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NURS 8022 EXAM 1 – ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
(CELLULAR INJURY, INFLAMMATION, IMMUNITY, &
GENETICS) 2026/2027 COMPLETE (100) CURRENT
TESTING QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS WITH
DETAILED RATIONALES.
NURS
Prepare for the NURS 8022 Exam 1 – Advanced Pathophysiology (Cellular Injury,
Inflammation, Immunity, & Genetics) with a focused study resource designed to
reinforce foundational advanced pathophysiology concepts. It supports review of
cellular structure and injury, inflammation, immune responses, genetic mechanisms
and abnormalities, cellular adaptation, and related disease processes. Use the
material to strengthen clinical reasoning, connect pathophysiological mechanisms
with patient manifestations, and identify areas that may require additional review
before the examination. This resource is best suited for graduate-level nursing
students and NURS 8022 learners preparing for Exam 1 in Advanced Pathophysiology.
MULTIPLE CHOICE.
SECTION 1: CELLULAR INJURY, ADAPTATION, & NECROSIS
1. In hypoxic injury, sodium enters the cell and causes swelling because:
• A) The cell membrane permeability increases for sodium during hypoxia
• B) ATP is insufficient to maintain the pump that keeps sodium out of the
cell
• C) The lactic acid produced binds with sodium in the cell
• D) Sodium cannot be transported to the cell membrane during hypoxia
Answer: B
Rationale: The Na⁺/K⁺ ATPase pump requires ATP to move sodium out of
the cell. During hypoxia, ATP depletion causes this pump to fail, allowing
sodium to accumulate intracellularly, which draws water in and causes
cellular swelling.
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2. What is the single most common cause of cellular injury?
• A) Chemical injury
• B) Infectious injury
• C) Hypoxic injury
• D) Genetic injury
Answer: C
Rationale: Hypoxia (oxygen deprivation) is the most frequent cause of
cellular injury. It can result from ischemia, anemia, or respiratory failure
and rapidly disrupts aerobic metabolism and ATP production.
3. What type of necrosis results from ischemia of neurons and glial cells
in the brain?
• A) Coagulative necrosis
• B) Liquefactive necrosis
• C) Caseous necrosis
• D) Gangrenous necrosis
Answer: B
Rationale: In the brain, ischemic injury leads to liquefactive necrosis,
where dead cells are digested by hydrolytic enzymes, forming a soft,
liquid mass. This contrasts with coagulative necrosis seen in most other
solid organs.
4. Which type of necrosis is classically associated with pulmonary
tuberculosis?
• A) Coagulative necrosis
• B) Liquefactive necrosis
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• C) Caseous necrosis
• D) Fat necrosis
Answer: C
Rationale: Caseous necrosis is a distinctive form of necrosis seen in
tuberculosis, characterized by a cheese-like, white appearance. It results
from granulomatous inflammation and contains both necrotic cells and
immune cells.
5. What is the most common site of lipid accumulation (fatty change) in
cells?
• A) Coronary arteries
• B) Kidneys
• C) Liver
• D) Subcutaneous tissue
Answer: C
Rationale: The liver is the primary site of fatty change because it is central
to lipid metabolism. Alcohol abuse, obesity, and toxins frequently cause
triglyceride accumulation in hepatocytes.
6. Which mechanisms occur in liver cells as a result of lipid accumulation
leading to fatty liver?
• A) Obstruction of the common bile duct
• B) Increased synthesis of triglycerides and decreased synthesis of
apoproteins
• C) Increased binding of lipids with apoproteins
• D) Increased conversion of fatty acids to phospholipids
Answer: B
Rationale: In fatty liver, there is both increased triglyceride synthesis and
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impaired export of lipoproteins due to decreased apoprotein production.
This imbalance causes fat droplets to accumulate within hepatocytes.
7. Removal of part of the liver leads to the remaining liver cells undergoing
compensatory:
• A) Atrophy
• B) Metaplasia
• C) Hyperplasia
• D) Dysplasia
Answer: C
Rationale: Compensatory hyperplasia allows remaining hepatocytes to
divide and restore liver mass. This is a physiologic, reversible adaptive
response to tissue loss.
8. The abnormal proliferation of cells in response to excessive hormonal
stimulation is called:
• A) Dysplasia
• B) Physiologic hyperplasia
• C) Hypertrophy
• D) Pathologic hyperplasia
Answer: D
Rationale: Pathologic hyperplasia results from abnormal hormonal
stimulation (e.g., endometrial hyperplasia from excess estrogen). While
often reversible, it can sometimes progress to dysplasia or neoplasia.
9. What is the cause of free calcium accumulation in the cytosol that
damages cell membranes?
