UNDERSTANDING PATHO EXAM SUCCESS: ULTIMATE
A+, QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS BREAKDOWN
A client comes to the clinic with fatigue and muscle weakness. The client also states she has been
having diarrhea. The nurse observes the skin of the client has a bronze tone and when asked, the
client says she has not had any sun exposure. The mucous membranes of the gums are bluish-black.
When reviewing laboratory results from this client, what does the nurse anticipate seeing?
Increased levels of ACTH
A nurse is reviewing lab results. Which of the following lab results would slow down the rate of
parathyroid hormone secretion?
Increased serum calcium levels
If a patient had a problem with the adrenal medulla, which of the following hormones should the
nurse monitor?
Epinephrine
With Graves disease which of the following symptoms are expected prior to treatment?
Skin hot and moist, rapid heart rate
A 39-year-old female is recovering from the birth of her third child. Which hormone would help
prevent uterine bleeding?
Oxytocin
A client has developed a tumor of the posterior pituitary gland. The client is at risk for problems with
secretions of
Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) and oxytocin
After having a very stressful day in pathophysiology class, the student knows that which hormone
(secreted by the adrenal cortex) will help decrease the effects of stress?
Cortisol, a glucocorticoid
Which of the following statements best captures the relationship between the hypothalamus and the
pituitary gland as it relates to endocrine function?
The hypothalamus receives input from numerous sources throughout the body and directs the pituitary
to then control many target glands and cells.
A client who experienced a traumatic head injury reports extreme thirst. The nurse notes that the
client is consuming 10 to 15 L of ice water daily and is experiencing polyuria. Which does the nurse
suspect?
Diabetes insipidus (DI)
, A very tall 8-year-old child is brought by a parent to the clinic for a follow-up visit after diagnostic
testing reveals a diagnosis of gigantism. What objective assessment data gathered would the nurse
recognize correlates with the child's condition?
The child has fusion of the epiphyses of the long bones and increased growth hormone levels/The child
has excess levels of growth hormones and the epiphyses of the long bones are not fused.
A 25-year-old female client exhibits exophthalmos of both eyes. The health care provider recognizes
this as a manifestation of what disease and will plan to draw what lab?
Graves disease and TSH level
A client who has just undergone a thyroidectomy is experiencing high fever, tachycardia, and extreme
restlessness. The nurse would interpret these manifestations as:
Thyroid crisis/storm
The client has had mental status changes and cannot remember her grandchildren's names. They go
on to say that she has a low body temperature and is lethargic. On physical examination, the nurse
notes that the client has a husky voice, her face is puffy around the eyes, and her tongue appears to
be enlarged. What diagnosis would the nurse suspect?
Myxedema
What disease does the nurse expect to see with elevated levels of ACTH and cortisol?
Cushing Syndrome
What electrolyte imbalance is a major concern for a patient with hypoparathyroidism?
hypocalcemia
Which disorder is a result of excess cortisol?
Cushing syndrome
Communicates btwn nervous and endocrine systems, controls secretions from ant. pit., regulates
temp.
hypothalamus
Anterior pituitary hormones
(master gland)
- ACTH: adrenocorticotropic hormone
- TSH: thyroid stimulating hormone
- GH: growth hormone
- FSH and LH
- prolactin
Posterior pituitary hormones
A+, QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS BREAKDOWN
A client comes to the clinic with fatigue and muscle weakness. The client also states she has been
having diarrhea. The nurse observes the skin of the client has a bronze tone and when asked, the
client says she has not had any sun exposure. The mucous membranes of the gums are bluish-black.
When reviewing laboratory results from this client, what does the nurse anticipate seeing?
Increased levels of ACTH
A nurse is reviewing lab results. Which of the following lab results would slow down the rate of
parathyroid hormone secretion?
Increased serum calcium levels
If a patient had a problem with the adrenal medulla, which of the following hormones should the
nurse monitor?
Epinephrine
With Graves disease which of the following symptoms are expected prior to treatment?
Skin hot and moist, rapid heart rate
A 39-year-old female is recovering from the birth of her third child. Which hormone would help
prevent uterine bleeding?
Oxytocin
A client has developed a tumor of the posterior pituitary gland. The client is at risk for problems with
secretions of
Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) and oxytocin
After having a very stressful day in pathophysiology class, the student knows that which hormone
(secreted by the adrenal cortex) will help decrease the effects of stress?
Cortisol, a glucocorticoid
Which of the following statements best captures the relationship between the hypothalamus and the
pituitary gland as it relates to endocrine function?
The hypothalamus receives input from numerous sources throughout the body and directs the pituitary
to then control many target glands and cells.
A client who experienced a traumatic head injury reports extreme thirst. The nurse notes that the
client is consuming 10 to 15 L of ice water daily and is experiencing polyuria. Which does the nurse
suspect?
Diabetes insipidus (DI)
, A very tall 8-year-old child is brought by a parent to the clinic for a follow-up visit after diagnostic
testing reveals a diagnosis of gigantism. What objective assessment data gathered would the nurse
recognize correlates with the child's condition?
The child has fusion of the epiphyses of the long bones and increased growth hormone levels/The child
has excess levels of growth hormones and the epiphyses of the long bones are not fused.
A 25-year-old female client exhibits exophthalmos of both eyes. The health care provider recognizes
this as a manifestation of what disease and will plan to draw what lab?
Graves disease and TSH level
A client who has just undergone a thyroidectomy is experiencing high fever, tachycardia, and extreme
restlessness. The nurse would interpret these manifestations as:
Thyroid crisis/storm
The client has had mental status changes and cannot remember her grandchildren's names. They go
on to say that she has a low body temperature and is lethargic. On physical examination, the nurse
notes that the client has a husky voice, her face is puffy around the eyes, and her tongue appears to
be enlarged. What diagnosis would the nurse suspect?
Myxedema
What disease does the nurse expect to see with elevated levels of ACTH and cortisol?
Cushing Syndrome
What electrolyte imbalance is a major concern for a patient with hypoparathyroidism?
hypocalcemia
Which disorder is a result of excess cortisol?
Cushing syndrome
Communicates btwn nervous and endocrine systems, controls secretions from ant. pit., regulates
temp.
hypothalamus
Anterior pituitary hormones
(master gland)
- ACTH: adrenocorticotropic hormone
- TSH: thyroid stimulating hormone
- GH: growth hormone
- FSH and LH
- prolactin
Posterior pituitary hormones
