NR 545 PHARMACOLOGY, PHYSICAL ASSESSMENT &
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY EXAM 1 (PDF) | 2026 QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS + RATIONALES | STUDY GUIDE | 100% CORRECT
Section 1: Cellular Pathophysiology
1. What is metabolic absorption?
A) The process by which cells convert ATP into nutrients
B) The process by which nutrients are absorbed into cells and converted into ATP
C) The process by which cells release waste products
D) The process by which cells communicate with neighboring cells
Correct Answer: B) The process by which nutrients are absorbed into cells and
converted into ATP
Rationale: Metabolic absorption is the process by which nutrients are absorbed
into cells and converted into ATP, providing energy for cellular functions . This is
a fundamental cellular function.
2. Which organelle uses oxygen to remove hydrogen atoms in an oxidative
reaction?
A) Lysosomes
B) Mitochondria
C) Peroxisomes
D) Ribosomes
Correct Answer: C) Peroxisomes
Rationale: Peroxisomes use oxygen to remove hydrogen atoms in oxidative
reactions, producing hydrogen peroxide, which is then broken down by catalase .
This is a key function of peroxisomes in cellular metabolism.
3. During cell injury, what is released that is capable of cellular autodigestion?
A) Peroxisomes
B) Mitochondria
C) Lysosomes
D) Ribosomes
Correct Answer: C) Lysosomes
,Rationale: Lysosomes contain hydrolytic enzymes capable of cellular
autodigestion. When released during cell injury, these enzymes can break down
cellular components, contributing to cell death .
4. Where is the genetic information contained in the cell?
A) Mitochondria
B) Cytoplasm
C) Ribosomes
D) Nucleolus/Nucleus
Correct Answer: D) Nucleolus/Nucleus
Rationale: The genetic information of the cell is contained within the nucleus and
nucleolus. The nucleus houses DNA, while the nucleolus is responsible for
ribosomal RNA synthesis .
5. Cell membranes contain which major chemical components?
A) Lipids and carbohydrates
B) Lipids and proteins
C) Proteins and carbohydrates
D) Nucleic acids and lipids
Correct Answer: B) Lipids and proteins
Rationale: Cell membranes are composed primarily of a lipid bilayer with proteins
embedded within. The membrane consists of hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions,
forming an amphipathic structure .
6. What allows potassium to diffuse in and out of cells?
A) Passive transport channels
B) Sodium-potassium pump
C) Osmosis
D) Diffusion
Correct Answer: B) Sodium-potassium pump
Rationale: The sodium-potassium pump is powered by ATP and moves 3 sodium
ions out of the cell while bringing 2 potassium ions inside. This pump maintains
the electrochemical gradient across the cell membrane .
7. How is the cell protected from injury?
,A) Nucleus
B) Cell wall
C) Lipid bilayer cell membrane
D) Ribosomes
Correct Answer: C) Lipid bilayer cell membrane
Rationale: The lipid bilayer cell membrane provides a protective barrier that
shields the cell from injury by regulating what enters and exits the cell .
8. What causes mammary glands to enlarge in pregnancy?
A) Estrogen
B) Prolactin
C) Progesterone-related hypertrophy
D) Oxytocin
Correct Answer: C) Progesterone-related hypertrophy
Rationale: Mammary gland enlargement during pregnancy is caused by
hypertrophy related to progesterone release . Hormonal hyperplasia also plays a
role in preparing breast tissue for lactation.
9. What happens to liver cells when a portion of the liver is removed?
A) Atrophy
B) Metaplasia
C) Compensatory hyperplasia
D) Dysplasia
Correct Answer: C) Compensatory hyperplasia
Rationale: Removal of part of the liver triggers compensatory hyperplasia, where
remaining liver cells proliferate to compensate for the loss. Regeneration is
typically complete in about 2 weeks .
10. When does sodium enter the cell and cause swelling?
A) During cell division
B) When the Na-K pump fails due to ATP deficiency
C) During protein synthesis
D) During cell differentiation
Correct Answer: B) When the Na-K pump fails due to ATP deficiency
, Rationale: When the Na-K pump fails due to lack of ATP (as in ischemia), sodium
and calcium accumulate inside the cell, and water follows by osmosis, causing
cellular swelling. This also causes dilation of the endoplasmic reticulum, leading to
decreased protein synthesis .
11. What are free radicals in relation to cell damage?
A) Cells with no nucleus
B) Molecules with a single unpaired electron that initiate chain reactions
C) Proteins that repair damaged DNA
D) Lipids that protect cell membranes
Correct Answer: B) Molecules with a single unpaired electron that initiate chain
reactions
Rationale: Free radicals are molecular species capable of independent existence
with a single unpaired electron in the outer orbit. This makes them unstable and
reactive, initiating chain reactions that create more free radicals and cause cellular
damage .
12. In cirrhosis, what happens to cholesterol in erythrocytes?
A) Decreases relative to phospholipid
B) Increases relative to phospholipid
C) Remains unchanged
D) Becomes completely absent
Correct Answer: B) Increases relative to phospholipid
Rationale: In cirrhosis, cholesterol increases relative to phospholipid in
erythrocytes, altering membrane properties .
