Galen College NSG 3280 Final Exam (pdf) | 2026/2027 |
Pathophysiology Q&A | Pathophysiology
1. A patient with chronic hypertension has developed thickening of the left
ventricular wall. This cellular adaptation is best described as:
A) Hyperplasia
B) Metaplasia
C) Hypertrophy
D) Dysplasia
Correct Answer: Hypertrophy
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size that results in an
enlargement of the organ without cell division. This adaptation occurs when
cells are subjected to increased workload, such as the heart working against
high vascular resistance in hypertension. Hyperplasia is an increase in cell
number, metaplasia is a change in cell type, and dysplasia is abnormal cell
growth.
2. A patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has had
prolonged injury to the bronchial tissues. The nurse expects to find which
type of cellular adaptation?
A) Dysplasia
B) Hyperplasia
C) Atrophy
D) Metaplasia
Correct Answer: Metaplasia
Rationale: Metaplasia involves the replacement of one cell type with another
better suited to the environment, which commonly occurs in chronic irritation
,such as COPD. Dysplasia is more advanced and disorganized and may be
precancerous. Hyperplasia refers to an increase in number of cells, and
atrophy refers to cell shrinkage.
3. A patient with a massive myocardial infarction is expected to have which
type of necrosis in the cardiac tissue?
A) Liquefactive necrosis
B) Caseous necrosis
C) Fat necrosis
D) Coagulative necrosis
Correct Answer: Coagulative necrosis
Rationale: Coagulative necrosis is the most common type and typically
results from ischemia in solid organs like the heart. Liquefactive necrosis
usually occurs in the brain, caseous necrosis is characteristic of tuberculosis,
and fat necrosis occurs in adipose tissue.
4. A 55-year-old chronic alcoholic presents with hepatomegaly and elevated
liver enzymes. Liver biopsy reveals cells with accumulated lipids displacing
the nucleus to the periphery. This cellular adaptation is best described as:
A) Hypertrophy
B) Hyperplasia
C) Metaplasia
D) Steatosis
Correct Answer: Steatosis
Rationale: Steatosis (fatty change) occurs when cells accumulate
triglycerides, causing the characteristic appearance of lipid-filled vacuoles
,displacing the nucleus. This is reversible cellular injury commonly seen in
alcoholic liver disease, diabetes, obesity, and toxin exposure. Continued
injury can progress from steatosis to steatohepatitis to cirrhosis.
5. A nurse is educating a client on the stress response. Which hormone is
primarily responsible for increasing glucose availability to the brain during
the alarm stage?
A) Aldosterone
B) Cortisol
C) Growth Hormone
D) Norepinephrine
Correct Answer: Cortisol
Rationale: Cortisol increases gluconeogenesis and ensures glucose
availability for the brain during stress. Aldosterone helps retain salt and
water, growth hormone affects growth and metabolism but not acute stress
response, and norepinephrine is involved in vasoconstriction and pupil
dilation.
6. A patient presents with chronic hypertension. Which cellular adaptation
would most likely occur in the heart in response to this condition?
A) Atrophy
B) Hyperplasia
C) Hypertrophy
D) Dysplasia
Correct Answer: Hypertrophy
, Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size and functional capacity,
which typically occurs in response to increased workload such as in chronic
hypertension. Atrophy occurs with decreased demand, hyperplasia is an
increase in the number of cells, and dysplasia is disorganized cell growth.
7. A nurse is caring for a patient with tuberculosis. Which type of necrosis
would the nurse most likely find in the patient's lung tissue?
A) Fat necrosis
B) Coagulative necrosis
C) Caseous necrosis
D) Liquefactive necrosis
Correct Answer: Caseous necrosis
Rationale: Caseous necrosis is a form of necrosis that is characteristic of
tuberculosis. It results in a cheese-like, crumbly appearance. Coagulative
necrosis is common in ischemic injury, liquefactive necrosis in brain tissue,
and fat necrosis in adipose tissue.
8. According to the General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS), which stage is
characterized by the release of cortisol to help the body cope with prolonged
stress?
