NR 283 PATHOPHYSIOLOGY EXAM 2/100 COMPLETE EXAM
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS | 2026–2027 LATEST
UPDATE | GUARANTEED PASS | DETAILED RATIONALES |
FULL STUDY GUIDE | EXAM PREP | PRACTICE TEST |
CERTIFICATION PREPARATION
1. A nurse is reviewing the inflammatory response in a patient with a localized infection. Which of
the following is the primary purpose of acute inflammation?
A. To prevent all future infections
B. To eliminate the initial cause of cell injury and remove damaged tissue
C. To permanently replace injured tissue with scar tissue
D. To suppress immune system activation
Correct Answer: B. To eliminate the initial cause of cell injury and remove damaged tissue
Rationale: Acute inflammation is a protective response aimed at eliminating the offending agent and
initiating tissue repair. It does not guarantee prevention of future infections (A), does not primarily
focus on scar formation (C), and does not suppress immunity (D).
2. A patient develops metabolic acidosis due to diabetic ketoacidosis. Which compensatory
mechanism is expected?
A. Hypoventilation to retain CO₂
B. Increased respiratory rate to blow off CO₂
C. Decreased renal hydrogen excretion
D. Increased bicarbonate excretion
Correct Answer: B. Increased respiratory rate to blow off CO₂
Rationale: The respiratory system compensates for metabolic acidosis by increasing ventilation
(Kussmaul respirations). Hypoventilation (A) would worsen acidosis. The kidneys typically increase
hydrogen excretion, not decrease it (C), and conserve bicarbonate rather than excrete it (D).
3. Which cellular adaptation is most likely in a weightlifter’s skeletal muscle cells?
A. Hyperplasia
B. Dysplasia
C. Hypertrophy
D. Atrophy
Correct Answer: C. Hypertrophy
Rationale: Hypertrophy refers to increased cell size due to increased demand, as seen in muscle
growth from exercise. Hyperplasia (A) is increased cell number, dysplasia (B) is abnormal cell
development, and atrophy (D) is decreased cell size.
4. A patient with chronic hypertension develops left ventricular thickening. This is an example of
which pathophysiologic change?
A. Metaplasia
B. Hypertrophy
C. Necrosis
D. Apoptosis
Correct Answer: B. Hypertrophy
Rationale: The heart muscle adapts to increased workload by enlarging existing cells. Metaplasia (A)
,is cell type change, necrosis (C) is uncontrolled cell death, and apoptosis (D) is programmed cell
death.
5. Which laboratory finding is most consistent with acute bacterial infection?
A. Decreased neutrophil count
B. Increased lymphocytes
C. Elevated neutrophils
D. Decreased erythrocyte sedimentation rate
Correct Answer: C. Elevated neutrophils
Rationale: Neutrophils are the primary responders in bacterial infections. Lymphocytosis (B) is more
typical of viral infections. Neutropenia (A) suggests immunosuppression, and ESR is usually elevated,
not decreased (D).
6. A patient experiences an allergic reaction with histamine release. Which symptom is most
directly related to histamine?
A. Bradycardia
B. Vasoconstriction
C. Increased vascular permeability
D. Decreased leukocyte migration
Correct Answer: C. Increased vascular permeability
Rationale: Histamine increases capillary permeability, leading to swelling and redness. It typically
causes vasodilation, not vasoconstriction (B), and promotes leukocyte migration rather than
decreasing it (D).
7. Which condition is most associated with hypokalemia?
A. Muscle weakness and cardiac dysrhythmias
B. Hyperactive deep tendon reflexes only
C. Severe hypertension and bradycardia
D. Fluid overload with edema only
Correct Answer: A. Muscle weakness and cardiac dysrhythmias
Rationale: Low potassium affects neuromuscular and cardiac function. The other options do not
represent hallmark hypokalemia findings.
8. A patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) retains CO₂. What acid-base
imbalance is expected?
A. Metabolic alkalosis
B. Respiratory alkalosis
C. Respiratory acidosis
D. Metabolic acidosis
Correct Answer: C. Respiratory acidosis
Rationale: CO₂ retention leads to increased carbonic acid and respiratory acidosis. COPD is a classic
cause due to impaired ventilation.
