NUR 2063 ESSENTIALS OF
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY EXAM 2 2026/2027 |
RASMUSSEN | VERIFIED QUESTIONS &
CORRECT ANSWERS TEST BANK
• This test bank covers key Pathophysiology concepts tested in NUR 2063 at
Rasmussen — use it to drill weak areas, time yourself per question, and review
every EXPERT RATIONALE whether you got it right or wrong.
• Features 200 verified MCQs with 5 options (A–E), highlighted correct answers, and
EXPERT RATIONALE to reinforce clinical reasoning.
NUR 2063 — ESSENTIALS OF PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
EXAM 2 | 2026/2027 | RASMUSSEN
200 MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS
1. A patient has a blood clot blocking a coronary artery. Which term best
describes the resulting localized area of dead tissue?
A) Ischemia
B) Hypoxia
C) Infarction
D) Necrosis
E) Myocardial infarct
Correct Answer: E) Myocardial infarct
EXPERT RATIONALE: A myocardial infarct is the localized area of necrotic tissue
in the heart muscle resulting from prolonged ischemia due to coronary artery
occlusion. While necrosis is the general term for cell death, a myocardial infarct
specifically describes the dead tissue zone in the heart.
2. Which type of cell injury is REVERSIBLE if the injurious stimulus is removed?
,A) Coagulative necrosis
B) Liquefactive necrosis
C) Apoptosis
D) Gangrenous necrosis
E) Hydropic (cellular) swelling
Correct Answer: E) Hydropic (cellular) swelling
EXPERT RATIONALE: Hydropic swelling (vacuolar degeneration) is an early,
reversible form of cell injury caused by impaired ion pump function. If the cause is
removed promptly, the cell can recover. Necrosis and apoptosis are both
irreversible.
3. A nurse is caring for a patient with a gangrenous foot. Which type of
necrosis is most commonly associated with this condition?
A) Liquefactive necrosis
B) Caseous necrosis
C) Fat necrosis
D) Coagulative necrosis with superimposed infection
E) Fibrinoid necrosis
Correct Answer: D) Coagulative necrosis with superimposed infection
EXPERT RATIONALE: Gangrene typically involves coagulative necrosis (from
ischemia) combined with bacterial infection (wet gangrene) or without infection (dry
gangrene). The tissue becomes necrotic and takes on a gangrenous appearance
due to vascular occlusion.
4. Which of the following BEST describes apoptosis?
A) Accidental, uncontrolled cell death causing inflammation
,B) Cell death caused only by bacterial toxins
C) Death of entire organs following ischemia
D) Programmed, energy-dependent cell death without inflammation
E) Necrotic cell death following hypoxic injury
Correct Answer: D) Programmed, energy-dependent cell death without
inflammation
EXPERT RATIONALE: Apoptosis is a highly regulated, genetically programmed
form of cell death that does not trigger an inflammatory response. It is used for
normal tissue development and homeostasis. It differs fundamentally from
necrosis, which is uncontrolled and inflammatory.
5. A patient develops tuberculosis. The granulomas formed show a "cheese-
like" center. What type of necrosis is this?
A) Coagulative necrosis
B) Fat necrosis
C) Caseous necrosis
D) Liquefactive necrosis
E) Fibrinoid necrosis
Correct Answer: C) Caseous necrosis
EXPERT RATIONALE: Caseous necrosis is characteristic of tuberculosis. The
necrotic tissue appears soft, white, and cheese-like (from the Latin "caseus" =
cheese). It is a form of coagulative necrosis combined with liquefactive elements,
walled off by granulomas.
6. Which of the following is the PRIMARY mediator of fever?
A) Histamine
, B) Bradykinin
C) Interleukin-1 (IL-1)
D) Complement C3
E) Thromboxane A2
Correct Answer: C) Interleukin-1 (IL-1)
EXPERT RATIONALE: IL-1 (along with TNF-α and IL-6) is a key endogenous
pyrogen released by macrophages during infection or inflammation. It acts on the
hypothalamus to raise the body's temperature set point, producing fever.
7. A patient presents with redness, heat, swelling, and pain in the right knee.
These are signs of:
A) Chronic inflammation only
B) Acute inflammation
C) Neoplasia
D) Apoptosis
E) Fibrosis
Correct Answer: B) Acute inflammation
EXPERT RATIONALE: The classic five cardinal signs of acute inflammation are
redness (rubor), heat (calor), swelling (tumor), pain (dolor), and loss of function
(functio laesa). These result from vasodilation, increased vascular permeability, and
leukocyte infiltration.
8. Which white blood cell is the FIRST to arrive at the site of acute
inflammation?
