1
NUR 2063 NUR2063 Essentials of Pathophysiology
Exam 1 Rasmussen University 2026/2027 Actual Exam
| Verified Questions and Answers | A+ Graded Latest
Edition | Pass Guaranteed - A+ Graded
Section 1: Cellular Biology and Adaptation
Q1:
Which of the following is an example of cellular atrophy?
A. Enlargement of the heart due to hypertension
B. Decrease in muscle mass due to immobilization [CORRECT]
C. Increase in breast tissue during pregnancy
D. Thickening of the bladder wall due to obstruction
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Atrophy is a decrease in cell size due to decreased workload or use. Option A is
hypertrophy (increase in cell size). Option C is hyperplasia (increase in cell number). Option D is
hypertrophy.
Q2:
A patient with chronic hepatitis develops cirrhosis. The liver cells have been replaced by fibrous
tissue. This process is called:
A. Apoptosis
B. Necrosis
C. Metaplasia [CORRECT]
D. Dysplasia
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one differentiated cell type with
another, often due to chronic irritation or inflammation. Apoptosis (A) is programmed cell
death. Necrosis (B) is unregulated cell death due to injury. Dysplasia (D) is abnormal cell
growth, often precancerous.
Q3:
,2
Which type of cellular adaptation is considered precancerous?
A. Hypertrophy
B. Hyperplasia
C. Metaplasia
D. Dysplasia [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Dysplasia is disordered, abnormal cell growth that is often a precursor to cancer.
Hypertrophy (A) and hyperplasia (B) are reversible adaptations to increased demand. Metaplasia
(C) is reversible cell type replacement.
Q4:
A patient with long-standing gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) develops Barrett’s
esophagus. This is an example of:
A. Hypertrophy
B. Hyperplasia
C. Metaplasia [CORRECT]
D. Dysplasia
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Barrett’s esophagus is the replacement of squamous epithelium with columnar
epithelium in response to chronic acid exposure, an example of metaplasia.
Q5:
Which of the following is an example of compensatory hyperplasia?
A. Enlargement of the left ventricle in response to hypertension
B. Increase in red blood cell production in response to high altitude [CORRECT]
C. Thickening of the uterine lining during the menstrual cycle
D. Increase in breast tissue during pregnancy
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Compensatory hyperplasia occurs when tissue regenerates or increases in response
to a stimulus. High altitude stimulates erythropoietin, increasing RBC production. Option A is
hypertrophy. Options C and D are hormonal hyperplasia.
Q6:
,3
A patient with chronic alcohol abuse develops fatty liver disease. The accumulation of fat within
hepatocytes is an example of:
A. Hypertrophy
B. Steatosis [CORRECT]
C. Metaplasia
D. Dysplasia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Steatosis is the accumulation of fat within cells, commonly seen in alcoholic liver
disease.
Q7:
Which of the following is the most common type of necrosis seen in myocardial infarction?
A. Liquefactive necrosis
B. Coagulative necrosis [CORRECT]
C. Caseous necrosis
D. Fat necrosis
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Coagulative necrosis preserves the basic outline of dead cells for a span of time and
is typical in myocardial infarction due to ischemia. Liquefactive (A) occurs in abscesses.
Caseous (C) is seen in tuberculosis. Fat necrosis (D) occurs in pancreatitis.
Q8:
A patient with a history of smoking develops squamous cell carcinoma of the lung. The initial
cellular change that preceded this cancer was most likely:
A. Hypertrophy
B. Hyperplasia
C. Metaplasia
D. Dysplasia [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Dysplasia is abnormal cell growth that often precedes cancer, especially in
response to chronic irritation like smoking.
Q9:
, 4
Which of the following is an example of physiologic hyperplasia?
A. Enlargement of the prostate in benign prostatic hyperplasia
B. Increase in breast tissue during pregnancy [CORRECT]
C. Thickening of the bladder wall due to obstruction
D. Increase in cardiac muscle size due to hypertension
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Physiologic hyperplasia occurs due to hormonal stimulation, such as breast tissue
growth during pregnancy. Option A is pathologic hyperplasia. Options C and D are hypertrophy.
Q10:
A patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) develops right ventricular
hypertrophy. This is an example of:
A. Physiologic hypertrophy
B. Pathologic hypertrophy [CORRECT]
C. Compensatory hyperplasia
D. Metaplasia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Pathologic hypertrophy occurs due to disease processes, such as right ventricular
hypertrophy in response to pulmonary hypertension from COPD.
Q11:
Which of the following cellular adaptations is irreversible?
A. Hypertrophy
B. Hyperplasia
C. Metaplasia
D. Necrosis [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Necrosis is irreversible cell death due to injury. Hypertrophy (A), hyperplasia (B),
and metaplasia (C) are reversible adaptations.
