NURS 6501 ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
PRACTICE EXAMINATION PREMIUM
QUESTIONS 2026\2027 COMPLETE APPROVED
EXAM,STUDY GUIDE |EXAM TYPE QUESTIONS
AND ANSWEWRS WITH RATIONALES #
CURRENTLY UPDATED | ACTUAL NURS 6501
FINAL EXAM REVIEW
SECTION 1: CELLULAR AND GENETIC PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
1. A cell is exposed to a stressor and undergoes a change in which
one adult cell type is replaced by another adult cell type. This
adaptive change is known as:
A. Hyperplasia
B. Metaplasia
C. Metaplasia
D. Dysplasia
*Rationale: Metaplasia is a reversible change in which one adult cell
type (epithelial or mesenchymal) is replaced by another adult cell
type. It is often an adaptive response to chronic irritation. Hyperplasia
,is an increase in the number of cells. Dysplasia refers to disordered
growth and is a precursor to malignancy. *
2. Which of the following is the most common cause of cellular
injury leading to ATP depletion?
A. Free radical injury
B. Hypoxia
C. Hypoxia
D. Infectious agents
*Rationale: Hypoxia, or a lack of oxygen, is the most common and
significant cause of cell injury and necrosis. Without oxygen, oxidative
phosphorylation ceases, leading to a rapid depletion of ATP and
failure of the sodium-potassium pump. *
3. A patient with a genetic disorder is found to have a mutation that
results in the substitution of a single amino acid in a protein,
leading to altered function. This type of mutation is a:
A. Frameshift mutation
B. Nonsense mutation
C. Missense mutation
D. Silent mutation
*Rationale: A missense mutation is a point mutation where a single
nucleotide change results in a codon that codes for a different amino
,acid. This can alter protein function. A nonsense mutation creates a
stop codon. A silent mutation codes for the same amino acid. *
4. A newborn is diagnosed with Down syndrome. The most common
chromosomal abnormality responsible for this condition is:
A. Monosomy of chromosome 21
B. Trisomy of chromosome 21
C. Trisomy of chromosome 21
D. Deletion of chromosome 21
*Rationale: Down syndrome (Trisomy 21) is most commonly caused
by nondisjunction during meiosis, resulting in an extra copy of
chromosome 21. Monosomy 21 is not compatible with life. *
5. In a patient with an autosomal dominant disorder, what is the
probability that an affected heterozygous parent will pass the trait
to their offspring?
A. 25%
B. 50%
C. 50%
D. 100%
*Rationale: For an autosomal dominant trait, an affected
heterozygous parent (Aa) has a 50% chance of passing the affected
, allele (A) to each child, regardless of the child's sex. The unaffected
parent (aa) contributes a normal allele. *
6. Which cellular adaptation is characterized by an increase in the
size of cells, leading to an increase in the size of the organ?
A. Hyperplasia
B. Atrophy
C. Hypertrophy
D. Metaplasia
*Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in the size of cells, which
results in an increase in the size of the organ. It is common in tissues
that cannot divide, such as cardiac and skeletal muscle. Hyperplasia is
an increase in cell number. *
7. The process by which a normal cell undergoes genetic changes
that lead to uncontrolled proliferation and the ability to invade
other tissues is called:
A. Apoptosis
B. Necrosis
C. Malignant transformation
D. Dysplasia
*Rationale: Malignant transformation is the process by which a
normal cell acquires the characteristics of a cancer cell, including
PRACTICE EXAMINATION PREMIUM
QUESTIONS 2026\2027 COMPLETE APPROVED
EXAM,STUDY GUIDE |EXAM TYPE QUESTIONS
AND ANSWEWRS WITH RATIONALES #
CURRENTLY UPDATED | ACTUAL NURS 6501
FINAL EXAM REVIEW
SECTION 1: CELLULAR AND GENETIC PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
1. A cell is exposed to a stressor and undergoes a change in which
one adult cell type is replaced by another adult cell type. This
adaptive change is known as:
A. Hyperplasia
B. Metaplasia
C. Metaplasia
D. Dysplasia
*Rationale: Metaplasia is a reversible change in which one adult cell
type (epithelial or mesenchymal) is replaced by another adult cell
type. It is often an adaptive response to chronic irritation. Hyperplasia
,is an increase in the number of cells. Dysplasia refers to disordered
growth and is a precursor to malignancy. *
2. Which of the following is the most common cause of cellular
injury leading to ATP depletion?
A. Free radical injury
B. Hypoxia
C. Hypoxia
D. Infectious agents
*Rationale: Hypoxia, or a lack of oxygen, is the most common and
significant cause of cell injury and necrosis. Without oxygen, oxidative
phosphorylation ceases, leading to a rapid depletion of ATP and
failure of the sodium-potassium pump. *
3. A patient with a genetic disorder is found to have a mutation that
results in the substitution of a single amino acid in a protein,
leading to altered function. This type of mutation is a:
A. Frameshift mutation
B. Nonsense mutation
C. Missense mutation
D. Silent mutation
*Rationale: A missense mutation is a point mutation where a single
nucleotide change results in a codon that codes for a different amino
,acid. This can alter protein function. A nonsense mutation creates a
stop codon. A silent mutation codes for the same amino acid. *
4. A newborn is diagnosed with Down syndrome. The most common
chromosomal abnormality responsible for this condition is:
A. Monosomy of chromosome 21
B. Trisomy of chromosome 21
C. Trisomy of chromosome 21
D. Deletion of chromosome 21
*Rationale: Down syndrome (Trisomy 21) is most commonly caused
by nondisjunction during meiosis, resulting in an extra copy of
chromosome 21. Monosomy 21 is not compatible with life. *
5. In a patient with an autosomal dominant disorder, what is the
probability that an affected heterozygous parent will pass the trait
to their offspring?
A. 25%
B. 50%
C. 50%
D. 100%
*Rationale: For an autosomal dominant trait, an affected
heterozygous parent (Aa) has a 50% chance of passing the affected
, allele (A) to each child, regardless of the child's sex. The unaffected
parent (aa) contributes a normal allele. *
6. Which cellular adaptation is characterized by an increase in the
size of cells, leading to an increase in the size of the organ?
A. Hyperplasia
B. Atrophy
C. Hypertrophy
D. Metaplasia
*Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in the size of cells, which
results in an increase in the size of the organ. It is common in tissues
that cannot divide, such as cardiac and skeletal muscle. Hyperplasia is
an increase in cell number. *
7. The process by which a normal cell undergoes genetic changes
that lead to uncontrolled proliferation and the ability to invade
other tissues is called:
A. Apoptosis
B. Necrosis
C. Malignant transformation
D. Dysplasia
*Rationale: Malignant transformation is the process by which a
normal cell acquires the characteristics of a cancer cell, including
