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NR 283 FINAL EXAM (NR283) | PATHOPHYSIOLOGY FINAL
STUDY GUIDE 2025-2026 UPDATE|COMPREHENSIVE
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANS, ALREADY GRADED A+
1. A patient presents with edema due to heart failure. Which
pathophysiological mechanism best explains the edema?
A. Decreased capillary hydrostatic pressure
B. Increased capillary oncotic pressure
C. Increased capillary hydrostatic pressure
D. Decreased interstitial oncotic pressure
Correct Answer: C. Increased capillary hydrostatic pressure
Rationale: In heart failure, venous congestion raises hydrostatic pressure
inside capillaries. This pushes excess fluid into interstitial tissues, causing
edema.
Reference: McCance & Huether, Pathophysiology: The Biologic Basis for
Disease in Adults and Children, 9th ed. Elsevier
2. Which electrolyte imbalance is most likely in a patient with chronic
kidney disease?
A. Hypokalemia
B. Hyperkalemia
C. Hypocalcemia
D. Hypernatremia
Correct Answer: B. Hyperkalemia
Rationale: The kidneys are primarily responsible for potassium excretion.
In chronic kidney disease, potassium accumulates, leading to hyperkalemia.
Reference: Huether & McCance, Understanding Pathophysiology, 7th ed.
Elsevier
,2|Page
3. Which of the following best describes Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus?
A. Insulin resistance
B. Autoimmune destruction of beta cells
C. Excess hepatic glucose production
D. Obesity-related hyperinsulinemia
Correct Answer: B. Autoimmune destruction of beta cells
Rationale: Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus is caused by autoimmune-mediated
destruction of pancreatic beta cells, resulting in absolute insulin deficiency.
Reference: American Diabetes Association, Standards of Medical Care in
Diabetes—2025. ADA
3. Which of the following best describes Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus?
A. Insulin resistance
B. Autoimmune destruction of beta cells
C. Excess hepatic glucose production
D. Obesity-related hyperinsulinemia
Correct Answer: B. Autoimmune destruction of beta cells
Rationale: Type 1 DM is caused by autoimmune-mediated destruction of
pancreatic beta cells, resulting in absolute insulin deficiency.
Reference: American Diabetes Association, Standards of Medical Care in
Diabetes—2025. ADA
4. Which compensatory mechanism occurs in metabolic acidosis?
A. Hypoventilation
B. Hyperventilation
C. Increased HCO₃⁻ retention
D. Decreased H⁺ excretion
Correct Answer: B. Hyperventilation
Rationale: The body compensates for metabolic acidosis by blowing off
CO₂ (respiratory alkalosis), achieved through hyperventilation (Kussmaul
respirations).
Reference: Huether & McCance, Understanding Pathophysiology, 7th ed.
,3|Page
5. Which factor is the primary cause of atherosclerosis?
A. Endothelial injury
B. Decreased LDL levels
C. Smooth muscle atrophy
D. Increased HDL levels
Correct Answer: A. Endothelial injury
Rationale: Atherosclerosis begins with endothelial injury, leading to lipid
deposition, inflammation, and plaque formation.
Reference: Libby P, The Pathogenesis of Atherosclerosis. NEJM. Link
6. Which hormone deficiency is associated with Addison’s disease?
A. Cortisol and aldosterone
B. Insulin and glucagon
C. T3 and T4
D. Growth hormone
Correct Answer: A. Cortisol and aldosterone
Rationale: Addison’s disease results from adrenal insufficiency, leading to
decreased secretion of glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids.
Reference: Jameson JL, Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine, 21st
ed.
7. What is the underlying cause of secondary polycythemia?
A. Bone marrow malignancy
B. Dehydration
C. Chronic hypoxia
D. Iron overload
Correct Answer: C. Chronic hypoxia
Rationale: Secondary polycythemia develops in response to hypoxia (e.g.,
COPD, high altitude), stimulating erythropoietin release and RBC
, 4|Page
production.
Reference: McCance & Huether, Pathophysiology, 9th ed.
8. Which characteristic is most typical of malignant tumors?
A. Slow growth
B. Well-differentiated cells
C. Encapsulated structure
D. Ability to metastasize
Correct Answer: D. Ability to metastasize
Rationale: Malignant tumors show uncontrolled growth, poor
differentiation, and invasion of distant tissues via metastasis.
Reference: American Cancer Society, What Is Cancer? ACS
9. Which clinical manifestation is most consistent with left-sided heart
failure?
A. Peripheral edema
B. Jugular vein distention
C. Pulmonary congestion and dyspnea
D. Hepatomegaly
Correct Answer: C. Pulmonary congestion and dyspnea
Rationale: Left-sided heart failure causes pulmonary congestion due to
blood backup in the lungs, leading to dyspnea and crackles.
Reference: Huether & McCance, Understanding Pathophysiology, 7th ed.