Q12:
A patient with chronic irritation from ill-fitting dentures develops leukoplakia. This lesion is
most likely:
A. Hypertrophy
NUR 2063 NUR2063 Essentials of Pathophysiology
Exam 1 Rasmussen University 2026/2027 Actual Exam
| Verified Questions and Answers | A+ Graded Latest
Edition | Pass Guaranteed - A+ Graded
Section 1: Cellular Biology and Adaptation
Q1:
Which of the following is an example of cellular atrophy?
A. Enlargement of the heart due to hypertension
B. Decrease in muscle mass due to immobilization [CORRECT]
C. Increase in breast tissue during pregnancy
D. Thickening of the bladder wall due to obstruction
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Atrophy is a decrease in cell size due to decreased workload or use. Option A is
hypertrophy (increase in cell size). Option C is hyperplasia (increase in cell number). Option D is
hypertrophy.
Q2:
A patient with chronic hepatitis develops cirrhosis. The liver cells have been replaced by fibrous
tissue. This process is called:
A. Apoptosis
B. Necrosis
C. Metaplasia [CORRECT]
D. Dysplasia
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one differentiated cell type with
another, often due to chronic irritation or inflammation. Apoptosis (A) is programmed cell
death. Necrosis (B) is unregulated cell death due to injury. Dysplasia (D) is abnormal cell
growth, often precancerous.
Q3:
,2
Which type of cellular adaptation is considered precancerous?
A. Hypertrophy
B. Hyperplasia
C. Metaplasia
D. Dysplasia [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Dysplasia is disordered, abnormal cell growth that is often a precursor to cancer.
Hypertrophy (A) and hyperplasia (B) are reversible adaptations to increased demand. Metaplasia
(C) is reversible cell type replacement.
Q4:
A patient with long-standing gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) develops Barrett’s
esophagus. This is an example of:
A. Hypertrophy
B. Hyperplasia
C. Metaplasia [CORRECT]
D. Dysplasia
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Barrett’s esophagus is the replacement of squamous epithelium with columnar
epithelium in response to chronic acid exposure, an example of metaplasia.
Q5:
Which of the following is an example of compensatory hyperplasia?
A. Enlargement of the left ventricle in response to hypertension
B. Increase in red blood cell production in response to high altitude [CORRECT]
C. Thickening of the uterine lining during the menstrual cycle
D. Increase in breast tissue during pregnancy
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Compensatory hyperplasia occurs when tissue regenerates or increases in response
to a stimulus. High altitude stimulates erythropoietin, increasing RBC production. Option A is
hypertrophy. Options C and D are hormonal hyperplasia.
Q6:
,3
A patient with chronic alcohol abuse develops fatty liver disease. The accumulation of fat within
hepatocytes is an example of:
A. Hypertrophy
B. Steatosis [CORRECT]
C. Metaplasia
D. Dysplasia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Steatosis is the accumulation of fat within cells, commonly seen in alcoholic liver
disease.
Q7:
Which of the following is the most common type of necrosis seen in myocardial infarction?
A. Liquefactive necrosis
B. Coagulative necrosis [CORRECT]
C. Caseous necrosis
D. Fat necrosis
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Coagulative necrosis preserves the basic outline of dead cells for a span of time and
is typical in myocardial infarction due to ischemia. Liquefactive (A) occurs in abscesses.
Caseous (C) is seen in tuberculosis. Fat necrosis (D) occurs in pancreatitis.
Q8:
A patient with a history of smoking develops squamous cell carcinoma of the lung. The initial
cellular change that preceded this cancer was most likely:
A. Hypertrophy
B. Hyperplasia
C. Metaplasia
D. Dysplasia [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Dysplasia is abnormal cell growth that often precedes cancer, especially in
response to chronic irritation like smoking.
Q9:
, 4
Which of the following is an example of physiologic hyperplasia?
A. Enlargement of the prostate in benign prostatic hyperplasia
B. Increase in breast tissue during pregnancy [CORRECT]
C. Thickening of the bladder wall due to obstruction
D. Increase in cardiac muscle size due to hypertension
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Physiologic hyperplasia occurs due to hormonal stimulation, such as breast tissue
growth during pregnancy. Option A is pathologic hyperplasia. Options C and D are hypertrophy.
Q10:
A patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) develops right ventricular
hypertrophy. This is an example of:
A. Physiologic hypertrophy
B. Pathologic hypertrophy [CORRECT]
C. Compensatory hyperplasia
D. Metaplasia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Pathologic hypertrophy occurs due to disease processes, such as right ventricular
hypertrophy in response to pulmonary hypertension from COPD.
Q11:
Which of the following cellular adaptations is irreversible?
A. Hypertrophy
B. Hyperplasia
C. Metaplasia
D. Necrosis [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Necrosis is irreversible cell death due to injury. Hypertrophy (A), hyperplasia (B),
and metaplasia (C) are reversible adaptations.
Q12:
A patient with chronic irritation from ill-fitting dentures develops leukoplakia. This lesion is
most likely:
A. Hypertrophy
