Pathophysiology: The Biologic Basis
for Disease in Adults and Children 9th
Edition Test Bank by Kathryn L.
McCance and Sue E. Huether | HESI
Patho Exit Exam 2026.
**1. A 24-year-old male presents with emphysema. He has never
smoked and is not exposed to second-hand smoke. What hereditary
disease may be responsible for his condition?**
A. Intrinsic asthma
B. Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency
C. Duchenne muscular dystrophy
D. Pulmonary fibrosis
**Answer: B. Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency**
**2. Which of the following abnormalities is characteristic of
emphysema?**
A. Extensive inflammation of the lower airways
B. Trapping of air in distal air sacs
C. Widespread occurrence of bronchial plugs
D. Collapse of proximal airways
**Answer: B. Trapping of air in distal air sacs**
,**3. Which triad suggests epiglottitis?**
A. Sore throat, difficulty swallowing, drooling
B. Hoarseness, sore throat, productive cough
C. Persistent productive cough, vomiting, fever
D. Fever, sore throat, increased thirst
**Answer: A. Sore throat, difficult swallowing, drooling**
**4. Tachycardia, decreased or absent breath sounds on the affected
side, hyper-resonance, and sudden chest pain are signs of:**
A. Myocardial infarction
B. Pneumothorax
C. Sarcoidosis
D. ARDS
**Answer: B. Pneumothorax**
**5. Tubercular bacilli are transmitted by:**
A. Blood and body fluids
B. Contaminated food
C. Contaminated blood
D. Airborne droplet nuclei
**Answer: D. Airborne droplet nuclei**
,**6. Which pathophysiologic mechanism best explains the clinical
findings of tense bullae and a positive Nikolsky sign in a patient with
autoantibodies targeting desmoglein-3?**
A. Complement-mediated subepidermal basement membrane
destruction
B. Autoantibody-mediated disruption of desmosomes causing loss of
keratinocyte adhesion
C. Autoantibodies targeting hemidesmosomes causing intraepidermal
cleavage
D. Immune complex deposition within tight junctions
**Answer: B. Autoantibody-mediated disruption of desmosomes
(pemphigus vulgaris)**
**7. A patient with a mitochondrial DNA mutation that impairs
oxidative phosphorylation develops muscle weakness and lactic
acidosis. Which metabolic finding best explains the lactic acidosis?**
A. Increased pyruvate entry into the Krebs cycle
B. Enhanced conversion of pyruvate to lactate via lactate
dehydrogenase
C. Upregulated oxidative phosphorylation producing excess NADH
D. Increased gluconeogenesis consuming lactate
**Answer: B. Enhanced conversion of pyruvate to lactate**
**8. What is the underlying problem in ALL shock states?**
, A. Tachycardia
B. Cardiac failure
C. Faulty compensatory mechanisms
D. Inadequate cellular oxygenation
**Answer: D. Inadequate cellular oxygenation**
**9. Which value is consistent with acute respiratory failure?**
A. PaO2 of 100 mm Hg
B. PaCO2 of 40 mm Hg
C. pH < 7.3
D. Hypocapnia
**Answer: C. pH < 7.3**
**10. What is a way to diagnose pancreatitis?**
A. Hard, dry stools
B. Right lower quadrant (RLQ) pain
C. Elevated serum lipase and amylase levels
D. Thrombocytopenia
**Answer: C. Elevated serum lipase and amylase levels**
**11. Which statement is true about the lymphatic system?**
A. The arrangement is very similar to the circulatory system
for Disease in Adults and Children 9th
Edition Test Bank by Kathryn L.
McCance and Sue E. Huether | HESI
Patho Exit Exam 2026.
**1. A 24-year-old male presents with emphysema. He has never
smoked and is not exposed to second-hand smoke. What hereditary
disease may be responsible for his condition?**
A. Intrinsic asthma
B. Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency
C. Duchenne muscular dystrophy
D. Pulmonary fibrosis
**Answer: B. Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency**
**2. Which of the following abnormalities is characteristic of
emphysema?**
A. Extensive inflammation of the lower airways
B. Trapping of air in distal air sacs
C. Widespread occurrence of bronchial plugs
D. Collapse of proximal airways
**Answer: B. Trapping of air in distal air sacs**
,**3. Which triad suggests epiglottitis?**
A. Sore throat, difficulty swallowing, drooling
B. Hoarseness, sore throat, productive cough
C. Persistent productive cough, vomiting, fever
D. Fever, sore throat, increased thirst
**Answer: A. Sore throat, difficult swallowing, drooling**
**4. Tachycardia, decreased or absent breath sounds on the affected
side, hyper-resonance, and sudden chest pain are signs of:**
A. Myocardial infarction
B. Pneumothorax
C. Sarcoidosis
D. ARDS
**Answer: B. Pneumothorax**
**5. Tubercular bacilli are transmitted by:**
A. Blood and body fluids
B. Contaminated food
C. Contaminated blood
D. Airborne droplet nuclei
**Answer: D. Airborne droplet nuclei**
,**6. Which pathophysiologic mechanism best explains the clinical
findings of tense bullae and a positive Nikolsky sign in a patient with
autoantibodies targeting desmoglein-3?**
A. Complement-mediated subepidermal basement membrane
destruction
B. Autoantibody-mediated disruption of desmosomes causing loss of
keratinocyte adhesion
C. Autoantibodies targeting hemidesmosomes causing intraepidermal
cleavage
D. Immune complex deposition within tight junctions
**Answer: B. Autoantibody-mediated disruption of desmosomes
(pemphigus vulgaris)**
**7. A patient with a mitochondrial DNA mutation that impairs
oxidative phosphorylation develops muscle weakness and lactic
acidosis. Which metabolic finding best explains the lactic acidosis?**
A. Increased pyruvate entry into the Krebs cycle
B. Enhanced conversion of pyruvate to lactate via lactate
dehydrogenase
C. Upregulated oxidative phosphorylation producing excess NADH
D. Increased gluconeogenesis consuming lactate
**Answer: B. Enhanced conversion of pyruvate to lactate**
**8. What is the underlying problem in ALL shock states?**
, A. Tachycardia
B. Cardiac failure
C. Faulty compensatory mechanisms
D. Inadequate cellular oxygenation
**Answer: D. Inadequate cellular oxygenation**
**9. Which value is consistent with acute respiratory failure?**
A. PaO2 of 100 mm Hg
B. PaCO2 of 40 mm Hg
C. pH < 7.3
D. Hypocapnia
**Answer: C. pH < 7.3**
**10. What is a way to diagnose pancreatitis?**
A. Hard, dry stools
B. Right lower quadrant (RLQ) pain
C. Elevated serum lipase and amylase levels
D. Thrombocytopenia
**Answer: C. Elevated serum lipase and amylase levels**
**11. Which statement is true about the lymphatic system?**
A. The arrangement is very similar to the circulatory system
