PATHOPHYSIOLOGY FINAL STUDY QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS FOR EXAM PREPARATION.
2024 REVIEWED UPDATE
1. D. Impaired arterial blood supply to your toe: A client with diabetes
and severe peripheral vascular disease has developed signs of dry
gangrene on the great toe of one foot. The client asks, "How this can
happen?" Which of the following pathophysiologic processes should the
nurse explain to this client? "More than likely, your gangrene is caused
by:
A. Bacterial invasion into the foot and toe."
B. Inappropriate activation of apoptosis, which means death of your
cells."
C. Metaplastic cellular changes in your toe."
D. Impaired arterial blood supply to your toe."
2. B. Disuse atrophy of muscle cells during a prolonged period of
immobility: A client has experienced significant decreases in
mobility and stamina during a 3-week hospital stay for the treatment
of a femoral head fracture. Which of the following phenomena most
likely accounts for the client's decrease in muscle function?
A. Ischemic atrophy resulting from vascular changes while on bedrest
B. Disuse atrophy of muscle cells during a prolonged period of
immobility
C. Impaired muscle cell metabolism resulting from metaplasia
D. Dysplasia as a consequence of inflammation during bone
remodeling
3. A. Changes in cell shape, size, and organization: A client presents
for a scheduled Papanicolaou (Pap) smear. The clinician who will
interpret the smear will examine cell samples for evidence of:
,A. Changes in cell shape, size, and organization
B. The presence of unexpected cell types
C. Ischemic changes in cell samples
D. Abnormally high numbers of cells in a specified field
4. apoptosis: What is defined as programmed cell death?
5. B. Granulation tissue: A nursing student is cleaning and
changing the dressing on a client's sacral ulcer. The student has
vigorously cleansed the wound bed to remove all traces of the
beefy, red tissue that existed in the wound bed. The student has
most likely removed:
A. The extracellular matrix
B. Granulation tissue
C. Stem cells
D. Necrotic tissue
6. A. Stimulate rapid proliferation of RBCs by the blood-forming
progenitor cells of the bone marrow: A client has arrived in the
emergency department with massive blood loss from a lacerated
liver. Knowing the physiological principles behind the capacity for
cells to regenerate, the client's body will likely:
A. Stimulate rapid proliferation of RBCs by the blood-forming
progenitor cells of the bone marrow
B. Pull fluid from the tissues to maintain a reasonable blood pressure
C. Activate the tissue cells to start producing stem cells
D. Begin a cell cycle so stem cells can undergo numerous mitotic
divisions
7. A. Hepatitis B related to IV drug use as a teenager: A 40-year-old
female has been diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma. When
,asked what causes this cancer, the physician looks at the history and
responds, "l see in your history, you have had:
A. Hepatitis B related to IV drug use as a teenager."
B. Three miscarriages with no live births."
C. Numerous admissions for COPD exacerbations requiring
steroids."
D. Your uterus and ovaries removed for endometriosis."
8. C. Neutrophils: During a lecture on inflammation, the physiology
instructor discusses the major cellular components involved in the
inflammation response. The instructor asks, "Which of the following
cells arrives early in great numbers?" The student with the correct
response is:
A. Basophils
B. Lymphocytes
C. Neutrophils
D. Monocytes
9. B. A client with a diagnosis of type 1 diabetes and a history of
poor blood sugar control: Which of the following clients is most
likely to experience impaired wound healing?
A. A child whose severe cleft lip and palate have required a series
of surgeries over several months
B. A client with a diagnosis of type 1 diabetes and a history of poor
blood sugar control
C. A client with persistent hypertension who takes a 2adrenergic
blocker and a potassium-wasting diuretic daily
, D. A client who takes nebulized bronchodilators several times daily to
treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
10. D. The cells will not proliferate and will be replaced with scar
tissue: A client has experienced a myocardial infarction with
accompanying necrosis of cardiac muscle, a permanent tissue. What
are the ramifications of the fact that cardiac muscle is a permanent
tissue?
A. The necrotic cells will be replaced with muscle cells that have
limited metabolism.
B. The cardiac muscle cells will remain perpetually in the Gl
stage of mitosis. C. Regeneration of the client's cardiac muscle
will be exceptionally slow.
D. The cells will not proliferate and will be replaced with scar tissue.
1 1 . D. "Try to minimize fat and maximize fiber when you're
planning your meals.": Which of the following dietary guidelines
should a nurse provide to a group of older adults to possibly decrease
their risks of developing colon cancer?
A. "Regular vitamin supplements and a low-carbohydrate diet are
beneficial."
B. "As much as possible, try to eat organic foods."
C. "Eat enough fiber in your diet that you have bowel movement at
least once daily."
D. "Try to minimize fat and maximize fiber when you're planning your
meals."
12. A. Not crossed the basement membrane, so it can be surgically
removed with little chance of growing back: A client had a positive Pap
AND ANSWERS FOR EXAM PREPARATION.
