NURS 5315 UTA Exam 1 Question and
Answer 2026 | Complete Study Guide
with Practice Questions | A+ Verified
• What is the body's defense against ROS? -✓✓Antioxidants (Vitamin
E, Vitamin C, cysteine, glutathione, albumin, ceruloplasmin, transferrin)
• How are free radicals produced? -✓✓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 -✓✓Process of conducting an impulse. Activates the
neuron --> the neuron depolarizes --> then repolarizes
• Threshold potential -✓✓Point at which depolarization must reach in
order to initiate an action potential
• Hypokalemia and action potentials -✓✓HYPERpolarized (more
negative, ex. -100). Less excitable. Decreased neuromuscular
excitability: weakness, smooth muscle atony, paresthesia, cardiac
dysrhythmias
,• Hyperkalemia and action potentials -✓✓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 -✓✓Increased permeability to
Na+. More excitable. Tetany, hyperreflexia, circumoral paresthesia,
seizures, dysrhythmias.
• Hypercalcemia and action potentials -✓✓Decreased permeability to
Na+. Less excitable. Weakness, hyporeflexia, fatigue, lethargy,
confusion, encephalopathy, depressed T waves
• Atrophy -✓✓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 -✓✓Physiologic atrophy- shrinking of the thymus
gland during childhood.
Disuse atrophy- someone that ends up being paralyzed
, • Hypertrophy -✓✓Increase in SIZE of cells, which will lead to increase
in size of organ. Caused by hormonal stimulation or increased functional
demand.
• Hypertrophy examples -✓✓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 -✓✓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 -✓✓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
4. Pathologic hyperplasia- estrogen is unopposed by progesterone and
the endometrial lining undergoes hyperplasia and increased risk for
endometrial cancer
• Dysplasia -✓✓abnormal changes in the size, shape, and organization
of mature cells due to persistent, severe cell injury or irritation
Answer 2026 | Complete Study Guide
with Practice Questions | A+ Verified
• What is the body's defense against ROS? -✓✓Antioxidants (Vitamin
E, Vitamin C, cysteine, glutathione, albumin, ceruloplasmin, transferrin)
• How are free radicals produced? -✓✓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 -✓✓Process of conducting an impulse. Activates the
neuron --> the neuron depolarizes --> then repolarizes
• Threshold potential -✓✓Point at which depolarization must reach in
order to initiate an action potential
• Hypokalemia and action potentials -✓✓HYPERpolarized (more
negative, ex. -100). Less excitable. Decreased neuromuscular
excitability: weakness, smooth muscle atony, paresthesia, cardiac
dysrhythmias
,• Hyperkalemia and action potentials -✓✓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 -✓✓Increased permeability to
Na+. More excitable. Tetany, hyperreflexia, circumoral paresthesia,
seizures, dysrhythmias.
• Hypercalcemia and action potentials -✓✓Decreased permeability to
Na+. Less excitable. Weakness, hyporeflexia, fatigue, lethargy,
confusion, encephalopathy, depressed T waves
• Atrophy -✓✓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 -✓✓Physiologic atrophy- shrinking of the thymus
gland during childhood.
Disuse atrophy- someone that ends up being paralyzed
, • Hypertrophy -✓✓Increase in SIZE of cells, which will lead to increase
in size of organ. Caused by hormonal stimulation or increased functional
demand.
• Hypertrophy examples -✓✓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 -✓✓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 -✓✓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
4. Pathologic hyperplasia- estrogen is unopposed by progesterone and
the endometrial lining undergoes hyperplasia and increased risk for
endometrial cancer
• Dysplasia -✓✓abnormal changes in the size, shape, and organization
of mature cells due to persistent, severe cell injury or irritation
