National University NUR 510 Advanced Pathophysiology Module 1
(pdf) | 2026/2027 | Q&A | Nursing
1. A 67-year-old patient with chronic heart failure is found to have an
enlarged heart on chest radiography. Which of the following cellular
adaptations most accurately describes this finding?
A) Hypertrophy
B) Hyperplasia
C) Atrophy
D) Metaplasia
Correct Answer: Hypertrophy
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size, leading to an enlargement
of the organ. In heart failure, the cardiac myocytes undergo hypertrophy in
response to increased workload. Hyperplasia is an increase in cell number,
atrophy is a decrease in cell size, and metaplasia is a change from one
differentiated cell type to another.
2. A pathologist examines a tissue sample and notes an increase in the
number of cells in a particular organ. This process is best termed:
A) Hypertrophy
B) Hyperplasia
C) Atrophy
D) Dysplasia
Correct Answer: Hyperplasia
Rationale: Hyperplasia refers to an increase in the number of cells in an
organ or tissue, which can be physiologic or pathologic. Hypertrophy is an
,increase in cell size, atrophy is a decrease in cell size, and dysplasia is
abnormal cellular growth.
3. Following a myocardial infarction, a patient's cardiac myocytes are
replaced by non-functional scar tissue. This process is an example of:
A) Apoptosis
B) Necrosis
C) Autophagy
D) Atrophy
Correct Answer: Necrosis
Rationale: Necrosis is the unprogrammed death of cells due to injury, often
leading to inflammation and the replacement of functional tissue with scar
tissue. Apoptosis is programmed cell death, autophagy is a process of
cellular self-digestion, and atrophy is a decrease in cell size.
4. A researcher is studying a cell that has undergone irreversible injury.
Which of the following cellular changes is most characteristic of irreversible
injury?
A) Loss of plasma membrane integrity
B) Cellular swelling
C) Fatty change
D) Increased protein synthesis
Correct Answer: Loss of plasma membrane integrity
Rationale: Loss of plasma membrane integrity is a hallmark of irreversible
cell injury, leading to the leakage of cellular contents. Cellular swelling and
,fatty change are reversible changes, and increased protein synthesis is not a
feature of irreversible injury.
5. In response to chronic ischemia, a patient's kidney demonstrates a
decrease in the size and number of renal tubules. This process is best
described as:
A) Hypertrophy
B) Hyperplasia
C) Atrophy
D) Metaplasia
Correct Answer: Atrophy
Rationale: Atrophy is a decrease in the size and number of cells, leading to a
reduction in organ size. It can result from decreased workload, loss of
innervation, or reduced blood supply. Hypertrophy and hyperplasia involve
an increase in size or number, and metaplasia is a change in cell type.
6. A patient with chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease develops a
condition where the stratified squamous epithelium of the esophagus is
replaced by columnar epithelium. This cellular change is termed:
A) Hyperplasia
B) Metaplasia
C) Dysplasia
D) Anaplasia
Correct Answer: Metaplasia
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one differentiated cell
type with another. In Barrett's esophagus, the squamous epithelium is
, replaced by columnar epithelium due to chronic acid exposure. This is a
protective, albeit premalignant, adaptation.
7. An apoptosis researcher is studying a cell that is undergoing programmed
cell death. Which of the following biochemical events is a hallmark of
apoptosis?
A) Activation of caspases
B) Rupture of the cell membrane
C) Extensive inflammation in the surrounding tissue
D) Swelling of the cell and its organelles
Correct Answer: Activation of caspases
Rationale: Caspases are a family of protease enzymes that play essential
roles in the execution of apoptosis. Rupture of the cell membrane,
inflammation, and cellular swelling are characteristic of necrosis, not
apoptosis.
8. A patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease experiences a loss of
alveolar surface area due to the destruction of septal walls. This pathological
process is best described as:
A) Necrosis
B) Apoptosis
C) Autophagy
D) Metaplasia
Correct Answer: Necrosis
Rationale: Necrosis is the unprogrammed death of cells due to injury, often
involving the breakdown of cellular components and the surrounding
(pdf) | 2026/2027 | Q&A | Nursing
1. A 67-year-old patient with chronic heart failure is found to have an
enlarged heart on chest radiography. Which of the following cellular
adaptations most accurately describes this finding?
