Portage Learning – NURS 231 / BIOD 331
Human Pathophysiology – Comprehensive Final Exam Practice (2025 Edition)
(Verified Practice Resource | LockDown Browser–Ready Format)
Exam Overview
This practice final reinforces the critical systems and mechanisms tested in the official Portage
Pathophysiology course.
Questions mirror the cognitive level of the real exam: application, analysis, and clinical
reasoning.
Each item includes a correct answer (in bold green) and a concise rationale.
Exam Topics
Cellular and tissue responses to injury
Inflammation and immunity
Cardiovascular and respiratory regulation
Renal and endocrine control of homeostasis
Gastrointestinal and hepatic pathophysiology
Neurological and musculoskeletal disorders
Fluid, electrolyte, and acid–base balance
(Part 1: Questions 1–20)
1. Cellular swelling during early hypoxic injury is primarily due to:
A. Increased ATP production
B. Failure of the sodium–potassium pump
C. Excessive lysosomal enzyme release
D. Increased protein synthesis
Rationale: ATP depletion impairs Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase, causing intracellular sodium and water
accumulation.
2. Which cellular adaptation is reversible if the stressor is removed?
,A. Dysplasia
B. Necrosis
C. Hypertrophy
D. Coagulative necrosis
Rationale: Hypertrophy (cell enlargement) can reverse when demand decreases; dysplasia and
necrosis are pathologic and irreversible.
3. The main function of inflammation is to:
A. Inhibit all immune responses
B. Remove injured tissue and initiate repair
C. Decrease vascular permeability
D. Prevent fever development
Rationale: Inflammation isolates and eliminates injury causes while beginning the healing
process.
4. A patient with chronic bronchitis presents with elevated hematocrit. The
physiological cause is:
A. Iron deficiency
B. Chronic hypoxia stimulating erythropoietin release
C. Bone marrow suppression
D. Vitamin B12 deficiency
Rationale: Persistent hypoxia triggers erythropoietin production to increase red blood cells.
5. Which finding indicates left-sided heart failure?
A. Pulmonary crackles and dyspnea
B. Peripheral edema
C. Jugular venous distention
D. Hepatomegaly
Rationale: Left ventricular dysfunction causes pulmonary congestion and shortness of breath.
6. Which electrolyte imbalance is commonly seen in Addison’s disease?
, A. Hyponatremia and hyperkalemia
B. Hypernatremia and hypokalemia
C. Hypercalcemia
D. Hypophosphatemia
Rationale: Aldosterone deficiency leads to sodium loss and potassium retention.
7. The nephron’s main site of filtration is the:
A. Distal convoluted tubule
B. Glomerulus
C. Loop of Henle
D. Collecting duct
Rationale: The glomerulus filters plasma into Bowman’s capsule under pressure gradients.
8. Which mechanism helps regulate blood pH within minutes?
A. Respiratory control of CO₂
B. Renal bicarbonate excretion
C. Phosphate buffering
D. Protein metabolism
Rationale: The respiratory system rapidly alters CO₂ levels to modify pH.
9. In metabolic acidosis, the expected respiratory response is:
A. Hypoventilation
B. Hyperventilation
C. Apnea
D. Bradypnea
Rationale: Increased ventilation lowers CO₂ to compensate for metabolic acid buildup.
10. Which hormone increases water reabsorption without affecting sodium?
A. Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)
B. Aldosterone
Human Pathophysiology – Comprehensive Final Exam Practice (2025 Edition)
(Verified Practice Resource | LockDown Browser–Ready Format)
Exam Overview
This practice final reinforces the critical systems and mechanisms tested in the official Portage
Pathophysiology course.
Questions mirror the cognitive level of the real exam: application, analysis, and clinical
reasoning.
Each item includes a correct answer (in bold green) and a concise rationale.
Exam Topics
Cellular and tissue responses to injury
Inflammation and immunity
Cardiovascular and respiratory regulation
Renal and endocrine control of homeostasis
Gastrointestinal and hepatic pathophysiology
Neurological and musculoskeletal disorders
Fluid, electrolyte, and acid–base balance
(Part 1: Questions 1–20)
1. Cellular swelling during early hypoxic injury is primarily due to:
A. Increased ATP production
B. Failure of the sodium–potassium pump
C. Excessive lysosomal enzyme release
D. Increased protein synthesis
Rationale: ATP depletion impairs Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase, causing intracellular sodium and water
accumulation.
2. Which cellular adaptation is reversible if the stressor is removed?
,A. Dysplasia
B. Necrosis
C. Hypertrophy
D. Coagulative necrosis
Rationale: Hypertrophy (cell enlargement) can reverse when demand decreases; dysplasia and
necrosis are pathologic and irreversible.
3. The main function of inflammation is to:
A. Inhibit all immune responses
B. Remove injured tissue and initiate repair
C. Decrease vascular permeability
D. Prevent fever development
Rationale: Inflammation isolates and eliminates injury causes while beginning the healing
process.
4. A patient with chronic bronchitis presents with elevated hematocrit. The
physiological cause is:
A. Iron deficiency
B. Chronic hypoxia stimulating erythropoietin release
C. Bone marrow suppression
D. Vitamin B12 deficiency
Rationale: Persistent hypoxia triggers erythropoietin production to increase red blood cells.
5. Which finding indicates left-sided heart failure?
A. Pulmonary crackles and dyspnea
B. Peripheral edema
C. Jugular venous distention
D. Hepatomegaly
Rationale: Left ventricular dysfunction causes pulmonary congestion and shortness of breath.
6. Which electrolyte imbalance is commonly seen in Addison’s disease?
, A. Hyponatremia and hyperkalemia
B. Hypernatremia and hypokalemia
C. Hypercalcemia
D. Hypophosphatemia
Rationale: Aldosterone deficiency leads to sodium loss and potassium retention.
7. The nephron’s main site of filtration is the:
A. Distal convoluted tubule
B. Glomerulus
C. Loop of Henle
D. Collecting duct
Rationale: The glomerulus filters plasma into Bowman’s capsule under pressure gradients.
8. Which mechanism helps regulate blood pH within minutes?
A. Respiratory control of CO₂
B. Renal bicarbonate excretion
C. Phosphate buffering
D. Protein metabolism
Rationale: The respiratory system rapidly alters CO₂ levels to modify pH.
9. In metabolic acidosis, the expected respiratory response is:
A. Hypoventilation
B. Hyperventilation
C. Apnea
D. Bradypnea
Rationale: Increased ventilation lowers CO₂ to compensate for metabolic acid buildup.
10. Which hormone increases water reabsorption without affecting sodium?
A. Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)
B. Aldosterone
