NSG 5140 FINAL EXAM
NSG 5140 FINAL EXAM NEWEST 2025/2026 / NSG 5140 ADV
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY PRACTICE EXAM SOUTH COLLEGE
COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS
(VERIFIED ANSWERS) |BRAND NEW VERSION!!
1.
A patient with chronic kidney disease presents with metabolic acidosis. Which
mechanism explains why?
A. Increased bicarbonate reabsorption in the kidneys
B. Impaired acid excretion due to nephron loss
C. Increased production of ammonia
D. Excess aldosterone secretion
Answer: B
2.
A patient with long-standing hypertension shows left ventricular hypertrophy. This
is best described as:
A. Hyperplasia due to increased mitosis
B. Hypertrophy due to increased workload
C. Metaplasia due to chronic inflammation
D. Dysplasia due to ischemia
Answer: B
3.
A client with COPD develops chronic hypoxemia. What physiological mechanism
leads to secondary polycythemia?
A. Increased erythropoietin production
B. Increased destruction of RBCs
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, NSG 5140 FINAL EXAM
C. Decreased iron absorption
D. Decreased bone marrow stimulation
Answer: A
4.
A patient with acute pancreatitis has elevated serum amylase. What cellular
process explains enzyme leakage?
A. Apoptosis
B. Autodigestion due to premature enzyme activation
C. Metaplasia
D. Coagulative necrosis
Answer: B
5.
A diabetic patient presents with peripheral neuropathy. Which process is primarily
responsible?
A. Autoimmune destruction of myelin
B. Glycosylation of nerve proteins causing microvascular damage
C. Viral-mediated degeneration of neurons
D. Impaired sodium channel formation
Answer: B
6.
In heart failure, activation of the RAAS system worsens symptoms because:
A. Aldosterone decreases sodium retention
B. Angiotensin II causes vasodilation
C. Angiotensin II increases afterload
D. Renin decreases sympathetic activity
Answer: C
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, NSG 5140 FINAL EXAM
7.
A patient develops jaundice with dark urine but clay-colored stools. Which type of
jaundice is most likely?
A. Prehepatic
B. Hepatic
C. Post-hepatic (obstructive)
D. Hemolytic
Answer: C
8.
A patient with untreated hypothyroidism develops bradycardia. Mechanism?
A. Increased beta-adrenergic receptor density
B. Decreased metabolic demand and reduced sympathetic tone
C. Increased cardiac contractility
D. Elevated catecholamines
Answer: B
9.
A patient with a pulmonary embolism becomes hypoxemic. The primary
mechanism is:
A. Impaired diffusion capacity
B. Increased dead space ventilation
C. Alveolar overperfusion
D. Decreased hemoglobin affinity
Answer: B
10.
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, NSG 5140 FINAL EXAM
A patient with septic shock becomes hypotensive. What causes the fall in blood
pressure?
A. Increased SVR
B. Peripheral vasodilation from inflammatory mediators
C. Increased cardiac output
D. Increased RAAS activation
Answer: B
11.
A patient has a traumatic brain injury with rising intracranial pressure. Which
physiological response occurs first?
A. Hyperventilation
B. Cerebral vasodilation
C. Cushing’s triad
D. Loss of brainstem reflexes
Answer: B
12.
A patient with chronic GERD develops Barrett’s esophagus. This is an example of:
A. Dysplasia
B. Hypertrophy
C. Metaplasia
D. Hyperplasia
Answer: C
13.
In asthma, airway obstruction is primarily due to:
A. Loss of alveolar elasticity
B. Mucus hypersecretion and bronchoconstriction
4|Page
NSG 5140 FINAL EXAM NEWEST 2025/2026 / NSG 5140 ADV
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY PRACTICE EXAM SOUTH COLLEGE
COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS
(VERIFIED ANSWERS) |BRAND NEW VERSION!!
1.
A patient with chronic kidney disease presents with metabolic acidosis. Which
mechanism explains why?
A. Increased bicarbonate reabsorption in the kidneys
B. Impaired acid excretion due to nephron loss
C. Increased production of ammonia
D. Excess aldosterone secretion
Answer: B
2.
A patient with long-standing hypertension shows left ventricular hypertrophy. This
is best described as:
A. Hyperplasia due to increased mitosis
B. Hypertrophy due to increased workload
C. Metaplasia due to chronic inflammation
D. Dysplasia due to ischemia
Answer: B
3.
A client with COPD develops chronic hypoxemia. What physiological mechanism
leads to secondary polycythemia?
A. Increased erythropoietin production
B. Increased destruction of RBCs
1|Page
, NSG 5140 FINAL EXAM
C. Decreased iron absorption
D. Decreased bone marrow stimulation
Answer: A
4.
A patient with acute pancreatitis has elevated serum amylase. What cellular
process explains enzyme leakage?
A. Apoptosis
B. Autodigestion due to premature enzyme activation
C. Metaplasia
D. Coagulative necrosis
Answer: B
5.
A diabetic patient presents with peripheral neuropathy. Which process is primarily
responsible?
A. Autoimmune destruction of myelin
B. Glycosylation of nerve proteins causing microvascular damage
C. Viral-mediated degeneration of neurons
D. Impaired sodium channel formation
Answer: B
6.
In heart failure, activation of the RAAS system worsens symptoms because:
A. Aldosterone decreases sodium retention
B. Angiotensin II causes vasodilation
C. Angiotensin II increases afterload
D. Renin decreases sympathetic activity
Answer: C
2|Page
, NSG 5140 FINAL EXAM
7.
A patient develops jaundice with dark urine but clay-colored stools. Which type of
jaundice is most likely?
A. Prehepatic
B. Hepatic
C. Post-hepatic (obstructive)
D. Hemolytic
Answer: C
8.
A patient with untreated hypothyroidism develops bradycardia. Mechanism?
A. Increased beta-adrenergic receptor density
B. Decreased metabolic demand and reduced sympathetic tone
C. Increased cardiac contractility
D. Elevated catecholamines
Answer: B
9.
A patient with a pulmonary embolism becomes hypoxemic. The primary
mechanism is:
A. Impaired diffusion capacity
B. Increased dead space ventilation
C. Alveolar overperfusion
D. Decreased hemoglobin affinity
Answer: B
10.
3|Page
, NSG 5140 FINAL EXAM
A patient with septic shock becomes hypotensive. What causes the fall in blood
pressure?
A. Increased SVR
B. Peripheral vasodilation from inflammatory mediators
C. Increased cardiac output
D. Increased RAAS activation
Answer: B
11.
A patient has a traumatic brain injury with rising intracranial pressure. Which
physiological response occurs first?
A. Hyperventilation
B. Cerebral vasodilation
C. Cushing’s triad
D. Loss of brainstem reflexes
Answer: B
12.
A patient with chronic GERD develops Barrett’s esophagus. This is an example of:
A. Dysplasia
B. Hypertrophy
C. Metaplasia
D. Hyperplasia
Answer: C
13.
In asthma, airway obstruction is primarily due to:
A. Loss of alveolar elasticity
B. Mucus hypersecretion and bronchoconstriction
4|Page
