,NURS 6202 Midterm Exam Advanced Pathophysiology Questions
And Answers | 2026/2027 Capella University
Q1. A bronchial epithelial cell changes from one mature cell type to
another after chronic irritation from cigarette smoke. Which cellular
adaptation is occurring?
A) Hypertrophy
B) Hyperplasia
C) Metaplasia
D) Dysplasia
Correct Answer: C) Metaplasia
Rationale: Metaplasia is a reversible adaptation in which one mature cell type
is replaced by another better able to tolerate chronic stress.
Q2. Which cellular adaptation involves an increase in cell size rather
than cell number?
A) Hypertrophy
B) Hyperplasia
C) Metaplasia
D) Atrophy
Correct Answer: A) Hypertrophy
Rationale: Hypertrophy increases the size of individual cells and commonly
occurs when cells experience increased workload.
Q3. Which example best illustrates physiologic hypertrophy?
A) Left ventricular enlargement from chronic hypertension
B) Skeletal muscle enlargement after resistance training
C) Shrinkage of skeletal muscle after immobilization
D) Replacement of bronchial cells after smoking
Correct Answer: B) Skeletal muscle enlargement after resistance training
Rationale: Resistance exercise increases workload and produces enlargement
of existing skeletal muscle fibers.
Q4. Which cellular adaptation is characterized by an increase in the
number of cells?
A) Atrophy
B) Hyperplasia
, C) Metaplasia
D) Hypertrophy
Correct Answer: B) Hyperplasia
Rationale: Hyperplasia occurs when cellular proliferation increases the
number of cells in a tissue.
Q5. Which condition best represents pathologic hypertrophy?
A) Enlarged skeletal muscle after exercise
B) Increased uterine size during pregnancy
C) Left ventricular wall thickening from chronic hypertension
D) Increased breast tissue during puberty
Correct Answer: C) Left ventricular wall thickening from chronic hypertension
Rationale: Chronic pressure overload causes cardiac muscle cells to enlarge,
producing pathologic ventricular hypertrophy.
Q6. A patient has prolonged immobilization of one leg. Which
cellular adaptation is most likely to occur in the affected skeletal
muscle?
A) Hyperplasia
B) Hypertrophy
C) Atrophy
D) Metaplasia
Correct Answer: C) Atrophy
Rationale: Reduced workload and disuse cause cells and tissues to decrease
in size, producing atrophy.
**Q7. Which process represents programmed cellular death?
A) Necrosis
B) Apoptosis
C) Ischemia
D) Infarction
Correct Answer: B) Apoptosis
Rationale: Apoptosis is regulated programmed cell death that removes
damaged or unnecessary cells without the extensive inflammatory response
typical of necrosis.
And Answers | 2026/2027 Capella University
Q1. A bronchial epithelial cell changes from one mature cell type to
another after chronic irritation from cigarette smoke. Which cellular
adaptation is occurring?
A) Hypertrophy
B) Hyperplasia
C) Metaplasia
D) Dysplasia
Correct Answer: C) Metaplasia
Rationale: Metaplasia is a reversible adaptation in which one mature cell type
is replaced by another better able to tolerate chronic stress.
Q2. Which cellular adaptation involves an increase in cell size rather
than cell number?
A) Hypertrophy
B) Hyperplasia
C) Metaplasia
D) Atrophy
Correct Answer: A) Hypertrophy
Rationale: Hypertrophy increases the size of individual cells and commonly
occurs when cells experience increased workload.
Q3. Which example best illustrates physiologic hypertrophy?
A) Left ventricular enlargement from chronic hypertension
B) Skeletal muscle enlargement after resistance training
C) Shrinkage of skeletal muscle after immobilization
D) Replacement of bronchial cells after smoking
Correct Answer: B) Skeletal muscle enlargement after resistance training
Rationale: Resistance exercise increases workload and produces enlargement
of existing skeletal muscle fibers.
Q4. Which cellular adaptation is characterized by an increase in the
number of cells?
A) Atrophy
B) Hyperplasia
, C) Metaplasia
D) Hypertrophy
Correct Answer: B) Hyperplasia
Rationale: Hyperplasia occurs when cellular proliferation increases the
number of cells in a tissue.
Q5. Which condition best represents pathologic hypertrophy?
A) Enlarged skeletal muscle after exercise
B) Increased uterine size during pregnancy
C) Left ventricular wall thickening from chronic hypertension
D) Increased breast tissue during puberty
Correct Answer: C) Left ventricular wall thickening from chronic hypertension
Rationale: Chronic pressure overload causes cardiac muscle cells to enlarge,
producing pathologic ventricular hypertrophy.
Q6. A patient has prolonged immobilization of one leg. Which
cellular adaptation is most likely to occur in the affected skeletal
muscle?
A) Hyperplasia
B) Hypertrophy
C) Atrophy
D) Metaplasia
Correct Answer: C) Atrophy
Rationale: Reduced workload and disuse cause cells and tissues to decrease
in size, producing atrophy.
**Q7. Which process represents programmed cellular death?
A) Necrosis
B) Apoptosis
C) Ischemia
D) Infarction
Correct Answer: B) Apoptosis
Rationale: Apoptosis is regulated programmed cell death that removes
damaged or unnecessary cells without the extensive inflammatory response
typical of necrosis.
