NURS 231 Pathophysiology Exam (GRADED A+)
Questions and Answers
1. Define neoplasia and neoplasm:
- ANSWER: Neoplasia is a disorder of altered cell differentiation and growth.
Neoplasm is the "new growth."
2. Define proliferation and differentiation:
- ANSWER: Proliferation, a process of cell division, is an adaptive process for
new cell growth to replace old cells or when additional cells are
needed. Differentiation is the process in which cells become
more specialized with each mitotic division.
3. What are the 3 main groups of cells that proliferate?
- ANSWER: (1) well-differentiated neurons and cells of skeletal and cardiac
muscles that rarely divide and reproduce; (2) progenitor or parent
cells that continue to divide and reproduce, like blood, skin, and
liver cells; (3) undifferentiated stem cells that can enter the cell
cycle and produce large number of progenitor cells if needed.
4. What are progenitor cells?
- ANSWER: The more specialized cells are unable to divide, so these cell
populations rely on progenitor or parent cells of the same lineage
that have not yet differentiated to the extent that they have lost
their ability to divide. They have enough differentiation so the
daughter cells are limited to the same cell line, but not quite
differentiated enough to prohibit active proliferation.
5. What are the benefits of the stem cell?
- ANSWER: Stem cells remain dormant until they are needed. When needed,
they can divide, produce other stem cells, and carry out the
functions of the differentiated cell. Two important properties that
stem cells possess are self-renewal and potency. Self-renewal
means the stem cell can undergo numerous mitotic divisions while
maintaining an undifferentiated state. Potency describes the
differentiation potential of stem cells.
6. What is a polyp?
- ANSWER: A polyp is a growth that projects from a mucosal surface, such as
the intestine. A polyp can be benign or malignant.
7. Explain metastasis and how it occurs:
- ANSWER: The multi-step process of metastasis occurs as follows: a cancer
cell must break loose from the primary tumor, invade the
surrounding extracellular matrix, gain access to a blood vessel,
survive its passage in the bloodstream, emerge at a favorable
Questions and Answers
1. Define neoplasia and neoplasm:
- ANSWER: Neoplasia is a disorder of altered cell differentiation and growth.
Neoplasm is the "new growth."
2. Define proliferation and differentiation:
- ANSWER: Proliferation, a process of cell division, is an adaptive process for
new cell growth to replace old cells or when additional cells are
needed. Differentiation is the process in which cells become
more specialized with each mitotic division.
3. What are the 3 main groups of cells that proliferate?
- ANSWER: (1) well-differentiated neurons and cells of skeletal and cardiac
muscles that rarely divide and reproduce; (2) progenitor or parent
cells that continue to divide and reproduce, like blood, skin, and
liver cells; (3) undifferentiated stem cells that can enter the cell
cycle and produce large number of progenitor cells if needed.
4. What are progenitor cells?
- ANSWER: The more specialized cells are unable to divide, so these cell
populations rely on progenitor or parent cells of the same lineage
that have not yet differentiated to the extent that they have lost
their ability to divide. They have enough differentiation so the
daughter cells are limited to the same cell line, but not quite
differentiated enough to prohibit active proliferation.
5. What are the benefits of the stem cell?
- ANSWER: Stem cells remain dormant until they are needed. When needed,
they can divide, produce other stem cells, and carry out the
functions of the differentiated cell. Two important properties that
stem cells possess are self-renewal and potency. Self-renewal
means the stem cell can undergo numerous mitotic divisions while
maintaining an undifferentiated state. Potency describes the
differentiation potential of stem cells.
6. What is a polyp?
- ANSWER: A polyp is a growth that projects from a mucosal surface, such as
the intestine. A polyp can be benign or malignant.
7. Explain metastasis and how it occurs:
- ANSWER: The multi-step process of metastasis occurs as follows: a cancer
cell must break loose from the primary tumor, invade the
surrounding extracellular matrix, gain access to a blood vessel,
survive its passage in the bloodstream, emerge at a favorable
