NUR 5461 Advanced Pathophysiology Module 1
Quiz William Paterson University Actual Exam
2026/2027 | Complete Exam-Style Questions with
Detailed Rationales | Pass Guaranteed – A+ Graded
Section 1: Cellular Adaptation (Q1–Q6)
Q1. Which cellular adaptation is defined as an increase in the size of individual cells in
response to increased workload?
A. Hyperplasia
B. Hypertrophy [CORRECT]
C. Metaplasia
D. Dysplasia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because hypertrophy is an increase in cell size, classically occurring
in cardiac and skeletal muscle responding to increased workload. This matches NUR
5461 Module 1 content on cellular adaptation.
Q2. An echocardiogram of a patient with long-standing, uncontrolled hypertension
reveals thickening of the left ventricular wall. Which cellular adaptation is responsible
for this finding?
A. Hyperplasia of myocardial cells
B. Hypertrophy of myocardial cells [CORRECT]
C. Metaplasia of myocardial cells
D. Atrophy of myocardial cells
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size; cardiac muscle responds to the
increased workload imposed by chronic hypertension by enlarging individual myocardial
cells, producing ventricular wall thickening.
Q3. A 54-year-old man with a 15-year history of gastroesophageal reflux disease
undergoes endoscopy. Biopsy of the distal esophagus demonstrates replacement of the
normal squamous epithelium with columnar epithelium. Which cellular adaptation has
occurred?
, A. Metaplasia [CORRECT]
B. Dysplasia
C. Hyperplasia
D. Atrophy
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one differentiated cell type by
another cell type better able to withstand the injurious stimulus, as in Barrett's
esophagus resulting from chronic GERD.
Q4. A patient's right lower extremity is immobilized in a cast for six weeks following a
tibial fracture. When the cast is removed, the calf demonstrates a measurable decrease
in muscle mass. This change is best explained by:
A. Atrophy from disuse [CORRECT]
B. Hyperplasia from disuse
C. Metaplasia from pressure
D. Dysplasia from ischemia
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Atrophy is a decrease in cell size occurring in response to disuse,
denervation, ischemia, malnutrition, or aging; immobilization of skeletal muscle is a
classic cause.
Q5. A 68-year-old man presents with urinary hesitancy and dribbling. Examination
reveals a prostate gland enlarged by an increased number of epithelial cells stimulated
by dihydrotestosterone. This change represents:
A. Hypertrophy
B. Metaplasia
C. Hyperplasia [CORRECT]
D. Dysplasia
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Hyperplasia is an increase in the number of cells driven by hormonal
stimulation, as seen in benign prostatic hyperplasia and endometrial hyperplasia.
Q6. Which statement most accurately differentiates dysplasia from the other cellular
adaptations?
A. Dysplasia is a physiologic, fully reversible increase in cell number
B. Dysplasia is disordered cellular growth that is not a true adaptive change and is a
precursor to malignancy [CORRECT]
C. Dysplasia is the reversible replacement of one differentiated cell type with another
D. Dysplasia is an increase in cell size in response to increased workload
Correct Answer: B
Quiz William Paterson University Actual Exam
2026/2027 | Complete Exam-Style Questions with
Detailed Rationales | Pass Guaranteed – A+ Graded
Section 1: Cellular Adaptation (Q1–Q6)
Q1. Which cellular adaptation is defined as an increase in the size of individual cells in
response to increased workload?
A. Hyperplasia
B. Hypertrophy [CORRECT]
C. Metaplasia
D. Dysplasia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because hypertrophy is an increase in cell size, classically occurring
in cardiac and skeletal muscle responding to increased workload. This matches NUR
5461 Module 1 content on cellular adaptation.
Q2. An echocardiogram of a patient with long-standing, uncontrolled hypertension
reveals thickening of the left ventricular wall. Which cellular adaptation is responsible
for this finding?
A. Hyperplasia of myocardial cells
B. Hypertrophy of myocardial cells [CORRECT]
C. Metaplasia of myocardial cells
D. Atrophy of myocardial cells
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size; cardiac muscle responds to the
increased workload imposed by chronic hypertension by enlarging individual myocardial
cells, producing ventricular wall thickening.
Q3. A 54-year-old man with a 15-year history of gastroesophageal reflux disease
undergoes endoscopy. Biopsy of the distal esophagus demonstrates replacement of the
normal squamous epithelium with columnar epithelium. Which cellular adaptation has
occurred?
, A. Metaplasia [CORRECT]
B. Dysplasia
C. Hyperplasia
D. Atrophy
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one differentiated cell type by
another cell type better able to withstand the injurious stimulus, as in Barrett's
esophagus resulting from chronic GERD.
Q4. A patient's right lower extremity is immobilized in a cast for six weeks following a
tibial fracture. When the cast is removed, the calf demonstrates a measurable decrease
in muscle mass. This change is best explained by:
A. Atrophy from disuse [CORRECT]
B. Hyperplasia from disuse
C. Metaplasia from pressure
D. Dysplasia from ischemia
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Atrophy is a decrease in cell size occurring in response to disuse,
denervation, ischemia, malnutrition, or aging; immobilization of skeletal muscle is a
classic cause.
Q5. A 68-year-old man presents with urinary hesitancy and dribbling. Examination
reveals a prostate gland enlarged by an increased number of epithelial cells stimulated
by dihydrotestosterone. This change represents:
A. Hypertrophy
B. Metaplasia
C. Hyperplasia [CORRECT]
D. Dysplasia
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Hyperplasia is an increase in the number of cells driven by hormonal
stimulation, as seen in benign prostatic hyperplasia and endometrial hyperplasia.
Q6. Which statement most accurately differentiates dysplasia from the other cellular
adaptations?
A. Dysplasia is a physiologic, fully reversible increase in cell number
B. Dysplasia is disordered cellular growth that is not a true adaptive change and is a
precursor to malignancy [CORRECT]
C. Dysplasia is the reversible replacement of one differentiated cell type with another
D. Dysplasia is an increase in cell size in response to increased workload
Correct Answer: B
