A patient with acute renal failure has a serum potassium level of 6.8 mEq/L and the following ABG results: pH 7.28, PaCO2 30, PaO2 86, HCO3 18. The nurse recognizes that treatment of the acid base problem would cause a decrease in the

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Metabolic acidosis (low pH, HCO3) drives potassium out of cells; correcting it (e.g., bicarbonate) shifts potassium back intracellularly, lowering serum levels not pH (rises), bicarbonate (increases), or CO2 (respiratory). This distinguishes acidosis-potassium interplay, key for treatment planning, contrasting with standalone acid-base correction.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Malpighian corpuscle (glomerulus + Bowman's) has podocytes (visceral), squamous epithelium (parietal), and mesangial cells, but glomerular capillaries have a fenestrated (not interrupted) basement membrane for filtration. This exception distinguishes filtration barrier structure, vital for renal physiology, contrasting with complete descriptions.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Hydronephrosis results from obstruction (BPH, pregnancy, valve stricture) not acute cystitis (inflammation without blockage). This distinguishes obstructive uropathy, key for renal dilation causes, contrasting with infectious etiologies.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Glucose is reabsorbed in proximal tubules via sodium-glucose cotransport (SGLT) at the luminal (not basal) border, with a tubular maximum not passive, distal, or unlimited. 'C' is closest, assuming typo. This distinguishes glucose handling, key for glycosuria, contrasting with passive mechanisms.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Urolithiasis is predisposed by hypercalcemia (calcium stones), hydronephrosis (stasis), pyelonephritis (infection stones), and BPH (obstruction) not spermatocele (scrotal cyst). This distinguishes stone risk factors, key for prevention, contrasting with unrelated conditions.