NURS 5315 PATHOPHYSIOLOGY THE BIOLOGIC
BASIS FOR DISEASE IN ADULTS AND CHILDREN
2026 EXAM PREP QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS GUARANTEED PASS
◉ What is the body's defense against ROS? Answer: Antioxidants
(Vitamin E, Vitamin C, cysteine, glutathione, albumin, ceruloplasmin,
transferrin)
◉ How are free radicals produced? Answer: 1. Normal cellular
respiration
2. Absorption of extreme energy sources (radiation, UV light)
3. Metabolism of exogenous chemicals, drugs, and pesticides
4. Transition of metals
5. Nitric oxide acting like a chemical mediator and a free radical
◉ action potential Answer: Process of conducting an impulse.
Activates the neuron --> the neuron depolarizes --> then repolarizes
◉ Threshold potential Answer: Point at which depolarization must
reach in order to initiate an action potential
,◉ Hypokalemia and action potentials Answer: HYPERpolarized
(more negative, ex. -100). Less excitable. Decreased neuromuscular
excitability: weakness, smooth muscle atony, paresthesia, cardiac
dysrhythmias
◉ Hyperkalemia and action potentials Answer: HYPOpolarized
(more positive, ex: closer to 0). More excitable. Peaked T waves.
When resting membrane potential=threshold potential, it is BAD =
cardiac standstill, paresthesia, paralysis
◉ Hypocalcemia and action potentials Answer: Increased
permeability to Na+. More excitable. Tetany, hyperreflexia,
circumoral paresthesia, seizures, dysrhythmias.
◉ Hypercalcemia and action potentials Answer: Decreased
permeability to Na+. Less excitable. Weakness, hyporeflexia, fatigue,
lethargy, confusion, encephalopathy, depressed T waves
◉ Atrophy Answer: Occurs as a result of decrease in work load,
pressure, use, blood supply, nutrition, hormonal stimulation, or
nervous stimulation. Once the cell has decreased in size, it has now
compensated for decreased blood supply, nerve supply, nutrient
supply, hormonal supply, and has achieved new homeostasis. Cells
are alive but have diminished function and may lead to cellular
death.
, ◉ Atrophy examples Answer: Physiologic atrophy- shrinking of the
thymus gland during childhood.
Disuse atrophy- someone that ends up being paralyzed
◉ Hypertrophy Answer: Increase in SIZE of cells, which will lead to
increase in size of organ. Caused by hormonal stimulation or
increased functional demand.
◉ Hypertrophy examples Answer: physiologic hypertrophy- skeletal
hypertrophy when a person does heavy work or weight lifting /
when a kidney is surgically removed, the other kidney increases in
size
pathologic hypertrophy- cardiomegaly results from an increased
workload in hypertensive patients / *left ventricular hypertrophy*
◉ Hyperplasia Answer: Increase in NUMBER of cells. Results from
increased rate of mitosis. Can ONLY happen in cells that are capable
of mitosis (cell division).
◉ Hyperplasia examples Answer: 1. Thickening of skin because of
hyperplasia of epidermal cells.
2. Hormonal hyperplasia- occurs in estrogen dependent organs like
uterus and breast.
3. Compensatory hyperplasia- liver regenerates, callus on skin
BASIS FOR DISEASE IN ADULTS AND CHILDREN
2026 EXAM PREP QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS GUARANTEED PASS
◉ What is the body's defense against ROS? Answer: Antioxidants
(Vitamin E, Vitamin C, cysteine, glutathione, albumin, ceruloplasmin,
transferrin)
◉ How are free radicals produced? Answer: 1. Normal cellular
respiration
2. Absorption of extreme energy sources (radiation, UV light)
3. Metabolism of exogenous chemicals, drugs, and pesticides
4. Transition of metals
5. Nitric oxide acting like a chemical mediator and a free radical
◉ action potential Answer: Process of conducting an impulse.
Activates the neuron --> the neuron depolarizes --> then repolarizes
◉ Threshold potential Answer: Point at which depolarization must
reach in order to initiate an action potential
,◉ Hypokalemia and action potentials Answer: HYPERpolarized
(more negative, ex. -100). Less excitable. Decreased neuromuscular
excitability: weakness, smooth muscle atony, paresthesia, cardiac
dysrhythmias
◉ Hyperkalemia and action potentials Answer: HYPOpolarized
(more positive, ex: closer to 0). More excitable. Peaked T waves.
When resting membrane potential=threshold potential, it is BAD =
cardiac standstill, paresthesia, paralysis
◉ Hypocalcemia and action potentials Answer: Increased
permeability to Na+. More excitable. Tetany, hyperreflexia,
circumoral paresthesia, seizures, dysrhythmias.
◉ Hypercalcemia and action potentials Answer: Decreased
permeability to Na+. Less excitable. Weakness, hyporeflexia, fatigue,
lethargy, confusion, encephalopathy, depressed T waves
◉ Atrophy Answer: Occurs as a result of decrease in work load,
pressure, use, blood supply, nutrition, hormonal stimulation, or
nervous stimulation. Once the cell has decreased in size, it has now
compensated for decreased blood supply, nerve supply, nutrient
supply, hormonal supply, and has achieved new homeostasis. Cells
are alive but have diminished function and may lead to cellular
death.
, ◉ Atrophy examples Answer: Physiologic atrophy- shrinking of the
thymus gland during childhood.
Disuse atrophy- someone that ends up being paralyzed
◉ Hypertrophy Answer: Increase in SIZE of cells, which will lead to
increase in size of organ. Caused by hormonal stimulation or
increased functional demand.
◉ Hypertrophy examples Answer: physiologic hypertrophy- skeletal
hypertrophy when a person does heavy work or weight lifting /
when a kidney is surgically removed, the other kidney increases in
size
pathologic hypertrophy- cardiomegaly results from an increased
workload in hypertensive patients / *left ventricular hypertrophy*
◉ Hyperplasia Answer: Increase in NUMBER of cells. Results from
increased rate of mitosis. Can ONLY happen in cells that are capable
of mitosis (cell division).
◉ Hyperplasia examples Answer: 1. Thickening of skin because of
hyperplasia of epidermal cells.
2. Hormonal hyperplasia- occurs in estrogen dependent organs like
uterus and breast.
3. Compensatory hyperplasia- liver regenerates, callus on skin
