NURS 5461 Final Exam Questions With Correct
Answers Latest Update 2026/2027 | Exam Prep
1. A patient with hypertension develops left ventricular hypertrophy. This is
an example of which type of cellular adaptation?
A) Atrophy
B) Hyperplasia
C) Hypertrophy
D) Metaplasia
Answer C: Hypertrophy
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size. In hypertension, the left ventricle
works against increased pressure, causing heart muscle cells (myocytes) to enlarge.
2. The hallmark of apoptosis is:
A) Cell swelling and lysis
B) Caseous necrosis
C) Cell shrinkage, nuclear fragmentation, and formation of apoptotic bodies (no
inflammation)
D) Coagulative necrosis
Answer C: Cell shrinkage, nuclear fragmentation, and formation of apoptotic
bodies (no inflammation)
,Rationale: Apoptosis is programmed cell death characterized by cell shrinkage,
chromatin condensation, nuclear fragmentation, and formation of apoptotic
bodies that are phagocytosed without causing inflammation .
3. A patient who smokes has chronic bronchial irritation. Normal ciliated
columnar epithelium is replaced by stratified squamous epithelium. This is an
example of:
A) Atrophy
B) Hyperplasia
C) Metaplasia
D) Dysplasia
Answer C: Metaplasia
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one differentiated cell type
with another as an adaptive response to chronic irritation. In smokers, this change
is protective but can predispose to cancer .
4. A patient with chronic kidney disease has small, shrunken kidneys due to
loss of cells. This is an example of:
A) Hypertrophy
B) Hyperplasia
C) Atrophy
D) Metaplasia
Answer C: Atrophy
,Rationale: Atrophy is a decrease in cell size and organ size. In chronic kidney
disease, prolonged ischemia and loss of nephrons lead to atrophy of remaining
nephrons and overall kidney shrinkage .
5. A patient experiences a myocardial infarction. The type of cell death that
occurs is:
A) Apoptosis
B) Necrosis (coagulative necrosis)
C) Pyroptosis
D) Autophagy
Answer B: Necrosis (coagulative necrosis)
Rationale: Myocardial infarction causes ischemic cell death (necrosis), specifically
coagulative necrosis. Necrosis is unprogrammed cell death due to injury, whereas
apoptosis is programmed .
6. Which statement is true regarding basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?
A) BCC is most commonly found on the trunk and lower limbs
B) BCC is most commonly found on the head and neck
C) BCC rarely occurs on sun-exposed areas
D) BCC primarily arises on mucous membranes
Answer B: BCC is most commonly found on the head and neck
, Rationale: Basal cell carcinoma is strongly linked to chronic sun exposure and
therefore most often appears on sun-exposed areas such as the face, scalp, and
neck .
7. Which statement is true regarding unmatched packed red blood cell
transfusions?
A) People with type O blood have both A and B antigens
B) People with type O blood have neither A nor B antigens
C) People with type O blood have no antibodies in their plasma
D) Type AB blood cells lack A and B antigens
Answer B: People with type O blood have neither A nor B antigens
Rationale: Type O RBCs lack A and B antigens, making them "universal donor" red
cells when plasma is removed. Their plasma, however, contains anti-A and anti-B
antibodies .
8. Which pathways activate the complement system?
A) Classical, lectin, and alternative
B) Intrinsic, extrinsic, and common
C) Primary, secondary, and tertiary
D) IgG-dependent and IgM-dependent
Answer A: Classical, lectin, and alternative
Answers Latest Update 2026/2027 | Exam Prep
1. A patient with hypertension develops left ventricular hypertrophy. This is
an example of which type of cellular adaptation?
A) Atrophy
B) Hyperplasia
C) Hypertrophy
D) Metaplasia
Answer C: Hypertrophy
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size. In hypertension, the left ventricle
works against increased pressure, causing heart muscle cells (myocytes) to enlarge.
2. The hallmark of apoptosis is:
A) Cell swelling and lysis
B) Caseous necrosis
C) Cell shrinkage, nuclear fragmentation, and formation of apoptotic bodies (no
inflammation)
D) Coagulative necrosis
Answer C: Cell shrinkage, nuclear fragmentation, and formation of apoptotic
bodies (no inflammation)
,Rationale: Apoptosis is programmed cell death characterized by cell shrinkage,
chromatin condensation, nuclear fragmentation, and formation of apoptotic
bodies that are phagocytosed without causing inflammation .
3. A patient who smokes has chronic bronchial irritation. Normal ciliated
columnar epithelium is replaced by stratified squamous epithelium. This is an
example of:
A) Atrophy
B) Hyperplasia
C) Metaplasia
D) Dysplasia
Answer C: Metaplasia
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one differentiated cell type
with another as an adaptive response to chronic irritation. In smokers, this change
is protective but can predispose to cancer .
4. A patient with chronic kidney disease has small, shrunken kidneys due to
loss of cells. This is an example of:
A) Hypertrophy
B) Hyperplasia
C) Atrophy
D) Metaplasia
Answer C: Atrophy
,Rationale: Atrophy is a decrease in cell size and organ size. In chronic kidney
disease, prolonged ischemia and loss of nephrons lead to atrophy of remaining
nephrons and overall kidney shrinkage .
5. A patient experiences a myocardial infarction. The type of cell death that
occurs is:
A) Apoptosis
B) Necrosis (coagulative necrosis)
C) Pyroptosis
D) Autophagy
Answer B: Necrosis (coagulative necrosis)
Rationale: Myocardial infarction causes ischemic cell death (necrosis), specifically
coagulative necrosis. Necrosis is unprogrammed cell death due to injury, whereas
apoptosis is programmed .
6. Which statement is true regarding basal cell carcinoma (BCC)?
A) BCC is most commonly found on the trunk and lower limbs
B) BCC is most commonly found on the head and neck
C) BCC rarely occurs on sun-exposed areas
D) BCC primarily arises on mucous membranes
Answer B: BCC is most commonly found on the head and neck
, Rationale: Basal cell carcinoma is strongly linked to chronic sun exposure and
therefore most often appears on sun-exposed areas such as the face, scalp, and
neck .
7. Which statement is true regarding unmatched packed red blood cell
transfusions?
A) People with type O blood have both A and B antigens
B) People with type O blood have neither A nor B antigens
C) People with type O blood have no antibodies in their plasma
D) Type AB blood cells lack A and B antigens
Answer B: People with type O blood have neither A nor B antigens
Rationale: Type O RBCs lack A and B antigens, making them "universal donor" red
cells when plasma is removed. Their plasma, however, contains anti-A and anti-B
antibodies .
8. Which pathways activate the complement system?
A) Classical, lectin, and alternative
B) Intrinsic, extrinsic, and common
C) Primary, secondary, and tertiary
D) IgG-dependent and IgM-dependent
Answer A: Classical, lectin, and alternative
