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NURS 6501N ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY Midterm Practice
Exam Questions | Answers & Rationales
1. Which cellular adaptation is an increase in the number of
cells?
A. Hypertrophy
B. Hyperplasia
C. Atrophy
D. Metaplasia
Answer: B
Rationale: Hyperplasia is an increase in cell number, often due
to hormonal or compensatory stimulation.
2. Which type of necrosis is caused by ischemia in solid organs
such as the kidney and heart?
A. Liquefactive
B. Caseous
C. Coagulative
D. Fat
Answer: C
Rationale: Coagulative necrosis occurs after ischemic injury in
solid organs and preserves tissue architecture.
3. Which cellular adaptation is the replacement of one mature
cell type with another?
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A. Dysplasia
B. Metaplasia
C. Anaplasia
D. Atrophy
Answer: B
Rationale: Metaplasia is a reversible change from one
differentiated cell type to another, often due to chronic
irritation.
4. Which of the following is characteristic of apoptosis?
A. Causes inflammation
B. Is energy-dependent programmed cell death
C. Occurs only in groups of cells
D. Is always pathologic
Answer: B
Rationale: Apoptosis is controlled, ATP-dependent cell death
without inflammation.
5. Which gene is a tumor suppressor that regulates the cell
cycle and apoptosis?
A. RAS
B. MYC
C. p53
D. HER2/neu
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Answer: C
Rationale: p53 is a key tumor suppressor; loss of function
increases cancer risk.
6. Which of the following is a proto-oncogene?
A. BRCA1
B. RB
C. RAS
D. p53
Answer: C
Rationale: RAS is a proto-oncogene; BRCA1, RB, and p53 are
tumor suppressors.
7. Which of the following is a sign of irreversible cell injury?
A. Hydropic swelling
B. Membrane blebbing
C. Nuclear pyknosis, karyorrhexis, or karyolysis
D. Decreased intracellular calcium
Answer: C
Rationale: Nuclear damage indicates irreversible injury and cell
death.
8. Which electrolyte imbalance is most commonly associated
with syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone
(SIADH)?
NURS 6501N ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY Midterm Practice
Exam Questions | Answers & Rationales
1. Which cellular adaptation is an increase in the number of
cells?
A. Hypertrophy
B. Hyperplasia
C. Atrophy
D. Metaplasia
Answer: B
Rationale: Hyperplasia is an increase in cell number, often due
to hormonal or compensatory stimulation.
2. Which type of necrosis is caused by ischemia in solid organs
such as the kidney and heart?
A. Liquefactive
B. Caseous
C. Coagulative
D. Fat
Answer: C
Rationale: Coagulative necrosis occurs after ischemic injury in
solid organs and preserves tissue architecture.
3. Which cellular adaptation is the replacement of one mature
cell type with another?
, Page |2
A. Dysplasia
B. Metaplasia
C. Anaplasia
D. Atrophy
Answer: B
Rationale: Metaplasia is a reversible change from one
differentiated cell type to another, often due to chronic
irritation.
4. Which of the following is characteristic of apoptosis?
A. Causes inflammation
B. Is energy-dependent programmed cell death
C. Occurs only in groups of cells
D. Is always pathologic
Answer: B
Rationale: Apoptosis is controlled, ATP-dependent cell death
without inflammation.
5. Which gene is a tumor suppressor that regulates the cell
cycle and apoptosis?
A. RAS
B. MYC
C. p53
D. HER2/neu
, Page |3
Answer: C
Rationale: p53 is a key tumor suppressor; loss of function
increases cancer risk.
6. Which of the following is a proto-oncogene?
A. BRCA1
B. RB
C. RAS
D. p53
Answer: C
Rationale: RAS is a proto-oncogene; BRCA1, RB, and p53 are
tumor suppressors.
7. Which of the following is a sign of irreversible cell injury?
A. Hydropic swelling
B. Membrane blebbing
C. Nuclear pyknosis, karyorrhexis, or karyolysis
D. Decreased intracellular calcium
Answer: C
Rationale: Nuclear damage indicates irreversible injury and cell
death.
8. Which electrolyte imbalance is most commonly associated
with syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone
(SIADH)?