2024 REVIEWED UPDATE
1. D. Impaired arterial blood supply to your toe: A client with diabetes
and severe peripheral vascular disease has developed signs of dry
gangrene on the great toe of one foot. The client asks, "How this can
happen?" Which of the following pathophysiologic processes should the
nurse explain to this client? "More than likely, your gangrene is caused
by:
A. Bacterial invasion into the foot and toe."
B. Inappropriate activation of apoptosis, which means death of your
cells."
C. Metaplastic cellular changes in your toe."
D. Impaired arterial blood supply to your toe."
2. B. Disuse atrophy of muscle cells during a prolonged period of
immobility: A client has experienced significant decreases in
mobility and stamina during a 3-week hospital stay for the treatment
of a femoral head fracture. Which of the following phenomena most
likely accounts for the client's decrease in muscle function?
A. Ischemic atrophy resulting from vascular changes while on bedrest
B. Disuse atrophy of muscle cells during a prolonged period of
immobility
C. Impaired muscle cell metabolism resulting from metaplasia
D. Dysplasia as a consequence of inflammation during bone
remodeling
3. A. Changes in cell shape, size, and organization: A client presents
for a scheduled Papanicolaou (Pap) smear. The clinician who will
interpret the smear will examine cell samples for evidence of:
,A. Changes in cell shape, size, and organization
B. The presence of unexpected cell types
C. Ischemic changes in cell samples
D. Abnormally high numbers of cells in a specified field
4. apoptosis: What is defined as programmed cell death?
5. B. Granulation tissue: A nursing student is cleaning and
changing the dressing on a client's sacral ulcer. The student has
vigorously cleansed the wound bed to remove all traces of the
beefy, red tissue that existed in the wound bed. The student has
most likely removed:
A. The extracellular matrix
B. Granulation tissue
C. Stem cells
D. Necrotic tissue
6. A. Stimulate rapid proliferation of RBCs by the blood-forming
progenitor cells of the bone marrow: A client has arrived in the
emergency department with massive blood loss from a lacerated
liver. Knowing the physiological principles behind the capacity for
cells to regenerate, the client's body will likely:
A. Stimulate rapid proliferation of RBCs by the blood-forming
progenitor cells of the bone marrow
B. Pull fluid from the tissues to maintain a reasonable blood pressure
C. Activate the tissue cells to start producing stem cells
D. Begin a cell cycle so stem cells can undergo numerous mitotic
divisions
7. A. Hepatitis B related to IV drug use as a teenager: A 40-year-old
female has been diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma. When
,asked what causes this cancer, the physician looks at the history and
responds, "l see in your history, you have had:
A. Hepatitis B related to IV drug use as a teenager."
B. Three miscarriages with no live births."
C. Numerous admissions for COPD exacerbations requiring
steroids."
D. Your uterus and ovaries removed for endometriosis."
8. C. Neutrophils: During a lecture on inflammation, the physiology
instructor discusses the major cellular components involved in the
inflammation response. The instructor asks, "Which of the following
cells arrives early in great numbers?" The student with the correct
response is:
A. Basophils
B. Lymphocytes
C. Neutrophils
D. Monocytes
9. B. A client with a diagnosis of type 1 diabetes and a history of
poor blood sugar control: Which of the following clients is most
likely to experience impaired wound healing?
A. A child whose severe cleft lip and palate have required a series
of surgeries over several months
B. A client with a diagnosis of type 1 diabetes and a history of poor
blood sugar control
C. A client with persistent hypertension who takes a 2adrenergic
blocker and a potassium-wasting diuretic daily
, D. A client who takes nebulized bronchodilators several times daily to
treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
10. D. The cells will not proliferate and will be replaced with scar
tissue: A client has experienced a myocardial infarction with
accompanying necrosis of cardiac muscle, a permanent tissue. What
are the ramifications of the fact that cardiac muscle is a permanent
tissue?
A. The necrotic cells will be replaced with muscle cells that have
limited metabolism.
B. The cardiac muscle cells will remain perpetually in the Gl
stage of mitosis. C. Regeneration of the client's cardiac muscle
will be exceptionally slow.
D. The cells will not proliferate and will be replaced with scar tissue.
1 1 . D. "Try to minimize fat and maximize fiber when you're
planning your meals.": Which of the following dietary guidelines
should a nurse provide to a group of older adults to possibly decrease
their risks of developing colon cancer?
A. "Regular vitamin supplements and a low-carbohydrate diet are
beneficial."
B. "As much as possible, try to eat organic foods."
C. "Eat enough fiber in your diet that you have bowel movement at
least once daily."
D. "Try to minimize fat and maximize fiber when you're planning your
meals."
12. A. Not crossed the basement membrane, so it can be surgically
removed with little chance of growing back: A client had a positive Pap