A) Hypertrophy
B) Hyperplasia
C) Atrophy
D) Metaplasia
Correct Answer: Hypertrophy
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size, leading to an enlargement
of the organ. In heart failure, the cardiac myocytes undergo hypertrophy in
response to increased workload. Hyperplasia is an increase in cell number,
atrophy is a decrease in cell size, and metaplasia is a change from one
differentiated cell type to another.
2. A pathologist examines a tissue sample and notes an increase in the
number of cells in a particular organ. This process is best termed:
A) Hypertrophy
B) Hyperplasia
C) Atrophy
D) Dysplasia
Correct Answer: Hyperplasia
Rationale: Hyperplasia refers to an increase in the number of cells in an
organ or tissue, which can be physiologic or pathologic. Hypertrophy is an
,increase in cell size, atrophy is a decrease in cell size, and dysplasia is
abnormal cellular growth.
3. Following a myocardial infarction, a patient's cardiac myocytes are
replaced by non-functional scar tissue. This process is an example of:
A) Apoptosis
B) Necrosis
C) Autophagy
D) Atrophy
Correct Answer: Necrosis
Rationale: Necrosis is the unprogrammed death of cells due to injury, often
leading to inflammation and the replacement of functional tissue with scar
tissue. Apoptosis is programmed cell death, autophagy is a process of
cellular self-digestion, and atrophy is a decrease in cell size.
4. A researcher is studying a cell that has undergone irreversible injury.
Which of the following cellular changes is most characteristic of irreversible
injury?
A) Loss of plasma membrane integrity
B) Cellular swelling
C) Fatty change
D) Increased protein synthesis
Correct Answer: Loss of plasma membrane integrity
Rationale: Loss of plasma membrane integrity is a hallmark of irreversible
cell injury, leading to the leakage of cellular contents. Cellular swelling and
,fatty change are reversible changes, and increased protein synthesis is not a
feature of irreversible injury.
5. In response to chronic ischemia, a patient's kidney demonstrates a
decrease in the size and number of renal tubules. This process is best
described as:
A) Hypertrophy
B) Hyperplasia
C) Atrophy
D) Metaplasia
Correct Answer: Atrophy
Rationale: Atrophy is a decrease in the size and number of cells, leading to a
reduction in organ size. It can result from decreased workload, loss of
innervation, or reduced blood supply. Hypertrophy and hyperplasia involve
an increase in size or number, and metaplasia is a change in cell type.
6. A patient with chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease develops a
condition where the stratified squamous epithelium of the esophagus is
replaced by columnar epithelium. This cellular change is termed:
A) Hyperplasia
B) Metaplasia
C) Dysplasia
D) Anaplasia
Correct Answer: Metaplasia
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one differentiated cell
type with another. In Barrett's esophagus, the squamous epithelium is
, replaced by columnar epithelium due to chronic acid exposure. This is a
protective, albeit premalignant, adaptation.
7. An apoptosis researcher is studying a cell that is undergoing programmed
cell death. Which of the following biochemical events is a hallmark of
apoptosis?
A) Activation of caspases
B) Rupture of the cell membrane
C) Extensive inflammation in the surrounding tissue
D) Swelling of the cell and its organelles
Correct Answer: Activation of caspases
Rationale: Caspases are a family of protease enzymes that play essential
roles in the execution of apoptosis. Rupture of the cell membrane,
inflammation, and cellular swelling are characteristic of necrosis, not
apoptosis.
8. A patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease experiences a loss of
alveolar surface area due to the destruction of septal walls. This pathological
process is best described as:
A) Necrosis
B) Apoptosis
C) Autophagy
D) Metaplasia
Correct Answer: Necrosis
Rationale: Necrosis is the unprogrammed death of cells due to injury, often
involving the breakdown of cellular components and the surrounding
