Page 1 of 39
NSG 5140 WEEK 10 FINAL EXAM – ADVANCED
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY COMPLETE (140) CURRENT TESTING
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS WITH DETAILED
RATIONALES.
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
Prepare effectively for the NSG 5140 Advanced Pathophysiology Week 10 Final Exam
with this focused study resource. It supports review of disease processes,
pathophysiological mechanisms, clinical manifestations, diagnostic concepts, and
physiological responses relevant to advanced nursing practice. Use the material to
reinforce your understanding, review key topics, and identify areas that may require
additional study. This resource is suited for graduate nursing students, advanced
practice nursing learners, and candidates preparing for the NSG 5140 Week 10 final
examination.
MULTIPLE CHOICE.
Section 1: Cellular Biology, Adaptation, Injury, and Death (Questions 1-20)
1. Which cellular adaptation is characterized by an increase in cell size
due to increased workload?
A) Hyperplasia
B) Hypertrophy
C) Atrophy
D) Metaplasia
Answer: B
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in the size of individual cells in
response to increased demand, such as the cardiac muscle enlargement
seen in hypertension.
2. A patient with chronic lung disease develops squamous metaplasia in
the bronchi. This change is best described as:
A) An increase in cell number
B) A reversible replacement of one cell type with another
C) A decrease in cell size
, Page 2 of 39
D) An abnormal growth of cells
Answer: B
Rationale: Metaplasia is a reversible change in which one differentiated
cell type is replaced by another cell type, often in response to chronic
irritation.
3. Which of the following is a hallmark of irreversible cell injury?
A) Cellular swelling
B) Fatty changes
C) Nuclear dissolution (karyolysis)
D) Loss of microvilli
Answer: C
Rationale: Karyolysis (nuclear dissolution), pyknosis (nuclear shrinkage),
and karyorrhexis (nuclear fragmentation) are irreversible changes
indicating cell death. Cellular swelling and fatty changes are reversible.
4. Programmed cell death, or apoptosis, is characterized by:
A) Cell lysis and inflammation
B) Cellular swelling and rupture
C) Cell shrinkage and formation of apoptotic bodies
D) Random DNA degradation
Answer: C
Rationale: Apoptosis is an active, regulated process involving cell
shrinkage, chromatin condensation, and formation of apoptotic bodies
without an inflammatory response.
5. Ischemia-reperfusion injury is primarily caused by:
A) Lack of oxygen during ischemia
B) The generation of reactive oxygen species upon reperfusion
C) Increased intracellular potassium
D) Decreased intracellular calcium
Answer: B
Rationale: Reperfusion after ischemia generates reactive oxygen species
(free radicals) that cause further cellular damage beyond the initial
ischemic insult.
, Page 3 of 39
6. A patient with heart failure develops pulmonary edema. This is an
example of which type of cellular injury?
A) Hypoxic injury
B) Chemical injury
C) Physical injury
D) Immunologic injury
Answer: A
Rationale: Pulmonary edema reduces oxygen diffusion to cells, causing
hypoxic injury.
7. The most common cause of cellular injury is:
A) Genetic mutations
B) Hypoxia
C) Physical trauma
D) Chemical agents
Answer: B
Rationale: Hypoxia (oxygen deprivation) is the most common cause of
cellular injury, often due to ischemia.
8. Which of the following is a characteristic of reversible cell injury?
A) Nuclear fragmentation
B) Mitochondrial swelling
C) Lysosomal rupture
D) Cell membrane rupture
Answer: B
Rationale: Mitochondrial swelling and endoplasmic reticulum dilation are
early, reversible changes. Nuclear fragmentation and membrane rupture
are irreversible.
9. An increase in the number of cells in response to hormonal stimulation
is termed:
A) Hypertrophy
B) Hyperplasia
C) Metaplasia
D) Dysplasia
Answer: B
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Rationale: Hyperplasia is an increase in cell number, often under
hormonal or compensatory control.
10. The sodium-potassium pump maintains cellular homeostasis by:
A) Moving 3 Na⁺ ions out and 2 K⁺ ions into the cell
B) Moving 2 Na⁺ ions out and 3 K⁺ ions into the cell
C) Moving 3 Na⁺ ions in and 2 K⁺ ions out
D) Moving 2 Na⁺ ions in and 3 K⁺ ions out
Answer: A
Rationale: The sodium-potassium pump actively transports 3 sodium ions
out of the cell and 2 potassium ions into the cell, creating an
electrochemical gradient.
11. A patient's cells are exposed to a toxin that impairs mitochondrial
function. Which of the following would most likely occur?
A) Increased ATP production
B) Anaerobic metabolism and lactic acidosis
C) Alkalosis
D) Increased oxidative phosphorylation
Answer: B
Rationale: Mitochondrial dysfunction leads to decreased ATP production,
causing a shift to anaerobic metabolism and the accumulation of lactic
acid.
12. Dysplasia is best described as:
A) An increase in cell size
B) A decrease in cell size
C) Disordered cellular growth with variation in size and shape
D) A replacement of one cell type with another
Answer: C
Rationale: Dysplasia is characterized by abnormal cellular growth, with
variations in size, shape, and organization. It is often a precursor to
cancer.
