and increased pH
C. Increased PaCO₂ and increased HCO₃⁻
D. Normal PaCO₂ and decreased pH
,2|Page
Answer: B. Early in an acute asthma attack, hyperventilation leads to
increased CO₂ removal, causing respiratory alkalosis (decreased PaCO₂,
increased pH).
3. A patient with chronic hypertension develops left ventricular
hypertrophy. This cardiac adaptation is an example of:
A. Pathologic atrophy
B. Pathologic hyperplasia
C. Pathologic hypertrophy
D. Physiologic metaplasia
Answer: C. Chronic pressure overload from hypertension causes an
increase in cardiac myocyte size, which is pathologic hypertrophy.
4. In a patient with hypovolemic shock, which of the following
compensatory mechanisms is activated first?
A. Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system
B. Baroreceptor-mediated sympathetic nervous system activation
C. Increased erythropoietin production
D. Antidiuretic hormone release from the posterior pituitary
Answer: B. Baroreceptors detect decreased arterial pressure and
immediately activate the sympathetic nervous system to increase heart
rate and vasoconstriction.
,3|Page
5. Which type of hypersensitivity reaction is involved in the
pathogenesis of allergic asthma?
A. Type I (IgE-mediated)
B. Type II (Antibody-mediated cytotoxicity)
C. Type III (Immune complex-mediated)
D. Type IV (Cell-mediated)
Answer: A. Allergic asthma is triggered by allergen cross-linking IgE on
mast cells, causing degranulation and release of inflammatory
mediators.
6. A patient with a 40-pack-year smoking history develops a non-small
cell lung carcinoma. Which gene mutation is most commonly associated
with this type of lung cancer?
A. BRCA1
B. p53
C. APC
D. NF1
Answer: B. Mutations in the p53 tumor suppressor gene are among the
most common genetic alterations found in smoking-related non-small
cell lung cancer.
7. The presence of a "boot-shaped" heart on a chest radiograph is
classically associated with which congenital heart defect?
A. Atrial septal defect
, 4|Page
B. Ventricular septal defect
C. Tetralogy of Fallot
D. Patent ductus arteriosus
Answer: C. The boot-shaped heart (coeur en sabot) in Tetralogy of
Fallot results from right ventricular hypertrophy and an upturned
cardiac apex.
8. In diabetic ketoacidosis, which of the following laboratory findings is
expected?
A. Increased serum bicarbonate
B. Decreased anion gap
C. Increased serum osmolality
D. Decreased serum potassium
Answer: C. Hyperglycemia and the presence of ketone bodies increase
serum osmolality. Initial potassium is usually normal or high due to
acidosis shifting K+ extracellularly, despite total body depletion.
9. The primary mechanism of edema formation in patients with
nephrotic syndrome is:
A. Increased capillary hydrostatic pressure
B. Decreased plasma oncotic pressure
C. Lymphatic obstruction
D. Increased capillary permeability
