NR 412 Pathophysiology 2026–2027: 500 Practice
Questions, Correct Answers & Rationales |
Comprehensive Nursing Exam Study Guide
1. An increase in cell size in response to increased workload is called:
A. Hyperplasia
B. Hypertrophy
C. Atrophy
D. Metaplasia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hypertrophy enlarges individual cells when workload or stimulation increases.
2. A decrease in cell size caused by reduced workload is called:
A. Atrophy
B. Dysplasia
C. Hyperplasia
D. Anaplasia
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Atrophy is a reduction in cellular size and often follows disuse or loss of stimulation.
3. Replacement of one mature cell type by another mature cell type is:
A. Dysplasia
B. Metaplasia
C. Hypertrophy
D. Necrosis
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Metaplasia is an adaptive, usually reversible change from one differentiated cell type to another.
4. Which adaptation involves an increased number of cells?
A. Atrophy
B. Hypertrophy
C. Hyperplasia
D. Apoptosis
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Hyperplasia results from increased cell proliferation and therefore raises cell number.
5. Programmed cell death is known as:
A. Necrosis
B. Apoptosis
C. Autolysis
D. Ischemia
Original Pathophysiology Study Resource • 500 Questions Page 1
, Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Apoptosis is regulated cell death that generally limits surrounding tissue injury.
6. The most common early consequence of inadequate oxygen for aerobic metabolism is:
A. Increased ATP production
B. Reduced ATP production
C. Increased protein synthesis
D. Increased DNA replication
Reduced oxygen impairs oxidative phosphorylation and decreases ATP production.
7. Which type of cell death commonly causes inflammation in surrounding tissue?
A. Apoptosis
B. Necrosis
C. Senescence
D. Differentiation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Necrosis releases cellular contents and commonly triggers an inflammatory response.
8. Reversible cell injury is often associated with:
A. Cellular swelling
B. Complete membrane rupture
C. Nuclear dissolution
D. Extensive tissue calcification
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Failure of ion pumps can cause intracellular sodium and water accumulation, producing swelling.
9. A lack of blood supply to tissue is called:
A. Hypoxia
B. Ischemia
C. Hyperemia
D. Edema
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Ischemia is inadequate blood flow and therefore reduces oxygen and nutrient delivery.
10. The enzyme-driven breakdown of nuclear DNA during necrosis is:
A. Pyknosis
B. Karyorrhexis
C. Karyolysis
D. Mitosis
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Karyolysis describes fading and dissolution of the nucleus due to enzymatic DNA degradation.
11. The classic local signs of acute inflammation include redness, heat, swelling, and:
A. Pallor
B. Pain
Correct Answer: B Rationale:
Original Pathophysiology Study Resource • 500 Questions Page 2
, C. Cyanosis
D. Jaundice
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Pain is a classic inflammatory sign along with redness, heat, and swelling.
12. Which leukocyte is typically prominent early in acute inflammation?
A. Neutrophil
B. Eosinophil
C. B lymphocyte
D. Plasma cell
Correct Answer: A
Neutrophils are usually the first major leukocytes recruited to sites of acute inflammation.
13. Histamine contributes to inflammation primarily by causing:
A. Vasoconstriction
B. Increased vascular permeability
C. Reduced blood flow
D. Platelet destruction
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Histamine promotes vasodilation and increased vascular permeability.
14. A substance that attracts leukocytes toward an area of inflammation is called a:
A. Chemotactic factor
B. Antibody
C. Hormone receptor
D. Clotting factor
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Chemotactic factors create signals that guide leukocytes toward injured or infected tissue.
15. Chronic inflammation is commonly characterized by:
A. Only neutrophils
B. Mononuclear cells and tissue destruction
C. No immune cells
D. Immediate resolution
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Chronic inflammation involves macrophages, lymphocytes, ongoing injury, and attempts at repair.
16. The major extracellular cation is:
A. Potassium
B. Sodium
C. Magnesium
D. Phosphate
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Sodium is the principal cation in extracellular fluid.
17. The major intracellular cation is:
Rationale:
Original Pathophysiology Study Resource • 500 Questions Page 3
, A. Sodium
B. Potassium
C. Calcium
D. Chloride
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Potassium is the predominant intracellular cation.
18. A blood pH below the normal range indicates:
A. Alkalemia
B. Acidemia
C. Hypernatremia
D. Hypoxemia
Acidemia means arterial blood pH is below the normal physiologic range.
