HESI ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY FINAL EXAM
HESI ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY FINAL EXAM NEWEST
2025/2026 COMPLETE 100 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
DETAILED ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) |ALREADY
GRADED A+
A teenage male develops a severe case of "athlete's foot." He asks, "How did I get
this?" The health care worker explains that certain fungi become infectious (called
dermatophytes) and exhibit which of the following characteristics? A) Prefer to
grow in warm environments like shoes/socks
B) Like a moist environment
C) Limited to cooler cutaneous surfaces
D) Need higher blood flow to survive - Correct Answer-Ans: C
Feedback:
Dermatophytes are not able to grow at core body temperature, preferring the
cooler surface skin areas instead of moist skin folds. Diseases caused by these
organisms, including ringworm, athlete's foot, and jock itch, are collectively
called superficial mycoses.
A male client with a history of angina has presented to the emergency
department with uncharacteristic chest pain, and his subsequent ECG reveals T-
wave elevation. This finding suggests an abnormality with which of the following
aspects of the cardiac cycle?
A) Atrial depolarization
B) Ventricular depolarization
C) Ventricular repolarization
D) Depolarization of the AV node - Correct Answer-Ans: C
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, HESI ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY FINAL EXAM
Feedback:
The T wave on electrocardiography (ECG) corresponds to ventricular
repolarization. Atrial depolarization is represented by the P wave and ventricular
depolarization by the QRS complex. The isoelectric or zero line between the P
wave and the Q wave represents depolarization of the AV node, bundle
branches, and Purkinje system.
During ventricular systole, closure of the atrioventricular (AV) valves coincides
with:
A) Atrial chamber filling
B) Aortic valve opening
C) Isovolumetric contraction
D)Semilunar valves opening - Correct Answer-Ans: C
Feedback:
Ventricular systole is divided into two parts: isovolumetric contraction when the
AV valves close and ventricles fill; and the ejection period, when the semilunar
valves open and blood is ejected through the aortic valve into circulation.
Immediately after closure of the AV valves, there is a 0.02- to 0.03-second period
during which the pulmonic and aortic valves remain closed. During this period,
the ventricular volume remains the same while the ventricles contract,
producing an abrupt increase in pressure. At the end of systole, the ventricles
relax, causing a precipitous fall in intraventricular pressures. As this occurs,
blood from the large arteries flows back toward the ventricles, causing the aortic
and pulmonic valves to snap shut—an event marked by the second heart sound.
A heart failure client has an echocardiogram performed revealing an ejection
fraction (EF) of 40%. The nurse knows this EF is below normal and explains to the
client:
2|Page
, HESI ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY FINAL EXAM
A) "This means you have a lot of pressure built-up inside your heart."
B) "This means your heart is not pumping as much blood out of the heart with
each beat."
C) "You need to increase the amount of exercise you do to get your heart muscle
back in shape."
D) "Your ventricular muscle is getting too stiff to beat normally." - Correct Answer-
Ans: B
Feedback:
Ejection fraction is the percentage of diastolic volume ejected from the heart
[left ventricle] during systole. Stroke volume is determined by the difference
between end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes. Cardiac output is determined
by stroke volume and heart rate. Cardiac reserve refers to the maximum
percentage of increase in cardiac output that can be achieved above the normal
resting level.
A client with a history of heart failure has been referred for an echocardiogram.
Results of this diagnostic test reveal the following findings: heart rate 80
beats/minute; end-diastolic volume 120 mL; and end-systolic volume 60 mL. What
is this client's ejection fraction?
A) 200 mL
B) 50%
C) 0.80
D) 180 mL - Correct Answer-Ans: B
Feedback:
Ejection fraction = stroke volume ÷ end-diastolic volume, whereas stroke volume
equals the difference between end-diastolic and end-systolic volume. Therefore,
EF = 60 ÷ 120, or 50%.
3|Page
, HESI ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY FINAL EXAM
Preload represents the volume work of the heart and is largely determined by:
A) Venous blood return
B) Vascular resistance
C) Force of contraction
D) Ventricular emptying - Correct Answer-Ans: A
Feedback:
Preload represents the amount of blood the heart must pump with each beat
and represents the volume of blood stretching the ventricular muscle fibers at
the end of diastole. Pressure (resistance), contraction, and ventricular emptying
relate to afterload.
Which of the following clients coming to a small free clinic are at high risk for
malnutrition? Select all that apply.
A) An 88-year-old senior citizen on a fixed budget
B) A 60-year-old homeless Vietnam veteran complaining of pain
C) A 4-year-old child who lives with a single mom in a rooming house
D) A 17-year-old female who thinks she might have been exposed to syphilis
E) A 32-year-old construction working having muscle spasms in his back - Correct
Answer-Ans: A, B, C
Feedback:
Among the many causes of malnutrition are poverty and lack of knowledge,
acute and chronic illness, and self-imposed dietary restrictions. Homeless
people, the elderly, and the children of the poor often demonstrate the effects
of protein and energy malnutrition, as well as vitamin and mineral deficiencies.