9. Which process best describes ischemia?
A. Excess oxygen delivery to tissues
B. Reduced blood flow causing oxygen deprivation
C. Increased cellular metabolism
D. Excess fluid accumulation in tissues
Correct Answer: B. Reduced blood flow causing oxygen deprivation
, Rationale: Ischemia results from decreased perfusion leading to hypoxia. It is not related to excess
oxygen (A) or metabolism increase (C).
10. A patient develops jaundice due to hemolysis. Which substance accumulates?
A. Albumin
B. Bilirubin
C. Fibrinogen
D. Creatinine
Correct Answer: B. Bilirubin
Rationale: Hemolysis increases breakdown of red blood cells, raising bilirubin levels and causing
jaundice.
11. Which electrolyte imbalance is most associated with peaked T waves on ECG?
A. Hypocalcemia
B. Hyperkalemia
C. Hyponatremia
D. Hypomagnesemia
Correct Answer: B. Hyperkalemia
Rationale: Elevated potassium affects cardiac conduction, producing peaked T waves and risk of
arrhythmias.
12. A patient has chronic inflammation. Which cell type predominates?
A. Neutrophils
B. Eosinophils
C. Mononuclear cells (macrophages and lymphocytes)
D. Basophils
Correct Answer: C. Mononuclear cells (macrophages and lymphocytes)
Rationale: Chronic inflammation is characterized by macrophages and lymphocytes rather than
neutrophils.
13. Which mechanism is responsible for fever development during infection?
A. Decreased prostaglandin production
B. Pyrogen-mediated hypothalamic set point increase
C. Increased insulin secretion
D. Reduced cytokine release
Correct Answer: B. Pyrogen-mediated hypothalamic set point increase
Rationale: Pyrogens stimulate cytokines that reset the hypothalamic temperature set point upward.
14. A patient has edema due to heart failure. Which mechanism is primarily responsible?
A. Increased oncotic pressure
B. Increased hydrostatic pressure
C. Decreased interstitial fluid
D. Decreased capillary permeability
Correct Answer: B. Increased hydrostatic pressure
Rationale: Heart failure causes fluid backup, increasing hydrostatic pressure and leading to edema.
15. Which condition is most associated with autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells?
A. Type 2 diabetes mellitus
B. Type 1 diabetes mellitus
C. Cushing syndrome
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS | 2026–2027 LATEST
UPDATE | GUARANTEED PASS | DETAILED RATIONALES |
FULL STUDY GUIDE | EXAM PREP | PRACTICE TEST |
CERTIFICATION PREPARATION
1. A nurse is reviewing the inflammatory response in a patient with a localized infection. Which of
the following is the primary purpose of acute inflammation?
A. To prevent all future infections
B. To eliminate the initial cause of cell injury and remove damaged tissue
C. To permanently replace injured tissue with scar tissue
D. To suppress immune system activation
Correct Answer: B. To eliminate the initial cause of cell injury and remove damaged tissue
Rationale: Acute inflammation is a protective response aimed at eliminating the offending agent and
initiating tissue repair. It does not guarantee prevention of future infections (A), does not primarily
focus on scar formation (C), and does not suppress immunity (D).
2. A patient develops metabolic acidosis due to diabetic ketoacidosis. Which compensatory
mechanism is expected?
A. Hypoventilation to retain CO₂
B. Increased respiratory rate to blow off CO₂
C. Decreased renal hydrogen excretion
D. Increased bicarbonate excretion
Correct Answer: B. Increased respiratory rate to blow off CO₂
Rationale: The respiratory system compensates for metabolic acidosis by increasing ventilation
(Kussmaul respirations). Hypoventilation (A) would worsen acidosis. The kidneys typically increase
hydrogen excretion, not decrease it (C), and conserve bicarbonate rather than excrete it (D).
3. Which cellular adaptation is most likely in a weightlifter’s skeletal muscle cells?
A. Hyperplasia
B. Dysplasia
C. Hypertrophy
D. Atrophy
Correct Answer: C. Hypertrophy
Rationale: Hypertrophy refers to increased cell size due to increased demand, as seen in muscle
growth from exercise. Hyperplasia (A) is increased cell number, dysplasia (B) is abnormal cell
development, and atrophy (D) is decreased cell size.
4. A patient with chronic hypertension develops left ventricular thickening. This is an example of
which pathophysiologic change?