Correct Answer: B Rationale:
Original Pathophysiology Study Resource • 500 Questions Page 4
Questions, Correct Answers & Rationales |
Comprehensive Nursing Exam Study Guide
1. An increase in cell size in response to increased workload is called:
A. Hyperplasia
B. Hypertrophy
C. Atrophy
D. Metaplasia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hypertrophy enlarges individual cells when workload or stimulation increases.
2. A decrease in cell size caused by reduced workload is called:
A. Atrophy
B. Dysplasia
C. Hyperplasia
D. Anaplasia
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Atrophy is a reduction in cellular size and often follows disuse or loss of stimulation.
3. Replacement of one mature cell type by another mature cell type is:
A. Dysplasia
B. Metaplasia
C. Hypertrophy
D. Necrosis
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Metaplasia is an adaptive, usually reversible change from one differentiated cell type to another.
4. Which adaptation involves an increased number of cells?
A. Atrophy
B. Hypertrophy
C. Hyperplasia
D. Apoptosis
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Hyperplasia results from increased cell proliferation and therefore raises cell number.
5. Programmed cell death is known as:
A. Necrosis
B. Apoptosis
C. Autolysis
D. Ischemia
Original Pathophysiology Study Resource • 500 Questions Page 1
, Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Apoptosis is regulated cell death that generally limits surrounding tissue injury.
6. The most common early consequence of inadequate oxygen for aerobic metabolism is:
A. Increased ATP production
B. Reduced ATP production
C. Increased protein synthesis
D. Increased DNA replication
Reduced oxygen impairs oxidative phosphorylation and decreases ATP production.
7. Which type of cell death commonly causes inflammation in surrounding tissue?
A. Apoptosis
B. Necrosis
C. Senescence
D. Differentiation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Necrosis releases cellular contents and commonly triggers an inflammatory response.
8. Reversible cell injury is often associated with:
A. Cellular swelling
B. Complete membrane rupture
C. Nuclear dissolution
D. Extensive tissue calcification
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Failure of ion pumps can cause intracellular sodium and water accumulation, producing swelling.
9. A lack of blood supply to tissue is called:
A. Hypoxia
B. Ischemia
C. Hyperemia
D. Edema
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Ischemia is inadequate blood flow and therefore reduces oxygen and nutrient delivery.
10. The enzyme-driven breakdown of nuclear DNA during necrosis is:
A. Pyknosis
B. Karyorrhexis
C. Karyolysis
D. Mitosis
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Karyolysis describes fading and dissolution of the nucleus due to enzymatic DNA degradation.
11. The classic local signs of acute inflammation include redness, heat, swelling, and:
A. Pallor
B. Pain
Correct Answer: B Rationale:
Original Pathophysiology Study Resource • 500 Questions Page 2
, C. Cyanosis
D. Jaundice
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Pain is a classic inflammatory sign along with redness, heat, and swelling.
12. Which leukocyte is typically prominent early in acute inflammation?
A. Neutrophil
B. Eosinophil
C. B lymphocyte
D. Plasma cell
Correct Answer: A
Neutrophils are usually the first major leukocytes recruited to sites of acute inflammation.
13. Histamine contributes to inflammation primarily by causing:
A. Vasoconstriction
B. Increased vascular permeability
C. Reduced blood flow
D. Platelet destruction
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Histamine promotes vasodilation and increased vascular permeability.
14. A substance that attracts leukocytes toward an area of inflammation is called a:
A. Chemotactic factor
B. Antibody
C. Hormone receptor
D. Clotting factor
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Chemotactic factors create signals that guide leukocytes toward injured or infected tissue.
15. Chronic inflammation is commonly characterized by:
A. Only neutrophils
B. Mononuclear cells and tissue destruction
C. No immune cells
D. Immediate resolution
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Chronic inflammation involves macrophages, lymphocytes, ongoing injury, and attempts at repair.
16. The major extracellular cation is:
A. Potassium
B. Sodium
C. Magnesium
D. Phosphate
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Sodium is the principal cation in extracellular fluid.
17. The major intracellular cation is:
Rationale:
Original Pathophysiology Study Resource • 500 Questions Page 3
, A. Sodium
B. Potassium
C. Calcium
D. Chloride
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Potassium is the predominant intracellular cation.
18. A blood pH below the normal range indicates:
A. Alkalemia
B. Acidemia
C. Hypernatremia
D. Hypoxemia
Acidemia means arterial blood pH is below the normal physiologic range.
Correct Answer: B Rationale:
Original Pathophysiology Study Resource • 500 Questions Page 4
