NU 606 Advanced Pathophysiology Practice Exam 3
2026 NU 606 Advanced Pathophysiology
Practice Exam 3 100 Expert Solved
Questions and Answers with Rationales
Questions 1–10
1. A patient with chronic kidney disease develops secondary hyperparathyroidism
primarily because of:
A. Increased calcium absorption from the gut
B. Reduced phosphate retention
C. Decreased vitamin D activation
D. Increased calcitonin secretion
Answer: C
Rationale: Diseased kidneys cannot adequately activate vitamin D, reducing calcium absorption
and stimulating parathyroid hormone release.
2. The hallmark pathophysiologic feature of septic shock is:
A. Severe vasoconstriction
B. Increased systemic vascular resistance
C. Peripheral vasodilation with capillary leakage
D. Decreased nitric oxide production
Answer: C
Rationale: Septic shock causes widespread vasodilation and increased capillary permeability
due to inflammatory mediators.
3. Which acid-base disorder is expected in prolonged nasogastric suctioning?
A. Respiratory acidosis
B. Metabolic alkalosis
C. Metabolic acidosis
D. Respiratory alkalosis
Answer: B
Rationale: Gastric fluid loss removes hydrochloric acid, increasing bicarbonate concentration
and causing metabolic alkalosis.
, NU 606 Advanced Pathophysiology Practice Exam 3
4. A patient with left-sided heart failure most commonly develops:
A. Peripheral edema
B. Jugular venous distention
C. Pulmonary congestion
D. Hepatomegaly
Answer: C
Rationale: Left-sided failure causes blood backup into pulmonary circulation, producing
pulmonary edema and dyspnea.
5. The primary defect in cystic fibrosis involves:
A. Sodium-potassium ATPase channels
B. Chloride transport channels
C. Calcium transport proteins
D. Glucose transport proteins
Answer: B
Rationale: Mutation of the CFTR gene impairs chloride transport, producing thick secretions.
6. Which mediator is most responsible for anaphylactic vasodilation and
bronchoconstriction?
A. Histamine
B. Erythropoietin
C. Insulin
D. Renin
Answer: A
Rationale: Histamine released from mast cells produces vasodilation, edema, and
bronchospasm.
7. Hyperkalemia is most likely to cause which ECG change first?
A. Flat T waves
B. Prolonged QT interval
C. Peaked T waves
D. ST depression
Answer: C
Rationale: Elevated potassium accelerates repolarization, producing peaked T waves.
, NU 606 Advanced Pathophysiology Practice Exam 3
8. Which process occurs during cellular apoptosis?
A. Cell swelling and rupture
B. Inflammatory tissue destruction
C. Programmed cell death without inflammation
D. Necrotic enzyme release
Answer: C
Rationale: Apoptosis is controlled cellular death with minimal inflammatory response.
9. A patient with emphysema primarily has difficulty with:
A. Inspiration
B. Air trapping during expiration
C. Pulmonary perfusion
D. Oxygen transport in blood
Answer: B
Rationale: Loss of elastic recoil causes expiratory airway collapse and air trapping.
10. The most common cause of nephrotic syndrome manifestations is:
A. Tubular obstruction
B. Glomerular membrane damage
C. Ureteral inflammation
D. Renal artery stenosis
Answer: B
Rationale: Increased glomerular permeability allows protein loss into urine.
Questions 11–20
11. Which hormone directly increases blood glucose levels during stress?
A. Insulin
B. Cortisol
C. Aldosterone
D. Calcitonin
Answer: B
Rationale: Cortisol promotes gluconeogenesis and insulin resistance.
2026 NU 606 Advanced Pathophysiology
Practice Exam 3 100 Expert Solved
Questions and Answers with Rationales
Questions 1–10
1. A patient with chronic kidney disease develops secondary hyperparathyroidism
primarily because of:
A. Increased calcium absorption from the gut
B. Reduced phosphate retention
C. Decreased vitamin D activation
D. Increased calcitonin secretion
Answer: C
Rationale: Diseased kidneys cannot adequately activate vitamin D, reducing calcium absorption
and stimulating parathyroid hormone release.
2. The hallmark pathophysiologic feature of septic shock is:
A. Severe vasoconstriction
B. Increased systemic vascular resistance
C. Peripheral vasodilation with capillary leakage
D. Decreased nitric oxide production
Answer: C
Rationale: Septic shock causes widespread vasodilation and increased capillary permeability
due to inflammatory mediators.
3. Which acid-base disorder is expected in prolonged nasogastric suctioning?
A. Respiratory acidosis
B. Metabolic alkalosis
C. Metabolic acidosis
D. Respiratory alkalosis
Answer: B
Rationale: Gastric fluid loss removes hydrochloric acid, increasing bicarbonate concentration
and causing metabolic alkalosis.
, NU 606 Advanced Pathophysiology Practice Exam 3
4. A patient with left-sided heart failure most commonly develops:
A. Peripheral edema
B. Jugular venous distention
C. Pulmonary congestion
D. Hepatomegaly
Answer: C
Rationale: Left-sided failure causes blood backup into pulmonary circulation, producing
pulmonary edema and dyspnea.
5. The primary defect in cystic fibrosis involves:
A. Sodium-potassium ATPase channels
B. Chloride transport channels
C. Calcium transport proteins
D. Glucose transport proteins
Answer: B
Rationale: Mutation of the CFTR gene impairs chloride transport, producing thick secretions.
6. Which mediator is most responsible for anaphylactic vasodilation and
bronchoconstriction?
A. Histamine
B. Erythropoietin
C. Insulin
D. Renin
Answer: A
Rationale: Histamine released from mast cells produces vasodilation, edema, and
bronchospasm.
7. Hyperkalemia is most likely to cause which ECG change first?
A. Flat T waves
B. Prolonged QT interval
C. Peaked T waves
D. ST depression
Answer: C
Rationale: Elevated potassium accelerates repolarization, producing peaked T waves.
, NU 606 Advanced Pathophysiology Practice Exam 3
8. Which process occurs during cellular apoptosis?
A. Cell swelling and rupture
B. Inflammatory tissue destruction
C. Programmed cell death without inflammation
D. Necrotic enzyme release
Answer: C
Rationale: Apoptosis is controlled cellular death with minimal inflammatory response.
9. A patient with emphysema primarily has difficulty with:
A. Inspiration
B. Air trapping during expiration
C. Pulmonary perfusion
D. Oxygen transport in blood
Answer: B
Rationale: Loss of elastic recoil causes expiratory airway collapse and air trapping.
10. The most common cause of nephrotic syndrome manifestations is:
A. Tubular obstruction
B. Glomerular membrane damage
C. Ureteral inflammation
D. Renal artery stenosis
Answer: B
Rationale: Increased glomerular permeability allows protein loss into urine.
Questions 11–20
11. Which hormone directly increases blood glucose levels during stress?
A. Insulin
B. Cortisol
C. Aldosterone
D. Calcitonin
Answer: B
Rationale: Cortisol promotes gluconeogenesis and insulin resistance.