A. Metaplasia
B. Hypertrophy
C. Necrosis
D. Apoptosis
Correct Answer: B. Hypertrophy
Rationale: The heart muscle adapts to increased workload by enlarging existing cells. Metaplasia (A)
,is cell type change, necrosis (C) is uncontrolled cell death, and apoptosis (D) is programmed cell
death.
5. Which laboratory finding is most consistent with acute bacterial infection?
A. Decreased neutrophil count
B. Increased lymphocytes
C. Elevated neutrophils
D. Decreased erythrocyte sedimentation rate
Correct Answer: C. Elevated neutrophils
Rationale: Neutrophils are the primary responders in bacterial infections. Lymphocytosis (B) is more
typical of viral infections. Neutropenia (A) suggests immunosuppression, and ESR is usually elevated,
not decreased (D).
6. A patient experiences an allergic reaction with histamine release. Which symptom is most
directly related to histamine?
A. Bradycardia
B. Vasoconstriction
C. Increased vascular permeability
D. Decreased leukocyte migration
Correct Answer: C. Increased vascular permeability
Rationale: Histamine increases capillary permeability, leading to swelling and redness. It typically
causes vasodilation, not vasoconstriction (B), and promotes leukocyte migration rather than
decreasing it (D).
7. Which condition is most associated with hypokalemia?
A. Muscle weakness and cardiac dysrhythmias
B. Hyperactive deep tendon reflexes only
C. Severe hypertension and bradycardia
D. Fluid overload with edema only
Correct Answer: A. Muscle weakness and cardiac dysrhythmias
Rationale: Low potassium affects neuromuscular and cardiac function. The other options do not
represent hallmark hypokalemia findings.
8. A patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) retains CO₂. What acid-base
imbalance is expected?
A. Metabolic alkalosis
B. Respiratory alkalosis
C. Respiratory acidosis
D. Metabolic acidosis
Correct Answer: C. Respiratory acidosis
Rationale: CO₂ retention leads to increased carbonic acid and respiratory acidosis. COPD is a classic
cause due to impaired ventilation.
9. Which process best describes ischemia?
A. Excess oxygen delivery to tissues
B. Reduced blood flow causing oxygen deprivation
C. Increased cellular metabolism
D. Excess fluid accumulation in tissues
Correct Answer: B. Reduced blood flow causing oxygen deprivation
, Rationale: Ischemia results from decreased perfusion leading to hypoxia. It is not related to excess
oxygen (A) or metabolism increase (C).
10. A patient develops jaundice due to hemolysis. Which substance accumulates?
A. Albumin
B. Bilirubin
C. Fibrinogen
D. Creatinine
Correct Answer: B. Bilirubin
Rationale: Hemolysis increases breakdown of red blood cells, raising bilirubin levels and causing
jaundice.
11. Which electrolyte imbalance is most associated with peaked T waves on ECG?
A. Hypocalcemia
B. Hyperkalemia
C. Hyponatremia
D. Hypomagnesemia
Correct Answer: B. Hyperkalemia
Rationale: Elevated potassium affects cardiac conduction, producing peaked T waves and risk of
arrhythmias.
12. A patient has chronic inflammation. Which cell type predominates?
A. Neutrophils
B. Eosinophils
C. Mononuclear cells (macrophages and lymphocytes)
D. Basophils
Correct Answer: C. Mononuclear cells (macrophages and lymphocytes)
Rationale: Chronic inflammation is characterized by macrophages and lymphocytes rather than
neutrophils.
13. Which mechanism is responsible for fever development during infection?
A. Decreased prostaglandin production
B. Pyrogen-mediated hypothalamic set point increase
C. Increased insulin secretion
D. Reduced cytokine release
Correct Answer: B. Pyrogen-mediated hypothalamic set point increase
Rationale: Pyrogens stimulate cytokines that reset the hypothalamic temperature set point upward.
14. A patient has edema due to heart failure. Which mechanism is primarily responsible?
A. Increased oncotic pressure
B. Increased hydrostatic pressure
C. Decreased interstitial fluid
D. Decreased capillary permeability
Correct Answer: B. Increased hydrostatic pressure
Rationale: Heart failure causes fluid backup, increasing hydrostatic pressure and leading to edema.
15. Which condition is most associated with autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells?
A. Type 2 diabetes mellitus
B. Type 1 diabetes mellitus
C. Cushing syndrome