A) Alarm stage
B) Resistance stage
C) Exhaustion stage
D) Recovery stage
Correct Answer: Resistance stage
Pathophysiology Q&A | Pathophysiology
1. A patient with chronic hypertension has developed thickening of the left
ventricular wall. This cellular adaptation is best described as:
A) Hyperplasia
B) Metaplasia
C) Hypertrophy
D) Dysplasia
Correct Answer: Hypertrophy
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size that results in an
enlargement of the organ without cell division. This adaptation occurs when
cells are subjected to increased workload, such as the heart working against
high vascular resistance in hypertension. Hyperplasia is an increase in cell
number, metaplasia is a change in cell type, and dysplasia is abnormal cell
growth.
2. A patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has had
prolonged injury to the bronchial tissues. The nurse expects to find which
type of cellular adaptation?
A) Dysplasia
B) Hyperplasia
C) Atrophy
D) Metaplasia
Correct Answer: Metaplasia
Rationale: Metaplasia involves the replacement of one cell type with another
better suited to the environment, which commonly occurs in chronic irritation
,such as COPD. Dysplasia is more advanced and disorganized and may be
precancerous. Hyperplasia refers to an increase in number of cells, and
atrophy refers to cell shrinkage.
3. A patient with a massive myocardial infarction is expected to have which
type of necrosis in the cardiac tissue?
A) Liquefactive necrosis
B) Caseous necrosis
C) Fat necrosis
D) Coagulative necrosis
Correct Answer: Coagulative necrosis
Rationale: Coagulative necrosis is the most common type and typically
results from ischemia in solid organs like the heart. Liquefactive necrosis
usually occurs in the brain, caseous necrosis is characteristic of tuberculosis,
and fat necrosis occurs in adipose tissue.
4. A 55-year-old chronic alcoholic presents with hepatomegaly and elevated
liver enzymes. Liver biopsy reveals cells with accumulated lipids displacing
the nucleus to the periphery. This cellular adaptation is best described as:
A) Hypertrophy
B) Hyperplasia
C) Metaplasia
D) Steatosis
Correct Answer: Steatosis
Rationale: Steatosis (fatty change) occurs when cells accumulate
triglycerides, causing the characteristic appearance of lipid-filled vacuoles
,displacing the nucleus. This is reversible cellular injury commonly seen in
alcoholic liver disease, diabetes, obesity, and toxin exposure. Continued
injury can progress from steatosis to steatohepatitis to cirrhosis.
5. A nurse is educating a client on the stress response. Which hormone is
primarily responsible for increasing glucose availability to the brain during
the alarm stage?
A) Aldosterone
B) Cortisol
C) Growth Hormone
D) Norepinephrine
Correct Answer: Cortisol
Rationale: Cortisol increases gluconeogenesis and ensures glucose
availability for the brain during stress. Aldosterone helps retain salt and
water, growth hormone affects growth and metabolism but not acute stress
response, and norepinephrine is involved in vasoconstriction and pupil
dilation.
6. A patient presents with chronic hypertension. Which cellular adaptation
would most likely occur in the heart in response to this condition?
A) Atrophy
B) Hyperplasia
C) Hypertrophy
D) Dysplasia
Correct Answer: Hypertrophy
, Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size and functional capacity,
which typically occurs in response to increased workload such as in chronic
hypertension. Atrophy occurs with decreased demand, hyperplasia is an
increase in the number of cells, and dysplasia is disorganized cell growth.
7. A nurse is caring for a patient with tuberculosis. Which type of necrosis
would the nurse most likely find in the patient's lung tissue?
A) Fat necrosis
B) Coagulative necrosis
C) Caseous necrosis
D) Liquefactive necrosis
Correct Answer: Caseous necrosis
Rationale: Caseous necrosis is a form of necrosis that is characteristic of
tuberculosis. It results in a cheese-like, crumbly appearance. Coagulative
necrosis is common in ischemic injury, liquefactive necrosis in brain tissue,
and fat necrosis in adipose tissue.
8. According to the General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS), which stage is
characterized by the release of cortisol to help the body cope with prolonged
stress?
A) Alarm stage
B) Resistance stage
C) Exhaustion stage
D) Recovery stage
Correct Answer: Resistance stage
