NSG 530 Exam 1, 2, 3 & 4 | Advanced
Pathophysiology – Wilkes | 2026/2027
Verified Questions & Answers | PDF
EXAM 1: Cellular Biology, Inflammation, Hemodynamics, and Genetics
1. Which cellular organelle is responsible for the synthesis of proteins destined for
secretion?
A) Smooth endoplasmic reticulum
B) Rough endoplasmic reticulum
C) Golgi apparatus
D) Lysosome
Answer: B - The rough ER contains ribosomes, which are the sites of protein
synthesis.
2. A patient develops hypertrophy of the cardiac muscle. What is the underlying
cellular mechanism?
A) Increase in cell number
B) Increase in cell size
C) Decrease in cell size
D) Abnormal change in cell shape
Answer: B - Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size, often seen in cardiac and
skeletal muscle in response to increased workload.
3. Which type of necrosis is characteristic of ischemic injury to the brain?
A) Coagulative
,B) Liquefactive
C) Caseous
D) Fatty
Answer: B - Liquefactive necrosis occurs in the brain because of the lack of
substantial connective tissue and the high lipid/enzyme content.
4. What is the hallmark histological feature of apoptosis?
A) Cell swelling and rupture
B) Inflammatory response
C) Chromatin condensation and DNA fragmentation
D) Mitochondrial swelling
Answer: C - Apoptosis is programmed cell death characterized by cell shrinkage,
chromatin condensation, and DNA fragmentation without inflammation.
5. During the cellular injury process, why does intracellular calcium increase?
A) The sodium-potassium pump fails entirely.
B) Ischemia causes direct calcium channel opening.
C) Membrane damage leads to calcium influx and release from the ER.
D) Calcium is produced as a byproduct of anaerobic glycolysis.
Answer: C - Ischemia causes membrane damage, leading to an influx of
extracellular calcium and release from the endoplasmic reticulum, activating
intracellular enzymes.
6. Which mechanism is primarily responsible for the interstitial edema seen in
acute inflammation?
A) Increased capillary hydrostatic pressure
,B) Decreased capillary oncotic pressure
C) Increased capillary permeability
D) Lymphatic blockage
Answer: C - Histamine and bradykinin cause endothelial cell contraction,
increasing capillary permeability and allowing protein-rich fluid to escape into the
interstitium.
7. Which cell is the first to arrive at the site of acute inflammation?
A) Lymphocyte
B) Monocyte
C) Eosinophil
D) Neutrophil
Answer: D - Neutrophils are the first responders in acute inflammation, arriving
within 6-12 hours.
8. Which cytokine is primarily responsible for inducing the acute-phase response
in the liver?
A) Interleukin-1 (IL-1)
B) Interleukin-6 (IL-6)
C) Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α)
D) Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ)
Answer: B - IL-6 is the primary stimulator of acute-phase protein production (like
CRP) in the liver.
9. Which opsonin is most effective at enhancing phagocytosis by binding to
bacterial surfaces?
, A) Histamine
B) C3a
C) IgG
D) Prostaglandin
Answer: C - IgG acts as an opsonin, coating bacteria so that macrophages and
neutrophils can recognize and phagocytize them.
**10. What is the primary mechanism of fever induction?
A) Direct hypothalamic damage by bacteria
B) Release of prostaglandins (PGE2) in the hypothalamus
C) Peripheral vasoconstriction caused by cytokines
D) Endotoxin-induced shivering
Answer: B - Pyrogens cause the release of PGE2 in the hypothalamus, which raises
the thermoregulatory set point.
11. Which complement component is the main effector of the membrane attack
complex (MAC)?
A) C3b
B) C3a
C) C5a
D) C5b-9
Answer: D - C5b-9 forms the membrane attack complex, creating pores in the
pathogen's cell membrane.
**12. Chronic inflammation is characterized by the presence of:
A) Neutrophils and basophils
Pathophysiology – Wilkes | 2026/2027
Verified Questions & Answers | PDF
EXAM 1: Cellular Biology, Inflammation, Hemodynamics, and Genetics
1. Which cellular organelle is responsible for the synthesis of proteins destined for
secretion?
A) Smooth endoplasmic reticulum
B) Rough endoplasmic reticulum
C) Golgi apparatus
D) Lysosome
Answer: B - The rough ER contains ribosomes, which are the sites of protein
synthesis.
2. A patient develops hypertrophy of the cardiac muscle. What is the underlying
cellular mechanism?
A) Increase in cell number
B) Increase in cell size
C) Decrease in cell size
D) Abnormal change in cell shape
Answer: B - Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size, often seen in cardiac and
skeletal muscle in response to increased workload.
3. Which type of necrosis is characteristic of ischemic injury to the brain?
A) Coagulative
,B) Liquefactive
C) Caseous
D) Fatty
Answer: B - Liquefactive necrosis occurs in the brain because of the lack of
substantial connective tissue and the high lipid/enzyme content.
4. What is the hallmark histological feature of apoptosis?
A) Cell swelling and rupture
B) Inflammatory response
C) Chromatin condensation and DNA fragmentation
D) Mitochondrial swelling
Answer: C - Apoptosis is programmed cell death characterized by cell shrinkage,
chromatin condensation, and DNA fragmentation without inflammation.
5. During the cellular injury process, why does intracellular calcium increase?
A) The sodium-potassium pump fails entirely.
B) Ischemia causes direct calcium channel opening.
C) Membrane damage leads to calcium influx and release from the ER.
D) Calcium is produced as a byproduct of anaerobic glycolysis.
Answer: C - Ischemia causes membrane damage, leading to an influx of
extracellular calcium and release from the endoplasmic reticulum, activating
intracellular enzymes.
6. Which mechanism is primarily responsible for the interstitial edema seen in
acute inflammation?
A) Increased capillary hydrostatic pressure
,B) Decreased capillary oncotic pressure
C) Increased capillary permeability
D) Lymphatic blockage
Answer: C - Histamine and bradykinin cause endothelial cell contraction,
increasing capillary permeability and allowing protein-rich fluid to escape into the
interstitium.
7. Which cell is the first to arrive at the site of acute inflammation?
A) Lymphocyte
B) Monocyte
C) Eosinophil
D) Neutrophil
Answer: D - Neutrophils are the first responders in acute inflammation, arriving
within 6-12 hours.
8. Which cytokine is primarily responsible for inducing the acute-phase response
in the liver?
A) Interleukin-1 (IL-1)
B) Interleukin-6 (IL-6)
C) Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α)
D) Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ)
Answer: B - IL-6 is the primary stimulator of acute-phase protein production (like
CRP) in the liver.
9. Which opsonin is most effective at enhancing phagocytosis by binding to
bacterial surfaces?
, A) Histamine
B) C3a
C) IgG
D) Prostaglandin
Answer: C - IgG acts as an opsonin, coating bacteria so that macrophages and
neutrophils can recognize and phagocytize them.
**10. What is the primary mechanism of fever induction?
A) Direct hypothalamic damage by bacteria
B) Release of prostaglandins (PGE2) in the hypothalamus
C) Peripheral vasoconstriction caused by cytokines
D) Endotoxin-induced shivering
Answer: B - Pyrogens cause the release of PGE2 in the hypothalamus, which raises
the thermoregulatory set point.
11. Which complement component is the main effector of the membrane attack
complex (MAC)?
A) C3b
B) C3a
C) C5a
D) C5b-9
Answer: D - C5b-9 forms the membrane attack complex, creating pores in the
pathogen's cell membrane.
**12. Chronic inflammation is characterized by the presence of:
A) Neutrophils and basophils
