NR-283 Pathophysiology Final Exam
Comprehensive Final Exam
Chamberlain university
Verified Questions, Answers & Rationales
Guaranteed Pass
2026/2027 | Newly Released
Section 1: Cellular, Inflammation, Fluids/Electrolytes (weeks 1-2 review)
Q1: A patient suffers a stroke with occlusion of a cerebral artery. The brain tissue in the affected
area undergoes liquefactive necrosis. What is the primary reason brain tissue undergoes this
specific type of necrosis?
A. Brain tissue is rich in collagen, which resists digestion.
B. Brain tissue has high lipid content and lacks supportive stroma. [CORRECT]
C. The blood-brain barrier prevents inflammatory cells from entering.
D. Brain cells are highly resistant to hypoxia.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Liquefactive necrosis is characteristic of the brain because neurons are rich in lipids
and the brain has little structural connective tissue (stroma); thus, dead tissue is digested by
hydrolytic enzymes into a liquid soup.
,Q2: During the cellular stress response, the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) can become
overwhelmed with misfolded proteins. This triggers a specific stress pathway known as:
A. The Unfolded Protein Response (UPR). [CORRECT]
B. The Krebs Cycle.
C. The Apoptotic Signal.
D. The Pyrogenic Response.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) is a cellular stress response related to the ER.
It is triggered by an accumulation of misfolded proteins and aims to restore normal function by
stopping protein translation and degrading misfolded proteins.
Q3: A 65-year-old male presents with swelling in his lower extremities. He has a history of liver
failure (cirrhosis). Which mechanism is the primary cause of his edema?
A. Increased hydrostatic pressure
B. Decreased plasma oncotic pressure (hypoalbuminemia). [CORRECT]
C. Increased capillary permeability
D. Lymphatic obstruction
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Cirrhosis leads to decreased synthesis of albumin by the liver. Low albumin
(hypoalbuminemia) decreases plasma oncotic pressure, allowing fluid to leak out of capillaries
into the interstitial space.
Q4: Lab results for a patient reveal a pH of 7.32, PaCO2 of 48 mm Hg, and HCO3- of 24 mEq/L.
How should the nurse interpret these ABG results?
A. Fully compensated respiratory alkalosis
B. Uncompensated respiratory acidosis [CORRECT]
C. Metabolic acidosis
D. Fully compensated metabolic alkalosis
Correct Answer: B
.
, Rationale: The pH is low (acidosis) and the PaCO2 is high (acidosis), indicating a respiratory
origin. The HCO3- is normal, indicating no metabolic compensation has occurred yet.
Q5: Which cell is the first responder to acute inflammation and is the predominant cell in the
early stages of an infection?
A. Macrophage
B. Neutrophil [CORRECT]
C. Lymphocyte
D. Eosinophil
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Neutrophils are the primary cells of acute inflammation, arriving first to phagocytose
bacteria and debris. Macrophages appear later or in chronic inflammation.
Q6: A patient is diagnosed with hyperkalemia. Which ECG change is most critical to monitor
for?
A. Peaked T waves [CORRECT]
B. U waves
C. Prolonged PR interval
D. QT prolongation
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Hyperkalemia causes characteristic ECG changes, the earliest and most indicative of
which are tall, peaked T waves. Severe hyperkalemia can progress to widened QRS and cardiac
arrest.
Q7: In the healing of a fracture, the formation of a hematoma is followed by the formation of a
fibrocartilaginous callus. What is the primary cell type responsible for producing this callus?
A. Osteoclasts
B. Chondroblasts and Fibroblasts [CORRECT]
C. Osteoblasts
D. Neutrophils
.
Comprehensive Final Exam
Chamberlain university
Verified Questions, Answers & Rationales
Guaranteed Pass
2026/2027 | Newly Released
Section 1: Cellular, Inflammation, Fluids/Electrolytes (weeks 1-2 review)
Q1: A patient suffers a stroke with occlusion of a cerebral artery. The brain tissue in the affected
area undergoes liquefactive necrosis. What is the primary reason brain tissue undergoes this
specific type of necrosis?
A. Brain tissue is rich in collagen, which resists digestion.
B. Brain tissue has high lipid content and lacks supportive stroma. [CORRECT]
C. The blood-brain barrier prevents inflammatory cells from entering.
D. Brain cells are highly resistant to hypoxia.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Liquefactive necrosis is characteristic of the brain because neurons are rich in lipids
and the brain has little structural connective tissue (stroma); thus, dead tissue is digested by
hydrolytic enzymes into a liquid soup.
,Q2: During the cellular stress response, the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) can become
overwhelmed with misfolded proteins. This triggers a specific stress pathway known as:
A. The Unfolded Protein Response (UPR). [CORRECT]
B. The Krebs Cycle.
C. The Apoptotic Signal.
D. The Pyrogenic Response.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) is a cellular stress response related to the ER.
It is triggered by an accumulation of misfolded proteins and aims to restore normal function by
stopping protein translation and degrading misfolded proteins.
Q3: A 65-year-old male presents with swelling in his lower extremities. He has a history of liver
failure (cirrhosis). Which mechanism is the primary cause of his edema?
A. Increased hydrostatic pressure
B. Decreased plasma oncotic pressure (hypoalbuminemia). [CORRECT]
C. Increased capillary permeability
D. Lymphatic obstruction
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Cirrhosis leads to decreased synthesis of albumin by the liver. Low albumin
(hypoalbuminemia) decreases plasma oncotic pressure, allowing fluid to leak out of capillaries
into the interstitial space.
Q4: Lab results for a patient reveal a pH of 7.32, PaCO2 of 48 mm Hg, and HCO3- of 24 mEq/L.
How should the nurse interpret these ABG results?
A. Fully compensated respiratory alkalosis
B. Uncompensated respiratory acidosis [CORRECT]
C. Metabolic acidosis
D. Fully compensated metabolic alkalosis
Correct Answer: B
.
, Rationale: The pH is low (acidosis) and the PaCO2 is high (acidosis), indicating a respiratory
origin. The HCO3- is normal, indicating no metabolic compensation has occurred yet.
Q5: Which cell is the first responder to acute inflammation and is the predominant cell in the
early stages of an infection?
A. Macrophage
B. Neutrophil [CORRECT]
C. Lymphocyte
D. Eosinophil
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Neutrophils are the primary cells of acute inflammation, arriving first to phagocytose
bacteria and debris. Macrophages appear later or in chronic inflammation.
Q6: A patient is diagnosed with hyperkalemia. Which ECG change is most critical to monitor
for?
A. Peaked T waves [CORRECT]
B. U waves
C. Prolonged PR interval
D. QT prolongation
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Hyperkalemia causes characteristic ECG changes, the earliest and most indicative of
which are tall, peaked T waves. Severe hyperkalemia can progress to widened QRS and cardiac
arrest.
Q7: In the healing of a fracture, the formation of a hematoma is followed by the formation of a
fibrocartilaginous callus. What is the primary cell type responsible for producing this callus?
A. Osteoclasts
B. Chondroblasts and Fibroblasts [CORRECT]
C. Osteoblasts
D. Neutrophils
.
