NURS 301
Exam 1: Cellular Injury & Immunity
Pathophysiology Practice Examination
100 Questions with Answers and Rationales
,1. A patient develops cellular swelling after oxygen deprivation. What is the primary
cause of this change?
A. Failure of ATP-dependent sodium-potassium pumps
B. Increased antibody production
C. Excessive collagen formation
D. Activation of tumor cells
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: ATP depletion causes failure of membrane pumps, allowing sodium and
water accumulation inside cells.
2. Which finding is characteristic of irreversible cellular injury?
A. Loss of membrane integrity and nuclear destruction
B. Temporary cellular swelling
C. Mild fatty change
D. Increased cellular adaptation
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Irreversible injury results in permanent damage including membrane
disruption and nuclear breakdown.
3. A patient experiences increased cell size in response to increased workload. This
adaptation is called:
A. Hypertrophy
B. Hyperplasia
C. Metaplasia
D. Atrophy
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Hypertrophy is enlargement of existing cells due to increased functional
demand.
4. Which process involves replacement of one mature cell type with another mature
cell type?
A. Metaplasia
B. Necrosis
C. Apoptosis
,D. Dysplasia
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Metaplasia is a reversible adaptive change where one differentiated cell type
changes into another.
5. Which cellular adaptation occurs when cells decrease in size due to reduced
stimulation?
A. Atrophy
B. Hypertrophy
C. Hyperplasia
D. Anaplasia
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Atrophy occurs when cells shrink because of decreased workload, nutrition,
or hormonal stimulation.
6. Which statement best describes necrosis?
A. Uncontrolled cell death associated with inflammation
B. Normal programmed cell removal
C. A protective immune response only
D. A temporary cellular adaptation
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Necrosis causes cell membrane breakdown and inflammation because cellular
contents leak into surrounding tissue.
7. Apoptosis differs from necrosis because apoptosis:
A. Is a controlled programmed process
B. Always causes severe inflammation
C. Only occurs during infection
D. Cannot occur in normal tissues
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Apoptosis is regulated cell death that removes damaged cells while limiting
inflammation.
, 8. Free radicals contribute to cellular injury by causing:
A. Oxidative damage to cellular structures
B. Increased ATP production
C. Improved DNA repair
D. Reduced inflammation
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Reactive oxygen species damage lipids, proteins, and DNA.
9. Which organelle is most directly responsible for ATP production?
A. Mitochondria
B. Ribosomes
C. Lysosomes
D. Golgi apparatus
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Mitochondria produce ATP through oxidative phosphorylation.
10. A nurse explains inflammation to a student. Which statement is correct?
A. Inflammation is a protective response to injury or infection
B. Inflammation always indicates autoimmune disease
C. Inflammation prevents immune activity
D. Inflammation only occurs with trauma
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Inflammation protects tissues by removing harmful stimuli and initiating
repair.
11. A patient is experiencing changes related to acute inflammation. Which
pathophysiology concept best explains this finding?
A. Understanding the mechanism involved in acute inflammation helps explain the
clinical manifestation
B. The process occurs because all cells respond identically to every stressor
Exam 1: Cellular Injury & Immunity
Pathophysiology Practice Examination
100 Questions with Answers and Rationales
,1. A patient develops cellular swelling after oxygen deprivation. What is the primary
cause of this change?
A. Failure of ATP-dependent sodium-potassium pumps
B. Increased antibody production
C. Excessive collagen formation
D. Activation of tumor cells
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: ATP depletion causes failure of membrane pumps, allowing sodium and
water accumulation inside cells.
2. Which finding is characteristic of irreversible cellular injury?
A. Loss of membrane integrity and nuclear destruction
B. Temporary cellular swelling
C. Mild fatty change
D. Increased cellular adaptation
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Irreversible injury results in permanent damage including membrane
disruption and nuclear breakdown.
3. A patient experiences increased cell size in response to increased workload. This
adaptation is called:
A. Hypertrophy
B. Hyperplasia
C. Metaplasia
D. Atrophy
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Hypertrophy is enlargement of existing cells due to increased functional
demand.
4. Which process involves replacement of one mature cell type with another mature
cell type?
A. Metaplasia
B. Necrosis
C. Apoptosis
,D. Dysplasia
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Metaplasia is a reversible adaptive change where one differentiated cell type
changes into another.
5. Which cellular adaptation occurs when cells decrease in size due to reduced
stimulation?
A. Atrophy
B. Hypertrophy
C. Hyperplasia
D. Anaplasia
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Atrophy occurs when cells shrink because of decreased workload, nutrition,
or hormonal stimulation.
6. Which statement best describes necrosis?
A. Uncontrolled cell death associated with inflammation
B. Normal programmed cell removal
C. A protective immune response only
D. A temporary cellular adaptation
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Necrosis causes cell membrane breakdown and inflammation because cellular
contents leak into surrounding tissue.
7. Apoptosis differs from necrosis because apoptosis:
A. Is a controlled programmed process
B. Always causes severe inflammation
C. Only occurs during infection
D. Cannot occur in normal tissues
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Apoptosis is regulated cell death that removes damaged cells while limiting
inflammation.
, 8. Free radicals contribute to cellular injury by causing:
A. Oxidative damage to cellular structures
B. Increased ATP production
C. Improved DNA repair
D. Reduced inflammation
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Reactive oxygen species damage lipids, proteins, and DNA.
9. Which organelle is most directly responsible for ATP production?
A. Mitochondria
B. Ribosomes
C. Lysosomes
D. Golgi apparatus
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Mitochondria produce ATP through oxidative phosphorylation.
10. A nurse explains inflammation to a student. Which statement is correct?
A. Inflammation is a protective response to injury or infection
B. Inflammation always indicates autoimmune disease
C. Inflammation prevents immune activity
D. Inflammation only occurs with trauma
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Inflammation protects tissues by removing harmful stimuli and initiating
repair.
11. A patient is experiencing changes related to acute inflammation. Which
pathophysiology concept best explains this finding?
A. Understanding the mechanism involved in acute inflammation helps explain the
clinical manifestation
B. The process occurs because all cells respond identically to every stressor
