NSG 530 Advanced Pathophysiology Exam 1 (Wilkes
University, 2025/2026 Update): 220 Questions &
Answers with Rationales – Grade A Verified Study Guide
Cellular Adaptations & Injury
Question 1: Which of the following is a hallmark of apoptosis?
A) Inflammation
B) Cellular swelling
C) DNA fragmentation
D) Necrosis
☑ Correct Answer: C) DNA fragmentation
Rationale: Apoptosis is programmed cell death characterized by cell shrinkage, chromatin
condensation, DNA fragmentation, and membrane blebbing. Unlike necrosis, apoptosis
does not trigger inflammation or cellular swelling; it is a clean, controlled process that
eliminates cells without damaging surrounding tissue .
Question 2: A patient presents with enlarged heart muscle due to long-standing hypertension.
This cellular adaptation is best described as:
,A) Hyperplasia
B) Metaplasia
C) Hypertrophy
D) Dysplasia
☑ Correct Answer: C) Hypertrophy
Rationale: Hypertrophy refers to an increase in cell size leading to enlargement of the organ or
tissue. The heart muscle (myocardium) responds to increased workload from hypertension by
enlarging individual myocytes, not by increasing cell number (hyperplasia) .
Question 3: Which of the following is a characteristic cellular change seen in reversible cell
injury?
A) Karyorrhexis
B) Cellular swelling
C) Pyknosis
D) Karyolysis
☑ Correct Answer: B) Cellular swelling
Rationale: Cellular swelling is an early, reversible sign of cell injury caused by failure of the
sodium-potassium pump and subsequent influx of water into the cell. The other options
(karyorrhexis, pyknosis, karyolysis) are all indicators of irreversible cell injury and nuclear
changes .
,Inflammation & Immune Response
Question 4: Which of the following is primarily responsible for the vasodilation seen in acute
inflammation?
A) Histamine
B) Cytokines
C) Prostaglandins
D) Complement proteins
☑ Correct Answer: A) Histamine
Rationale: Histamine is a potent vasodilator released during acute inflammation, primarily from
mast cells. It increases permeability of blood vessels, leading to redness (rubor) and swelling
(tumor) .
Question 5: What is the primary cause of increased capillary permeability during inflammation?
A) Increased hydrostatic pressure
B) Injury to endothelial cells
C) Release of prostaglandins
D) Activation of complement system
☑ Correct Answer: B) Injury to endothelial cells
, Rationale: During inflammation, endothelial cells of blood vessels are damaged or activated,
leading to gap formation that increases capillary permeability. This allows movement of
proteins, fluid, and immune cells into tissue, contributing to edema .
Question 6: Which of the following is the most important mediator of the systemic response to
inflammation?
A) Nitric oxide
B) Interleukin-1 (IL-1)
C) Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α)
D) Leukotrienes
☑ Correct Answer: C) Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α)
Rationale: TNF-α is a key cytokine in the systemic inflammatory response. It promotes fever,
anorexia, and the release of acute-phase proteins, playing a central role in sepsis and shock
pathogenesis .
Question 7: Which of the following is a characteristic finding in chronic inflammation?
A) Neutrophil infiltration
B) Fibrosis
C) Formation of abscesses
D) Hyperemia
University, 2025/2026 Update): 220 Questions &
Answers with Rationales – Grade A Verified Study Guide
Cellular Adaptations & Injury
Question 1: Which of the following is a hallmark of apoptosis?
A) Inflammation
B) Cellular swelling
C) DNA fragmentation
D) Necrosis
☑ Correct Answer: C) DNA fragmentation
Rationale: Apoptosis is programmed cell death characterized by cell shrinkage, chromatin
condensation, DNA fragmentation, and membrane blebbing. Unlike necrosis, apoptosis
does not trigger inflammation or cellular swelling; it is a clean, controlled process that
eliminates cells without damaging surrounding tissue .
Question 2: A patient presents with enlarged heart muscle due to long-standing hypertension.
This cellular adaptation is best described as:
,A) Hyperplasia
B) Metaplasia
C) Hypertrophy
D) Dysplasia
☑ Correct Answer: C) Hypertrophy
Rationale: Hypertrophy refers to an increase in cell size leading to enlargement of the organ or
tissue. The heart muscle (myocardium) responds to increased workload from hypertension by
enlarging individual myocytes, not by increasing cell number (hyperplasia) .
Question 3: Which of the following is a characteristic cellular change seen in reversible cell
injury?
A) Karyorrhexis
B) Cellular swelling
C) Pyknosis
D) Karyolysis
☑ Correct Answer: B) Cellular swelling
Rationale: Cellular swelling is an early, reversible sign of cell injury caused by failure of the
sodium-potassium pump and subsequent influx of water into the cell. The other options
(karyorrhexis, pyknosis, karyolysis) are all indicators of irreversible cell injury and nuclear
changes .
,Inflammation & Immune Response
Question 4: Which of the following is primarily responsible for the vasodilation seen in acute
inflammation?
A) Histamine
B) Cytokines
C) Prostaglandins
D) Complement proteins
☑ Correct Answer: A) Histamine
Rationale: Histamine is a potent vasodilator released during acute inflammation, primarily from
mast cells. It increases permeability of blood vessels, leading to redness (rubor) and swelling
(tumor) .
Question 5: What is the primary cause of increased capillary permeability during inflammation?
A) Increased hydrostatic pressure
B) Injury to endothelial cells
C) Release of prostaglandins
D) Activation of complement system
☑ Correct Answer: B) Injury to endothelial cells
, Rationale: During inflammation, endothelial cells of blood vessels are damaged or activated,
leading to gap formation that increases capillary permeability. This allows movement of
proteins, fluid, and immune cells into tissue, contributing to edema .
Question 6: Which of the following is the most important mediator of the systemic response to
inflammation?
A) Nitric oxide
B) Interleukin-1 (IL-1)
C) Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α)
D) Leukotrienes
☑ Correct Answer: C) Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α)
Rationale: TNF-α is a key cytokine in the systemic inflammatory response. It promotes fever,
anorexia, and the release of acute-phase proteins, playing a central role in sepsis and shock
pathogenesis .
Question 7: Which of the following is a characteristic finding in chronic inflammation?
A) Neutrophil infiltration
B) Fibrosis
C) Formation of abscesses
D) Hyperemia
