COMPREHENSIVE EXAM BANK STYLED
FOR UNDERSTANDING PATHOPHYSIOLOGY, 7TH
EDITION BY HUETHER & MCCANCE. WITH CORRECT
ANSWERS AND RATIONALES. THIS REFLECTS KEY
CONCEPTS FROM MAJOR CHAPTERS (CELLULAR
BIOLOGY, GENETICS, FLUID/ELECTROLYTES,
INFLAMMATION, IMMUNITY, NEOPLASIA, AND
SYSTEMIC DISORDERS).
1. A cell is isotonic to its surroundings. If the cell is placed into a hypertonic solution, what will occur?
a. Water moves into the cell, causing it to swell.
b. Water moves out of the cell, causing it to shrink.
c. Sodium rushes into the cell.
d. No net movement of water.
Answer: b
Rationale: Hypertonic solution has higher solute concentration outside → water exits the cell →
crenation/shrinking.
2. Which cellular organelle contains hydrolytic enzymes necessary for intracellular digestion?
a. Peroxisome
b. Ribosome
c. Lysosome
d. Golgi apparatus
Answer: c
Rationale: Lysosomes contain acid hydrolases that break down cellular debris and pathogens.
3. A patient has edema due to decreased plasma proteins. Which Starling force is primarily affected?
a. Capillary hydrostatic pressure
b. Interstitial hydrostatic pressure
,c. Plasma oncotic pressure
d. Interstitial oncotic pressure
Answer: c
Rationale: Low plasma proteins → reduced plasma oncotic pressure → fluid remains in interstitium.
4. During active transport, which feature is essential?
a. Movement down a concentration gradient
b. Use of ATP
c. No saturation kinetics
d. Movement of water only
Answer: b
Rationale: Active transport requires ATP to move solutes against gradient.
5. Which form of gangrene involves bacterial infection with gas production?
a. Dry gangrene
b. Wet gangrene
c. Gas gangrene
d. Caseous necrosis
Answer: c
Rationale: Gas gangrene (clostridial myonecrosis) produces hydrogen sulfide and CO₂.
6. Apoptosis is characterized by:
a. Swelling of organelles
b. Rupture of cell membrane
c. Caspase activation and cell shrinkage
d. Random DNA degradation
Answer: c
Rationale: Apoptosis = programmed cell death with caspase cascade, nuclear fragmentation, no
inflammation.
, 7. Which genetic disorder results from a trinucleotide repeat expansion?
a. Down syndrome
b. Huntington disease
c. Turner syndrome
d. Cystic fibrosis
Answer: b
Rationale: Huntington = CAG repeat on chromosome 4.
8. A newborn has a karyotype 47,XX,+21. This describes:
a. Turner syndrome
b. Klinefelter syndrome
c. Down syndrome (trisomy 21)
d. Edward syndrome
Answer: c
Rationale: +21 = trisomy 21 → Down syndrome.
9. Which electrolyte imbalance is most life-threatening due to cardiac dysrhythmias?
a. Hypocalcemia
b. Hyponatremia
c. Hyperkalemia
d. Hypomagnesemia
Answer: c
Rationale: Hyperkalemia → peaked T waves, widened QRS, ventricular fibrillation.
10. A patient has a pH 7.25, PaCO₂ 50 mm Hg, HCO₃⁻ 24 mEq/L. This is:
a. Metabolic acidosis
b. Metabolic alkalosis
c. Respiratory acidosis
d. Respiratory alkalosis
FOR UNDERSTANDING PATHOPHYSIOLOGY, 7TH
EDITION BY HUETHER & MCCANCE. WITH CORRECT
ANSWERS AND RATIONALES. THIS REFLECTS KEY
CONCEPTS FROM MAJOR CHAPTERS (CELLULAR
BIOLOGY, GENETICS, FLUID/ELECTROLYTES,
INFLAMMATION, IMMUNITY, NEOPLASIA, AND
SYSTEMIC DISORDERS).
1. A cell is isotonic to its surroundings. If the cell is placed into a hypertonic solution, what will occur?
a. Water moves into the cell, causing it to swell.
b. Water moves out of the cell, causing it to shrink.
c. Sodium rushes into the cell.
d. No net movement of water.
Answer: b
Rationale: Hypertonic solution has higher solute concentration outside → water exits the cell →
crenation/shrinking.
2. Which cellular organelle contains hydrolytic enzymes necessary for intracellular digestion?
a. Peroxisome
b. Ribosome
c. Lysosome
d. Golgi apparatus
Answer: c
Rationale: Lysosomes contain acid hydrolases that break down cellular debris and pathogens.
3. A patient has edema due to decreased plasma proteins. Which Starling force is primarily affected?
a. Capillary hydrostatic pressure
b. Interstitial hydrostatic pressure
,c. Plasma oncotic pressure
d. Interstitial oncotic pressure
Answer: c
Rationale: Low plasma proteins → reduced plasma oncotic pressure → fluid remains in interstitium.
4. During active transport, which feature is essential?
a. Movement down a concentration gradient
b. Use of ATP
c. No saturation kinetics
d. Movement of water only
Answer: b
Rationale: Active transport requires ATP to move solutes against gradient.
5. Which form of gangrene involves bacterial infection with gas production?
a. Dry gangrene
b. Wet gangrene
c. Gas gangrene
d. Caseous necrosis
Answer: c
Rationale: Gas gangrene (clostridial myonecrosis) produces hydrogen sulfide and CO₂.
6. Apoptosis is characterized by:
a. Swelling of organelles
b. Rupture of cell membrane
c. Caspase activation and cell shrinkage
d. Random DNA degradation
Answer: c
Rationale: Apoptosis = programmed cell death with caspase cascade, nuclear fragmentation, no
inflammation.
, 7. Which genetic disorder results from a trinucleotide repeat expansion?
a. Down syndrome
b. Huntington disease
c. Turner syndrome
d. Cystic fibrosis
Answer: b
Rationale: Huntington = CAG repeat on chromosome 4.
8. A newborn has a karyotype 47,XX,+21. This describes:
a. Turner syndrome
b. Klinefelter syndrome
c. Down syndrome (trisomy 21)
d. Edward syndrome
Answer: c
Rationale: +21 = trisomy 21 → Down syndrome.
9. Which electrolyte imbalance is most life-threatening due to cardiac dysrhythmias?
a. Hypocalcemia
b. Hyponatremia
c. Hyperkalemia
d. Hypomagnesemia
Answer: c
Rationale: Hyperkalemia → peaked T waves, widened QRS, ventricular fibrillation.
10. A patient has a pH 7.25, PaCO₂ 50 mm Hg, HCO₃⁻ 24 mEq/L. This is:
a. Metabolic acidosis
b. Metabolic alkalosis
c. Respiratory acidosis
d. Respiratory alkalosis