13. Necrosis is associated with:
A) Controlled cell death
B) Inflammation and cellular swelling
NSG 5140 WEEK 10 FINAL EXAM – ADVANCED
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY COMPLETE (140) CURRENT TESTING
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS WITH DETAILED
RATIONALES.
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
Prepare effectively for the NSG 5140 Advanced Pathophysiology Week 10 Final Exam
with this focused study resource. It supports review of disease processes,
pathophysiological mechanisms, clinical manifestations, diagnostic concepts, and
physiological responses relevant to advanced nursing practice. Use the material to
reinforce your understanding, review key topics, and identify areas that may require
additional study. This resource is suited for graduate nursing students, advanced
practice nursing learners, and candidates preparing for the NSG 5140 Week 10 final
examination.
MULTIPLE CHOICE.
Section 1: Cellular Biology, Adaptation, Injury, and Death (Questions 1-20)
1. Which cellular adaptation is characterized by an increase in cell size
due to increased workload?
A) Hyperplasia
B) Hypertrophy
C) Atrophy
D) Metaplasia
Answer: B
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in the size of individual cells in
response to increased demand, such as the cardiac muscle enlargement
seen in hypertension.
2. A patient with chronic lung disease develops squamous metaplasia in
the bronchi. This change is best described as:
A) An increase in cell number
B) A reversible replacement of one cell type with another
C) A decrease in cell size
, Page 2 of 39
D) An abnormal growth of cells
Answer: B
Rationale: Metaplasia is a reversible change in which one differentiated
cell type is replaced by another cell type, often in response to chronic
irritation.
3. Which of the following is a hallmark of irreversible cell injury?
A) Cellular swelling
B) Fatty changes
C) Nuclear dissolution (karyolysis)
D) Loss of microvilli
Answer: C
Rationale: Karyolysis (nuclear dissolution), pyknosis (nuclear shrinkage),
and karyorrhexis (nuclear fragmentation) are irreversible changes
indicating cell death. Cellular swelling and fatty changes are reversible.
4. Programmed cell death, or apoptosis, is characterized by:
A) Cell lysis and inflammation
B) Cellular swelling and rupture
C) Cell shrinkage and formation of apoptotic bodies
D) Random DNA degradation
Answer: C
Rationale: Apoptosis is an active, regulated process involving cell
shrinkage, chromatin condensation, and formation of apoptotic bodies
without an inflammatory response.
5. Ischemia-reperfusion injury is primarily caused by:
A) Lack of oxygen during ischemia
B) The generation of reactive oxygen species upon reperfusion
C) Increased intracellular potassium
D) Decreased intracellular calcium
Answer: B
Rationale: Reperfusion after ischemia generates reactive oxygen species
(free radicals) that cause further cellular damage beyond the initial
ischemic insult.
, Page 3 of 39
6. A patient with heart failure develops pulmonary edema. This is an
example of which type of cellular injury?
A) Hypoxic injury
B) Chemical injury
C) Physical injury
D) Immunologic injury
Answer: A
Rationale: Pulmonary edema reduces oxygen diffusion to cells, causing
hypoxic injury.
7. The most common cause of cellular injury is:
A) Genetic mutations
B) Hypoxia
C) Physical trauma
D) Chemical agents
Answer: B
Rationale: Hypoxia (oxygen deprivation) is the most common cause of
cellular injury, often due to ischemia.
8. Which of the following is a characteristic of reversible cell injury?
A) Nuclear fragmentation
B) Mitochondrial swelling
C) Lysosomal rupture
D) Cell membrane rupture
Answer: B
Rationale: Mitochondrial swelling and endoplasmic reticulum dilation are
early, reversible changes. Nuclear fragmentation and membrane rupture
are irreversible.
9. An increase in the number of cells in response to hormonal stimulation
is termed:
A) Hypertrophy
B) Hyperplasia
C) Metaplasia
D) Dysplasia
Answer: B
, Page 4 of 39
Rationale: Hyperplasia is an increase in cell number, often under
hormonal or compensatory control.
10. The sodium-potassium pump maintains cellular homeostasis by:
A) Moving 3 Na⁺ ions out and 2 K⁺ ions into the cell
B) Moving 2 Na⁺ ions out and 3 K⁺ ions into the cell
C) Moving 3 Na⁺ ions in and 2 K⁺ ions out
D) Moving 2 Na⁺ ions in and 3 K⁺ ions out
Answer: A
Rationale: The sodium-potassium pump actively transports 3 sodium ions
out of the cell and 2 potassium ions into the cell, creating an
electrochemical gradient.
11. A patient's cells are exposed to a toxin that impairs mitochondrial
function. Which of the following would most likely occur?
A) Increased ATP production
B) Anaerobic metabolism and lactic acidosis
C) Alkalosis
D) Increased oxidative phosphorylation
Answer: B
Rationale: Mitochondrial dysfunction leads to decreased ATP production,
causing a shift to anaerobic metabolism and the accumulation of lactic
acid.
12. Dysplasia is best described as:
A) An increase in cell size
B) A decrease in cell size
C) Disordered cellular growth with variation in size and shape
D) A replacement of one cell type with another
Answer: C
Rationale: Dysplasia is characterized by abnormal cellular growth, with
variations in size, shape, and organization. It is often a precursor to
cancer.
13. Necrosis is associated with:
A) Controlled cell death
B) Inflammation and cellular swelling