4|Page
HESI ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY FINAL EXAM NEWEST
2025/2026 COMPLETE 100 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
DETAILED ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) |ALREADY
GRADED A+
A teenage male develops a severe case of "athlete's foot." He asks, "How did I get
this?" The health care worker explains that certain fungi become infectious (called
dermatophytes) and exhibit which of the following characteristics? A) Prefer to
grow in warm environments like shoes/socks
B) Like a moist environment
C) Limited to cooler cutaneous surfaces
D) Need higher blood flow to survive - Correct Answer-Ans: C
Feedback:
Dermatophytes are not able to grow at core body temperature, preferring the
cooler surface skin areas instead of moist skin folds. Diseases caused by these
organisms, including ringworm, athlete's foot, and jock itch, are collectively
called superficial mycoses.
A male client with a history of angina has presented to the emergency
department with uncharacteristic chest pain, and his subsequent ECG reveals T-
wave elevation. This finding suggests an abnormality with which of the following
aspects of the cardiac cycle?
A) Atrial depolarization
B) Ventricular depolarization
C) Ventricular repolarization
D) Depolarization of the AV node - Correct Answer-Ans: C
1|Page
, HESI ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY FINAL EXAM
Feedback:
The T wave on electrocardiography (ECG) corresponds to ventricular
repolarization. Atrial depolarization is represented by the P wave and ventricular
depolarization by the QRS complex. The isoelectric or zero line between the P
wave and the Q wave represents depolarization of the AV node, bundle
branches, and Purkinje system.
During ventricular systole, closure of the atrioventricular (AV) valves coincides
with:
A) Atrial chamber filling
B) Aortic valve opening
C) Isovolumetric contraction
D)Semilunar valves opening - Correct Answer-Ans: C
Feedback:
Ventricular systole is divided into two parts: isovolumetric contraction when the
AV valves close and ventricles fill; and the ejection period, when the semilunar
valves open and blood is ejected through the aortic valve into circulation.
Immediately after closure of the AV valves, there is a 0.02- to 0.03-second period
during which the pulmonic and aortic valves remain closed. During this period,
the ventricular volume remains the same while the ventricles contract,
producing an abrupt increase in pressure. At the end of systole, the ventricles
relax, causing a precipitous fall in intraventricular pressures. As this occurs,
blood from the large arteries flows back toward the ventricles, causing the aortic
and pulmonic valves to snap shut—an event marked by the second heart sound.
A heart failure client has an echocardiogram performed revealing an ejection
fraction (EF) of 40%. The nurse knows this EF is below normal and explains to the
client:
2|Page
, HESI ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY FINAL EXAM
A) "This means you have a lot of pressure built-up inside your heart."
B) "This means your heart is not pumping as much blood out of the heart with
each beat."
C) "You need to increase the amount of exercise you do to get your heart muscle
back in shape."
D) "Your ventricular muscle is getting too stiff to beat normally." - Correct Answer-
Ans: B
Feedback:
Ejection fraction is the percentage of diastolic volume ejected from the heart
[left ventricle] during systole. Stroke volume is determined by the difference
between end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes. Cardiac output is determined
by stroke volume and heart rate. Cardiac reserve refers to the maximum
percentage of increase in cardiac output that can be achieved above the normal
resting level.
A client with a history of heart failure has been referred for an echocardiogram.
Results of this diagnostic test reveal the following findings: heart rate 80
beats/minute; end-diastolic volume 120 mL; and end-systolic volume 60 mL. What
is this client's ejection fraction?
A) 200 mL
B) 50%
C) 0.80
D) 180 mL - Correct Answer-Ans: B
Feedback:
Ejection fraction = stroke volume ÷ end-diastolic volume, whereas stroke volume
equals the difference between end-diastolic and end-systolic volume. Therefore,
EF = 60 ÷ 120, or 50%.
3|Page
, HESI ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY FINAL EXAM
Preload represents the volume work of the heart and is largely determined by:
A) Venous blood return
B) Vascular resistance
C) Force of contraction
D) Ventricular emptying - Correct Answer-Ans: A
Feedback:
Preload represents the amount of blood the heart must pump with each beat
and represents the volume of blood stretching the ventricular muscle fibers at
the end of diastole. Pressure (resistance), contraction, and ventricular emptying
relate to afterload.
Which of the following clients coming to a small free clinic are at high risk for
malnutrition? Select all that apply.
A) An 88-year-old senior citizen on a fixed budget
B) A 60-year-old homeless Vietnam veteran complaining of pain
C) A 4-year-old child who lives with a single mom in a rooming house
D) A 17-year-old female who thinks she might have been exposed to syphilis
E) A 32-year-old construction working having muscle spasms in his back - Correct
Answer-Ans: A, B, C
Feedback:
Among the many causes of malnutrition are poverty and lack of knowledge,
acute and chronic illness, and self-imposed dietary restrictions. Homeless
people, the elderly, and the children of the poor often demonstrate the effects
of protein and energy malnutrition, as well as vitamin and mineral deficiencies.
4|Page
