PATHO FINAL EXAM/ NURS 5315 ADVANCED
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY EXAM/ Real Exam Questions with
Correct Verified Answers – Latest Update 2026/ Rated
A+
Question 1: A patient with chronic hypoxia develops cell
swelling and fatty change in the liver. This type of cellular
injury is best described as:
A) Irreversible injury
B) Reversible injury
C) Necrosis
D) Apoptosis
Answer: B
Rationale: Cell swelling and fatty change (steatosis) indicate
reversible cellular injury. These changes occur when the cell can
still recover if the injurious stimulus (hypoxia) is removed. The
failure of sodium-potassium pumps leads to cell swelling, while
1
,lipid accumulation reflects metabolic disruption—both hallmarks
of reversible injury .
Question 2: Which of the following best describes the
mechanism of hypoxic cellular injury?
A) Increased ATP production leading to cellular hypertrophy
B) Decreased ATP production causing failure of the sodium-
potassium pump and cellular swelling
C) Activation of apoptosis pathways
D) Increased protein synthesis
Answer: B
Rationale: Hypoxia decreases oxygen availability for aerobic
metabolism, reducing ATP production. This ATP depletion causes
failure of the sodium-potassium pump, leading to cellular
swelling, and shifts metabolism toward anaerobic glycolysis with
increased lactate formation and acidosis .
2
,Question 3: A patient with myocardial infarction undergoes
reperfusion therapy. The nurse understands that reperfusion
injury is caused by:
A) Restoration of blood flow to ischemic tissue triggers
oxygen intermediate formation, causing cell membrane
damage and mitochondrial calcium overload
B) Increased ATP production
C) Decreased free radical formation
D) Enhanced cellular repair mechanisms
Answer: A
Rationale: Reperfusion injury occurs when oxygen supply is
restored to ischemic tissues. This triggers the conversion of
xanthine dehydrogenase to xanthine oxidase, producing large
amounts of free radicals, superoxide, and hydrogen peroxide.
These reactive oxygen species cause cell membrane damage
and mitochondrial calcium overload .
3
, Question 4: A 65-year-old man with a history of smoking
presents with dysplastic cells on a cervical Pap smear. This
finding represents:
A) Reversible cellular adaptation
B) Abnormal changes in the size, shape, and organization of
mature cells due to persistent injury
C) Normal cellular maturation
D) Complete cellular regeneration
Answer: B
Rationale: Dysplasia is characterized by abnormal changes in the
size, shape, and organization of mature cells due to persistent,
severe cell injury or irritation. Cervical dysplasia detected on
Pap smears is a pre-malignant condition that requires treatment .
Question 5: A chronic smoker develops a change from normal
columnar epithelial cells to squamous cells in the respiratory
tract. This adaptive change is known as:
4
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY EXAM/ Real Exam Questions with
Correct Verified Answers – Latest Update 2026/ Rated
A+
Question 1: A patient with chronic hypoxia develops cell
swelling and fatty change in the liver. This type of cellular
injury is best described as:
A) Irreversible injury
B) Reversible injury
C) Necrosis
D) Apoptosis
Answer: B
Rationale: Cell swelling and fatty change (steatosis) indicate
reversible cellular injury. These changes occur when the cell can
still recover if the injurious stimulus (hypoxia) is removed. The
failure of sodium-potassium pumps leads to cell swelling, while
1
,lipid accumulation reflects metabolic disruption—both hallmarks
of reversible injury .
Question 2: Which of the following best describes the
mechanism of hypoxic cellular injury?
A) Increased ATP production leading to cellular hypertrophy
B) Decreased ATP production causing failure of the sodium-
potassium pump and cellular swelling
C) Activation of apoptosis pathways
D) Increased protein synthesis
Answer: B
Rationale: Hypoxia decreases oxygen availability for aerobic
metabolism, reducing ATP production. This ATP depletion causes
failure of the sodium-potassium pump, leading to cellular
swelling, and shifts metabolism toward anaerobic glycolysis with
increased lactate formation and acidosis .
2
,Question 3: A patient with myocardial infarction undergoes
reperfusion therapy. The nurse understands that reperfusion
injury is caused by:
A) Restoration of blood flow to ischemic tissue triggers
oxygen intermediate formation, causing cell membrane
damage and mitochondrial calcium overload
B) Increased ATP production
C) Decreased free radical formation
D) Enhanced cellular repair mechanisms
Answer: A
Rationale: Reperfusion injury occurs when oxygen supply is
restored to ischemic tissues. This triggers the conversion of
xanthine dehydrogenase to xanthine oxidase, producing large
amounts of free radicals, superoxide, and hydrogen peroxide.
These reactive oxygen species cause cell membrane damage
and mitochondrial calcium overload .
3
, Question 4: A 65-year-old man with a history of smoking
presents with dysplastic cells on a cervical Pap smear. This
finding represents:
A) Reversible cellular adaptation
B) Abnormal changes in the size, shape, and organization of
mature cells due to persistent injury
C) Normal cellular maturation
D) Complete cellular regeneration
Answer: B
Rationale: Dysplasia is characterized by abnormal changes in the
size, shape, and organization of mature cells due to persistent,
severe cell injury or irritation. Cervical dysplasia detected on
Pap smears is a pre-malignant condition that requires treatment .
Question 5: A chronic smoker develops a change from normal
columnar epithelial cells to squamous cells in the respiratory
tract. This adaptive change is known as:
4