A) Lymphocytes
B) Monocytes
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY EXAM 2 2026/2027 |
RASMUSSEN | VERIFIED QUESTIONS &
CORRECT ANSWERS TEST BANK
• This test bank covers key Pathophysiology concepts tested in NUR 2063 at
Rasmussen — use it to drill weak areas, time yourself per question, and review
every EXPERT RATIONALE whether you got it right or wrong.
• Features 200 verified MCQs with 5 options (A–E), highlighted correct answers, and
EXPERT RATIONALE to reinforce clinical reasoning.
NUR 2063 — ESSENTIALS OF PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
EXAM 2 | 2026/2027 | RASMUSSEN
200 MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS
1. A patient has a blood clot blocking a coronary artery. Which term best
describes the resulting localized area of dead tissue?
A) Ischemia
B) Hypoxia
C) Infarction
D) Necrosis
E) Myocardial infarct
Correct Answer: E) Myocardial infarct
EXPERT RATIONALE: A myocardial infarct is the localized area of necrotic tissue
in the heart muscle resulting from prolonged ischemia due to coronary artery
occlusion. While necrosis is the general term for cell death, a myocardial infarct
specifically describes the dead tissue zone in the heart.
2. Which type of cell injury is REVERSIBLE if the injurious stimulus is removed?
,A) Coagulative necrosis
B) Liquefactive necrosis
C) Apoptosis
D) Gangrenous necrosis
E) Hydropic (cellular) swelling
Correct Answer: E) Hydropic (cellular) swelling
EXPERT RATIONALE: Hydropic swelling (vacuolar degeneration) is an early,
reversible form of cell injury caused by impaired ion pump function. If the cause is
removed promptly, the cell can recover. Necrosis and apoptosis are both
irreversible.
3. A nurse is caring for a patient with a gangrenous foot. Which type of
necrosis is most commonly associated with this condition?
A) Liquefactive necrosis
B) Caseous necrosis
C) Fat necrosis
D) Coagulative necrosis with superimposed infection
E) Fibrinoid necrosis
Correct Answer: D) Coagulative necrosis with superimposed infection
EXPERT RATIONALE: Gangrene typically involves coagulative necrosis (from
ischemia) combined with bacterial infection (wet gangrene) or without infection (dry
gangrene). The tissue becomes necrotic and takes on a gangrenous appearance
due to vascular occlusion.
4. Which of the following BEST describes apoptosis?
A) Accidental, uncontrolled cell death causing inflammation
,B) Cell death caused only by bacterial toxins
C) Death of entire organs following ischemia
D) Programmed, energy-dependent cell death without inflammation
E) Necrotic cell death following hypoxic injury
Correct Answer: D) Programmed, energy-dependent cell death without
inflammation
EXPERT RATIONALE: Apoptosis is a highly regulated, genetically programmed
form of cell death that does not trigger an inflammatory response. It is used for
normal tissue development and homeostasis. It differs fundamentally from
necrosis, which is uncontrolled and inflammatory.
5. A patient develops tuberculosis. The granulomas formed show a "cheese-
like" center. What type of necrosis is this?
A) Coagulative necrosis
B) Fat necrosis
C) Caseous necrosis
D) Liquefactive necrosis
E) Fibrinoid necrosis
Correct Answer: C) Caseous necrosis
EXPERT RATIONALE: Caseous necrosis is characteristic of tuberculosis. The
necrotic tissue appears soft, white, and cheese-like (from the Latin "caseus" =
cheese). It is a form of coagulative necrosis combined with liquefactive elements,
walled off by granulomas.
6. Which of the following is the PRIMARY mediator of fever?
A) Histamine
, B) Bradykinin
C) Interleukin-1 (IL-1)
D) Complement C3
E) Thromboxane A2
Correct Answer: C) Interleukin-1 (IL-1)
EXPERT RATIONALE: IL-1 (along with TNF-α and IL-6) is a key endogenous
pyrogen released by macrophages during infection or inflammation. It acts on the
hypothalamus to raise the body's temperature set point, producing fever.
7. A patient presents with redness, heat, swelling, and pain in the right knee.
These are signs of:
A) Chronic inflammation only
B) Acute inflammation
C) Neoplasia
D) Apoptosis
E) Fibrosis
Correct Answer: B) Acute inflammation
EXPERT RATIONALE: The classic five cardinal signs of acute inflammation are
redness (rubor), heat (calor), swelling (tumor), pain (dolor), and loss of function
(functio laesa). These result from vasodilation, increased vascular permeability, and
leukocyte infiltration.
8. Which white blood cell is the FIRST to arrive at the site of acute
inflammation?
A) Lymphocytes
B) Monocytes
