NSG 1520 Pathophysiology Exam 3 Review –
Winter 2026 | South College
100 Questions with ANSWERs & Rationales
SECTION 1: CELLULAR ADAPTATION & INJURY (Questions 1–12)
Question 1
The basic structural and functional unit of all living organisms is the:
A) Organelle
B) Tissue
C) Cell
D) Molecule
ANSWER: C. Cell
Rationale: The cell is the fundamental unit of life. Organelles are components within cells, tissues are
groups of cells, and molecules are chemical building blocks. All physiological processes depend on
cellular function.
Question 2
Homeostasis is best defined as:
,A) The body's tendency to change constantly
B) Maintenance of a stable internal environment
C) Rapid fluctuations in vital signs
D) Complete absence of disease
ANSWER: B. Maintenance of a stable internal environment
Rationale: Homeostasis refers to the body's ability to maintain a relatively stable internal environment
despite external changes.
Question 3
A patient's lab report indicates muscular atrophy. The nurse recalls that this involves a decrease in
muscle cell:
A) Number
B) Size
C) Vacuoles
D) Lipofuscin
ANSWER: B. Size
Rationale: Atrophy refers to a decrease in the size of cells, not their number (which would be
hyperplasia). This adaptation occurs from disuse, denervation, or reduced blood supply.
,Question 4
During childhood, the thymus decreases in size. This is referred to as what type of atrophy?
A) Physiologic
B) Pathologic
C) Disuse
D) Neurogenic
ANSWER: A. Physiologic
Rationale: Physiologic atrophy occurs during normal development (e.g., loss of the thymus gland in
childhood). Pathologic atrophy results from disease or injury.
Question 5
In response to an increased workload (e.g., hypertension), cardiac myocardial cells will undergo
hypertrophy. Hypertrophy is an:
A) Increase in size
B) Decrease in length
C) Increase in excitability
D) Decrease in number
ANSWER: A. Increase in size
, Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size, leading to organ enlargement. The heart adapts to
increased afterload by enlarging its muscle cells, not by creating new ones.
Question 6
Hypoxia causes cell injury primarily by:
A) Increasing ATP production
B) Reducing oxygen for cellular metabolism
C) Enhancing protein synthesis
D) Stimulating cell growth
ANSWER: B. Reducing oxygen for cellular metabolism
Rationale: Hypoxia is a lack of adequate oxygen. This leads to a reduction in aerobic metabolism,
decreased ATP production, and failure of the sodium-potassium pump, resulting in cellular swelling and
injury.
Question 7
Programmed cell death that does not trigger an inflammatory response is known as:
A) Necrosis
B) Apoptosis
C) Caseous necrosis
Winter 2026 | South College
100 Questions with ANSWERs & Rationales
SECTION 1: CELLULAR ADAPTATION & INJURY (Questions 1–12)
Question 1
The basic structural and functional unit of all living organisms is the:
A) Organelle
B) Tissue
C) Cell
D) Molecule
ANSWER: C. Cell
Rationale: The cell is the fundamental unit of life. Organelles are components within cells, tissues are
groups of cells, and molecules are chemical building blocks. All physiological processes depend on
cellular function.
Question 2
Homeostasis is best defined as:
,A) The body's tendency to change constantly
B) Maintenance of a stable internal environment
C) Rapid fluctuations in vital signs
D) Complete absence of disease
ANSWER: B. Maintenance of a stable internal environment
Rationale: Homeostasis refers to the body's ability to maintain a relatively stable internal environment
despite external changes.
Question 3
A patient's lab report indicates muscular atrophy. The nurse recalls that this involves a decrease in
muscle cell:
A) Number
B) Size
C) Vacuoles
D) Lipofuscin
ANSWER: B. Size
Rationale: Atrophy refers to a decrease in the size of cells, not their number (which would be
hyperplasia). This adaptation occurs from disuse, denervation, or reduced blood supply.
,Question 4
During childhood, the thymus decreases in size. This is referred to as what type of atrophy?
A) Physiologic
B) Pathologic
C) Disuse
D) Neurogenic
ANSWER: A. Physiologic
Rationale: Physiologic atrophy occurs during normal development (e.g., loss of the thymus gland in
childhood). Pathologic atrophy results from disease or injury.
Question 5
In response to an increased workload (e.g., hypertension), cardiac myocardial cells will undergo
hypertrophy. Hypertrophy is an:
A) Increase in size
B) Decrease in length
C) Increase in excitability
D) Decrease in number
ANSWER: A. Increase in size
, Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size, leading to organ enlargement. The heart adapts to
increased afterload by enlarging its muscle cells, not by creating new ones.
Question 6
Hypoxia causes cell injury primarily by:
A) Increasing ATP production
B) Reducing oxygen for cellular metabolism
C) Enhancing protein synthesis
D) Stimulating cell growth
ANSWER: B. Reducing oxygen for cellular metabolism
Rationale: Hypoxia is a lack of adequate oxygen. This leads to a reduction in aerobic metabolism,
decreased ATP production, and failure of the sodium-potassium pump, resulting in cellular swelling and
injury.
Question 7
Programmed cell death that does not trigger an inflammatory response is known as:
A) Necrosis
B) Apoptosis
C) Caseous necrosis