NURS 8022 EXAM 1 – ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
(CELLULAR INJURY, INFLAMMATION, IMMUNITY, &
GENETICS) 2026/2027 COMPLETE (100) CURRENT
TESTING QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS WITH
DETAILED RATIONALES.
NURS
Prepare for the NURS 8022 Exam 1 – Advanced Pathophysiology (Cellular Injury,
Inflammation, Immunity, & Genetics) with a focused study resource designed to
reinforce foundational advanced pathophysiology concepts. It supports review of
cellular structure and injury, inflammation, immune responses, genetic mechanisms
and abnormalities, cellular adaptation, and related disease processes. Use the
material to strengthen clinical reasoning, connect pathophysiological mechanisms
with patient manifestations, and identify areas that may require additional review
before the examination. This resource is best suited for graduate-level nursing
students and NURS 8022 learners preparing for Exam 1 in Advanced Pathophysiology.
MULTIPLE CHOICE.
SECTION 1: CELLULAR INJURY, ADAPTATION, & NECROSIS
1. In hypoxic injury, sodium enters the cell and causes swelling because:
• A) The cell membrane permeability increases for sodium during hypoxia
• B) ATP is insufficient to maintain the pump that keeps sodium out of the
cell
• C) The lactic acid produced binds with sodium in the cell
• D) Sodium cannot be transported to the cell membrane during hypoxia
Answer: B
Rationale: The Na⁺/K⁺ ATPase pump requires ATP to move sodium out of
the cell. During hypoxia, ATP depletion causes this pump to fail, allowing
sodium to accumulate intracellularly, which draws water in and causes
cellular swelling.
, Page 2 of 44
2. What is the single most common cause of cellular injury?
• A) Chemical injury
• B) Infectious injury
• C) Hypoxic injury
• D) Genetic injury
Answer: C
Rationale: Hypoxia (oxygen deprivation) is the most frequent cause of
cellular injury. It can result from ischemia, anemia, or respiratory failure
and rapidly disrupts aerobic metabolism and ATP production.
3. What type of necrosis results from ischemia of neurons and glial cells
in the brain?
• A) Coagulative necrosis
• B) Liquefactive necrosis
• C) Caseous necrosis
• D) Gangrenous necrosis
Answer: B
Rationale: In the brain, ischemic injury leads to liquefactive necrosis,
where dead cells are digested by hydrolytic enzymes, forming a soft,
liquid mass. This contrasts with coagulative necrosis seen in most other
solid organs.
4. Which type of necrosis is classically associated with pulmonary
tuberculosis?
• A) Coagulative necrosis
• B) Liquefactive necrosis
, Page 3 of 44
• C) Caseous necrosis
• D) Fat necrosis
Answer: C
Rationale: Caseous necrosis is a distinctive form of necrosis seen in
tuberculosis, characterized by a cheese-like, white appearance. It results
from granulomatous inflammation and contains both necrotic cells and
immune cells.
5. What is the most common site of lipid accumulation (fatty change) in
cells?
• A) Coronary arteries
• B) Kidneys
• C) Liver
• D) Subcutaneous tissue
Answer: C
Rationale: The liver is the primary site of fatty change because it is central
to lipid metabolism. Alcohol abuse, obesity, and toxins frequently cause
triglyceride accumulation in hepatocytes.
6. Which mechanisms occur in liver cells as a result of lipid accumulation
leading to fatty liver?
• A) Obstruction of the common bile duct
• B) Increased synthesis of triglycerides and decreased synthesis of
apoproteins
• C) Increased binding of lipids with apoproteins
• D) Increased conversion of fatty acids to phospholipids
Answer: B
Rationale: In fatty liver, there is both increased triglyceride synthesis and
, Page 4 of 44
impaired export of lipoproteins due to decreased apoprotein production.
This imbalance causes fat droplets to accumulate within hepatocytes.
7. Removal of part of the liver leads to the remaining liver cells undergoing
compensatory:
• A) Atrophy
• B) Metaplasia
• C) Hyperplasia
• D) Dysplasia
Answer: C
Rationale: Compensatory hyperplasia allows remaining hepatocytes to
divide and restore liver mass. This is a physiologic, reversible adaptive
response to tissue loss.
8. The abnormal proliferation of cells in response to excessive hormonal
stimulation is called:
• A) Dysplasia
• B) Physiologic hyperplasia
• C) Hypertrophy
• D) Pathologic hyperplasia
Answer: D
Rationale: Pathologic hyperplasia results from abnormal hormonal
stimulation (e.g., endometrial hyperplasia from excess estrogen). While
often reversible, it can sometimes progress to dysplasia or neoplasia.
9. What is the cause of free calcium accumulation in the cytosol that
damages cell membranes?