10. What is the main pathophysiological mechanism of asthma?
A. Alveolar destruction
B. Chronic infection
C. Airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness
D. Pulmonary embolism
NR 283 FINAL EXAM (NR283) | PATHOPHYSIOLOGY FINAL
STUDY GUIDE 2025-2026 UPDATE|COMPREHENSIVE
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANS, ALREADY GRADED A+
1. A patient presents with edema due to heart failure. Which
pathophysiological mechanism best explains the edema?
A. Decreased capillary hydrostatic pressure
B. Increased capillary oncotic pressure
C. Increased capillary hydrostatic pressure
D. Decreased interstitial oncotic pressure
Correct Answer: C. Increased capillary hydrostatic pressure
Rationale: In heart failure, venous congestion raises hydrostatic pressure
inside capillaries. This pushes excess fluid into interstitial tissues, causing
edema.
Reference: McCance & Huether, Pathophysiology: The Biologic Basis for
Disease in Adults and Children, 9th ed. Elsevier
2. Which electrolyte imbalance is most likely in a patient with chronic
kidney disease?
A. Hypokalemia
B. Hyperkalemia
C. Hypocalcemia
D. Hypernatremia
Correct Answer: B. Hyperkalemia
Rationale: The kidneys are primarily responsible for potassium excretion.
In chronic kidney disease, potassium accumulates, leading to hyperkalemia.
Reference: Huether & McCance, Understanding Pathophysiology, 7th ed.
Elsevier
,2|Page
3. Which of the following best describes Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus?
A. Insulin resistance
B. Autoimmune destruction of beta cells
C. Excess hepatic glucose production
D. Obesity-related hyperinsulinemia
Correct Answer: B. Autoimmune destruction of beta cells
Rationale: Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus is caused by autoimmune-mediated
destruction of pancreatic beta cells, resulting in absolute insulin deficiency.
Reference: American Diabetes Association, Standards of Medical Care in
Diabetes—2025. ADA
3. Which of the following best describes Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus?
A. Insulin resistance
B. Autoimmune destruction of beta cells
C. Excess hepatic glucose production
D. Obesity-related hyperinsulinemia
Correct Answer: B. Autoimmune destruction of beta cells
Rationale: Type 1 DM is caused by autoimmune-mediated destruction of
pancreatic beta cells, resulting in absolute insulin deficiency.
Reference: American Diabetes Association, Standards of Medical Care in
Diabetes—2025. ADA
4. Which compensatory mechanism occurs in metabolic acidosis?
A. Hypoventilation
B. Hyperventilation
C. Increased HCO₃⁻ retention
D. Decreased H⁺ excretion
Correct Answer: B. Hyperventilation
Rationale: The body compensates for metabolic acidosis by blowing off
CO₂ (respiratory alkalosis), achieved through hyperventilation (Kussmaul
respirations).
Reference: Huether & McCance, Understanding Pathophysiology, 7th ed.
,3|Page
5. Which factor is the primary cause of atherosclerosis?
A. Endothelial injury
B. Decreased LDL levels
C. Smooth muscle atrophy
D. Increased HDL levels
Correct Answer: A. Endothelial injury
Rationale: Atherosclerosis begins with endothelial injury, leading to lipid
deposition, inflammation, and plaque formation.
Reference: Libby P, The Pathogenesis of Atherosclerosis. NEJM. Link
6. Which hormone deficiency is associated with Addison’s disease?
A. Cortisol and aldosterone
B. Insulin and glucagon
C. T3 and T4
D. Growth hormone
Correct Answer: A. Cortisol and aldosterone
Rationale: Addison’s disease results from adrenal insufficiency, leading to
decreased secretion of glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids.
Reference: Jameson JL, Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine, 21st
ed.
7. What is the underlying cause of secondary polycythemia?
A. Bone marrow malignancy
B. Dehydration
C. Chronic hypoxia
D. Iron overload
Correct Answer: C. Chronic hypoxia
Rationale: Secondary polycythemia develops in response to hypoxia (e.g.,
COPD, high altitude), stimulating erythropoietin release and RBC
, 4|Page
production.
Reference: McCance & Huether, Pathophysiology, 9th ed.
8. Which characteristic is most typical of malignant tumors?
A. Slow growth
B. Well-differentiated cells
C. Encapsulated structure
D. Ability to metastasize
Correct Answer: D. Ability to metastasize
Rationale: Malignant tumors show uncontrolled growth, poor
differentiation, and invasion of distant tissues via metastasis.
Reference: American Cancer Society, What Is Cancer? ACS
9. Which clinical manifestation is most consistent with left-sided heart
failure?
A. Peripheral edema
B. Jugular vein distention
C. Pulmonary congestion and dyspnea
D. Hepatomegaly
Correct Answer: C. Pulmonary congestion and dyspnea
Rationale: Left-sided heart failure causes pulmonary congestion due to
blood backup in the lungs, leading to dyspnea and crackles.
Reference: Huether & McCance, Understanding Pathophysiology, 7th ed.
10. What is the main pathophysiological mechanism of asthma?
A. Alveolar destruction
B. Chronic infection
C. Airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness
D. Pulmonary embolism