13. What is the relation between ischemia and ATP?
A) Ischemia increases ATP production
B) Ischemia causes a rapid decrease in mitochondrial phosphorylation and
decreased ATP
C) Ischemia has no effect on ATP
D) Ischemia converts ATP to ADP
Correct Answer: B) Ischemia causes a rapid decrease in mitochondrial
phosphorylation and decreased ATP
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY EXAM 1 (PDF) | 2026 QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS + RATIONALES | STUDY GUIDE | 100% CORRECT
Section 1: Cellular Pathophysiology
1. What is metabolic absorption?
A) The process by which cells convert ATP into nutrients
B) The process by which nutrients are absorbed into cells and converted into ATP
C) The process by which cells release waste products
D) The process by which cells communicate with neighboring cells
Correct Answer: B) The process by which nutrients are absorbed into cells and
converted into ATP
Rationale: Metabolic absorption is the process by which nutrients are absorbed
into cells and converted into ATP, providing energy for cellular functions . This is
a fundamental cellular function.
2. Which organelle uses oxygen to remove hydrogen atoms in an oxidative
reaction?
A) Lysosomes
B) Mitochondria
C) Peroxisomes
D) Ribosomes
Correct Answer: C) Peroxisomes
Rationale: Peroxisomes use oxygen to remove hydrogen atoms in oxidative
reactions, producing hydrogen peroxide, which is then broken down by catalase .
This is a key function of peroxisomes in cellular metabolism.
3. During cell injury, what is released that is capable of cellular autodigestion?
A) Peroxisomes
B) Mitochondria
C) Lysosomes
D) Ribosomes
Correct Answer: C) Lysosomes
,Rationale: Lysosomes contain hydrolytic enzymes capable of cellular
autodigestion. When released during cell injury, these enzymes can break down
cellular components, contributing to cell death .
4. Where is the genetic information contained in the cell?
A) Mitochondria
B) Cytoplasm
C) Ribosomes
D) Nucleolus/Nucleus
Correct Answer: D) Nucleolus/Nucleus
Rationale: The genetic information of the cell is contained within the nucleus and
nucleolus. The nucleus houses DNA, while the nucleolus is responsible for
ribosomal RNA synthesis .
5. Cell membranes contain which major chemical components?
A) Lipids and carbohydrates
B) Lipids and proteins
C) Proteins and carbohydrates
D) Nucleic acids and lipids
Correct Answer: B) Lipids and proteins
Rationale: Cell membranes are composed primarily of a lipid bilayer with proteins
embedded within. The membrane consists of hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions,
forming an amphipathic structure .
6. What allows potassium to diffuse in and out of cells?
A) Passive transport channels
B) Sodium-potassium pump
C) Osmosis
D) Diffusion
Correct Answer: B) Sodium-potassium pump
Rationale: The sodium-potassium pump is powered by ATP and moves 3 sodium
ions out of the cell while bringing 2 potassium ions inside. This pump maintains
the electrochemical gradient across the cell membrane .
7. How is the cell protected from injury?
,A) Nucleus
B) Cell wall
C) Lipid bilayer cell membrane
D) Ribosomes
Correct Answer: C) Lipid bilayer cell membrane
Rationale: The lipid bilayer cell membrane provides a protective barrier that
shields the cell from injury by regulating what enters and exits the cell .
8. What causes mammary glands to enlarge in pregnancy?
A) Estrogen
B) Prolactin
C) Progesterone-related hypertrophy
D) Oxytocin
Correct Answer: C) Progesterone-related hypertrophy
Rationale: Mammary gland enlargement during pregnancy is caused by
hypertrophy related to progesterone release . Hormonal hyperplasia also plays a
role in preparing breast tissue for lactation.
9. What happens to liver cells when a portion of the liver is removed?
A) Atrophy
B) Metaplasia
C) Compensatory hyperplasia
D) Dysplasia
Correct Answer: C) Compensatory hyperplasia
Rationale: Removal of part of the liver triggers compensatory hyperplasia, where
remaining liver cells proliferate to compensate for the loss. Regeneration is
typically complete in about 2 weeks .
10. When does sodium enter the cell and cause swelling?
A) During cell division
B) When the Na-K pump fails due to ATP deficiency
C) During protein synthesis
D) During cell differentiation
Correct Answer: B) When the Na-K pump fails due to ATP deficiency
, Rationale: When the Na-K pump fails due to lack of ATP (as in ischemia), sodium
and calcium accumulate inside the cell, and water follows by osmosis, causing
cellular swelling. This also causes dilation of the endoplasmic reticulum, leading to
decreased protein synthesis .
11. What are free radicals in relation to cell damage?
A) Cells with no nucleus
B) Molecules with a single unpaired electron that initiate chain reactions
C) Proteins that repair damaged DNA
D) Lipids that protect cell membranes
Correct Answer: B) Molecules with a single unpaired electron that initiate chain
reactions
Rationale: Free radicals are molecular species capable of independent existence
with a single unpaired electron in the outer orbit. This makes them unstable and
reactive, initiating chain reactions that create more free radicals and cause cellular
damage .
12. In cirrhosis, what happens to cholesterol in erythrocytes?
A) Decreases relative to phospholipid
B) Increases relative to phospholipid
C) Remains unchanged
D) Becomes completely absent
Correct Answer: B) Increases relative to phospholipid
Rationale: In cirrhosis, cholesterol increases relative to phospholipid in
erythrocytes, altering membrane properties .
13. What is the relation between ischemia and ATP?
A) Ischemia increases ATP production
B) Ischemia causes a rapid decrease in mitochondrial phosphorylation and
decreased ATP
C) Ischemia has no effect on ATP
D) Ischemia converts ATP to ADP
Correct Answer: B) Ischemia causes a rapid decrease in mitochondrial
phosphorylation and decreased ATP
