NR283 Exam 1 Actual Exam Style V3 | NR
283 Pathophysiology | Chamberlain
1. Which of the following cellular adaptations involves an increase in the number of cells
within an organ or tissue?
A. Atrophy
B. Hypertrophy
C. Hyperplasia
D. Metaplasia
Answer: C
Rationale: Hyperplasia is defined as an increase in the number of cells in an organ or
tissue resulting from an increased rate of cellular division. This occurs in tissues that are
capable of mitotic division, such as the epidermis or glandular tissue. It is distinct from
hypertrophy, which only involves an increase in cell size.
2. A patient is diagnosed with Barrett’s esophagus due to chronic acid reflux. This transition
of columnar cells to squamous cells is known as:
A. Dysplasia
B. Neoplasia
C. Anaplasia
,D. Metaplasia
Answer: D
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one mature cell type by another
mature cell type. In Barrett’s esophagus, the normal cells are replaced to better withstand
the acidic environment. While it is a protective mechanism, chronic metaplasia can
predispose the tissue to cancerous changes.
3. Which type of necrosis is most commonly associated with hypoxic injury in the brain?
A. Coagulative necrosis
B. Caseous necrosis
C. Liquefactive necrosis
D. Fat necrosis
Answer: C
Rationale: Liquefactive necrosis occurs in the brain because neural tissue is rich in
digestive hydrolytic enzymes and lipids. As cells are digested by their own hydrolases, the
tissue becomes soft and liquefies, often forming cysts. This is the characteristic pattern of
ischemic injury in the central nervous system.
4. What is the primary cause of edema in a patient with liver failure and low serum albumin
levels?
A. Increased capillary hydrostatic pressure
, B. Increased capillary permeability
C. Decreased capillary oncotic pressure
D. Lymphatic obstruction
Answer: C
Rationale: Albumin is the primary protein responsible for maintaining plasma oncotic
pressure, which pulls fluid back into the vasculature. In liver failure, albumin production
decreases, leading to a drop in oncotic pressure. This allows fluid to leak out of the
capillaries and into the interstitial spaces, resulting in edema.
5. Which electrolyte imbalance is most likely to cause a positive Chvostek sign and Trousseau
sign?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hypocalcemia
D. Hypermagnesemia
Answer: C
Rationale: Hypocalcemia increases neuromuscular excitability by lowering the threshold
for nerve stimulation. The Chvostek sign involves twitching of the facial muscle when the
facial nerve is tapped. The Trousseau sign is a carpal spasm induced by inflating a blood
pressure cuff above systolic pressure.
283 Pathophysiology | Chamberlain
1. Which of the following cellular adaptations involves an increase in the number of cells
within an organ or tissue?
A. Atrophy
B. Hypertrophy
C. Hyperplasia
D. Metaplasia
Answer: C
Rationale: Hyperplasia is defined as an increase in the number of cells in an organ or
tissue resulting from an increased rate of cellular division. This occurs in tissues that are
capable of mitotic division, such as the epidermis or glandular tissue. It is distinct from
hypertrophy, which only involves an increase in cell size.
2. A patient is diagnosed with Barrett’s esophagus due to chronic acid reflux. This transition
of columnar cells to squamous cells is known as:
A. Dysplasia
B. Neoplasia
C. Anaplasia
,D. Metaplasia
Answer: D
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one mature cell type by another
mature cell type. In Barrett’s esophagus, the normal cells are replaced to better withstand
the acidic environment. While it is a protective mechanism, chronic metaplasia can
predispose the tissue to cancerous changes.
3. Which type of necrosis is most commonly associated with hypoxic injury in the brain?
A. Coagulative necrosis
B. Caseous necrosis
C. Liquefactive necrosis
D. Fat necrosis
Answer: C
Rationale: Liquefactive necrosis occurs in the brain because neural tissue is rich in
digestive hydrolytic enzymes and lipids. As cells are digested by their own hydrolases, the
tissue becomes soft and liquefies, often forming cysts. This is the characteristic pattern of
ischemic injury in the central nervous system.
4. What is the primary cause of edema in a patient with liver failure and low serum albumin
levels?
A. Increased capillary hydrostatic pressure
, B. Increased capillary permeability
C. Decreased capillary oncotic pressure
D. Lymphatic obstruction
Answer: C
Rationale: Albumin is the primary protein responsible for maintaining plasma oncotic
pressure, which pulls fluid back into the vasculature. In liver failure, albumin production
decreases, leading to a drop in oncotic pressure. This allows fluid to leak out of the
capillaries and into the interstitial spaces, resulting in edema.
5. Which electrolyte imbalance is most likely to cause a positive Chvostek sign and Trousseau
sign?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hypocalcemia
D. Hypermagnesemia
Answer: C
Rationale: Hypocalcemia increases neuromuscular excitability by lowering the threshold
for nerve stimulation. The Chvostek sign involves twitching of the facial muscle when the
facial nerve is tapped. The Trousseau sign is a carpal spasm induced by inflating a blood
pressure cuff above systolic pressure.
