NU 606 / NU606 Advanced Pathophysiology Exam 1
Practice Test Actual 2026/2027 with Detailed
Rationales | 100% Verified | Pass Guaranteed – A+
Graded
Section 1: Cellular & Molecular Pathophysiology (Q1–Q12)
Q1: Which cellular adaptation is characterized by an increase in cell size in response
to increased workload or stimulation?
A. Hyperplasia
B. Hypertrophy [CORRECT]
C. Atrophy
D. Metaplasia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hypertrophy is the increase in cell size resulting from increased synthesis
of structural proteins and organelles, commonly seen in cardiac muscle in response
to chronic hypertension.
Q2: The primary mechanism of ischemic cell injury is:
A. Excessive protein synthesis
B. Depletion of ATP and failure of the sodium-potassium pump [CORRECT]
C. Increased glycogen storage
D. Enhanced mitochondrial DNA replication
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Ischemia halts oxidative phosphorylation, depleting ATP and causing
failure of the Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase pump, leading to cellular swelling, calcium influx, and
eventual cell death.
Q3: Apoptosis differs from necrosis in that apoptosis:
A. Involves cell swelling and membrane rupture
B. Triggers an intense inflammatory response
, C. Is a programmed, energy-dependent process that maintains membrane integrity
[CORRECT]
D. Results only from traumatic injury
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Apoptosis is a genetically regulated, ATP-dependent process of
programmed cell death that maintains plasma membrane integrity and does not
elicit inflammation, unlike necrosis which involves cell rupture.
Q4: Metaplasia is best described as:
A. An increase in the number of cells in a tissue
B. The replacement of one differentiated cell type with another [CORRECT]
C. A decrease in cell size due to reduced workload
D. The abnormal growth of cells with loss of differentiation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible substitution of one mature differentiated cell
type for another, often as an adaptive response to chronic irritation, such as
squamous metaplasia in the respiratory epithelium of smokers.
Q5: Coagulative necrosis is most commonly associated with ischemia of which
organs?
A. Brain and spinal cord
B. Heart, kidney, and spleen [CORRECT]
C. Pancreas and intestines
D. Liver and gallbladder
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Coagulative necrosis preserves tissue architecture for days due to
denaturation of structural proteins and is the characteristic pattern of ischemic injury
in solid organs such as the heart, kidney, and spleen.
Q6: Free radical injury to cellular membranes is primarily caused by:
A. Lipid peroxidation and destruction of membrane phospholipids [CORRECT]
B. Excessive collagen deposition
C. Increased glycogen storage
D. DNA methylation
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Free radicals attack polyunsaturated fatty acids in membrane
phospholipids through lipid peroxidation, causing membrane fragmentation,
increased permeability, and loss of cellular compartmentalization.
Practice Test Actual 2026/2027 with Detailed
Rationales | 100% Verified | Pass Guaranteed – A+
Graded
Section 1: Cellular & Molecular Pathophysiology (Q1–Q12)
Q1: Which cellular adaptation is characterized by an increase in cell size in response
to increased workload or stimulation?
A. Hyperplasia
B. Hypertrophy [CORRECT]
C. Atrophy
D. Metaplasia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hypertrophy is the increase in cell size resulting from increased synthesis
of structural proteins and organelles, commonly seen in cardiac muscle in response
to chronic hypertension.
Q2: The primary mechanism of ischemic cell injury is:
A. Excessive protein synthesis
B. Depletion of ATP and failure of the sodium-potassium pump [CORRECT]
C. Increased glycogen storage
D. Enhanced mitochondrial DNA replication
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Ischemia halts oxidative phosphorylation, depleting ATP and causing
failure of the Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase pump, leading to cellular swelling, calcium influx, and
eventual cell death.
Q3: Apoptosis differs from necrosis in that apoptosis:
A. Involves cell swelling and membrane rupture
B. Triggers an intense inflammatory response
, C. Is a programmed, energy-dependent process that maintains membrane integrity
[CORRECT]
D. Results only from traumatic injury
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Apoptosis is a genetically regulated, ATP-dependent process of
programmed cell death that maintains plasma membrane integrity and does not
elicit inflammation, unlike necrosis which involves cell rupture.
Q4: Metaplasia is best described as:
A. An increase in the number of cells in a tissue
B. The replacement of one differentiated cell type with another [CORRECT]
C. A decrease in cell size due to reduced workload
D. The abnormal growth of cells with loss of differentiation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible substitution of one mature differentiated cell
type for another, often as an adaptive response to chronic irritation, such as
squamous metaplasia in the respiratory epithelium of smokers.
Q5: Coagulative necrosis is most commonly associated with ischemia of which
organs?
A. Brain and spinal cord
B. Heart, kidney, and spleen [CORRECT]
C. Pancreas and intestines
D. Liver and gallbladder
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Coagulative necrosis preserves tissue architecture for days due to
denaturation of structural proteins and is the characteristic pattern of ischemic injury
in solid organs such as the heart, kidney, and spleen.
Q6: Free radical injury to cellular membranes is primarily caused by:
A. Lipid peroxidation and destruction of membrane phospholipids [CORRECT]
B. Excessive collagen deposition
C. Increased glycogen storage
D. DNA methylation
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Free radicals attack polyunsaturated fatty acids in membrane
phospholipids through lipid peroxidation, causing membrane fragmentation,
increased permeability, and loss of cellular compartmentalization.
