NUR 631 Advanced Physiology and
Pathophysiology
Midterm and Final Exam Practice Questions
with Rationales
Grand Canyon University | 2026/2027
Academic Year
VERSION 1: MIDTERM EXAM
Section 1: Cellular Biology & Pathophysiology (Questions 1-20)
Question 1
Which of the following is an example of compensatory hyperplasia?
A. Cardiac muscle growth in hypertension
B. Liver regeneration after partial resection
C. Tumor growth in the lung
D. Skeletal muscle hypertrophy after exercise
Answer: B. Liver regeneration after partial resection
Rationale: Compensatory hyperplasia occurs when a tissue increases cell number
after partial organ loss. The liver can regenerate even after removal of up to 70% of
its mass, typically within 2 weeks. This adaptive mechanism enables certain organs
to regenerate and occurs in epidermal and intestinal epithelia, hepatocytes, bone
marrow, and fibroblasts .
Question 2
Which cellular change is most likely reversible if the stimulus is removed?
,A. Necrosis
B. Dysplasia
C. Apoptosis
D. Gangrene
Answer: B. Dysplasia
Rationale: Dysplasia is characterized by abnormal cell growth and can be reversed
if the causative stimulus is removed. Necrosis and gangrene represent irreversible
cell death, while apoptosis is programmed cell death that is typically not
reversible .
Question 3
Caseous necrosis is most commonly associated with which condition?
A. Fatty liver disease
B. Pulmonary tuberculosis
C. Myocardial infarction
D. Pancreatitis
Answer: B. Pulmonary tuberculosis
Rationale: Caseous necrosis is a form of cell death where tissue resembles cheese
(from the Latin "caseous" meaning cheese-like) and is characteristically found in
tuberculosis infections. This type of necrosis is associated with granulomatous
inflammation .
Question 4
Which type of cell death is programmed and controlled to maintain tissue
homeostasis?
A. Necrosis
B. Apoptosis
C. Coagulative necrosis
D. Liquefactive necrosis
Answer: B. Apoptosis
,Rationale: Apoptosis is an organized, programmed process of cell death that
maintains tissue homeostasis. Unlike necrosis, which is unplanned and causes
inflammation, apoptosis involves cellular shrinkage, chromatin condensation, and
phagocytosis without triggering an inflammatory response .
Question 5
What characteristic distinguishes malignant tumors from benign tumors?
A. Well-defined capsule
B. Slow growth rate
C. Ability to metastasize
D. Well-differentiated cells
Answer: C. Ability to metastasize
Rationale: The most deadly characteristic of malignant tumors is their ability to
spread far beyond the tissue of origin through metastasis. Benign tumors are
usually encapsulated, well-differentiated, grow slowly, and do not metastasize.
Malignant tumors lack encapsulation, invade local structures, and can spread
distantly through blood vessels and lymphatics .
Question 6
Anaplasia refers to which cellular change?
A. Well-differentiated cells resembling tissue of origin
B. Loss of cellular differentiation and absence of normal tissue organization
C. Increased number of cells due to hormonal stimulation
D. Replacement of one cell type with another
Answer: B. Loss of cellular differentiation and absence of normal tissue
organization
Rationale: Anaplasia is a hallmark of malignancy characterized by loss of cellular
differentiation, irregularities in the size and shape of the nucleus, and loss of
normal tissue structure. Unlike benign tumors that retain differentiation, malignant
cells show varying degrees of anaplasia .
, Question 7 k
Which statement about benign tumors is correct?
k k k k k k
A. They always progress to cancer
k k k k
B. They are named with the suffix "-sarcoma"
k k k k k k
C. They are usually encapsulated and well-differentiated
k k k k k
D. They have a high mitotic index
k k k k k
Answer: C. They are usually encapsulated and well-differentiated
k k k k k k k
Rationale: Benign tumors are generally encapsulated and well-differentiated. They
k k k k k k k k
retain some normal tissue structure and do not invade surrounding tissues or spread to
k k k k k k k k k k k k k k
regional lymph nodes. They are typically named according to tissues from which they
k k k k k k k k k k k k k
arise and include the suffix "-oma" .
k k k k k k k
Question 8 k
What is the recurrence risk for offspring when both parents are carriers of an
k k k k k k k k k k k k k
autosomal recessive disease?
k k k
A. 0%
B. 25%
C. 50%
D. 75%
Answer: B. 25% k k
Rationale: For autosomal recessive disorders, individuals must be homozygous for a
k k k k k k k k k k
recessive allele to express the disease. When both parents are carriers, the recurrence
k k k k k k k k k k k k k
risk for each offspring is 25%. Cystic fibrosis is a common example of an autosomal
k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k
recessive disorder .
k k k
Question 9 k
Klinefelter syndrome is characterized by which chromosomal abnormality?
k k k k k k k
Pathophysiology
Midterm and Final Exam Practice Questions
with Rationales
Grand Canyon University | 2026/2027
Academic Year
VERSION 1: MIDTERM EXAM
Section 1: Cellular Biology & Pathophysiology (Questions 1-20)
Question 1
Which of the following is an example of compensatory hyperplasia?
A. Cardiac muscle growth in hypertension
B. Liver regeneration after partial resection
C. Tumor growth in the lung
D. Skeletal muscle hypertrophy after exercise
Answer: B. Liver regeneration after partial resection
Rationale: Compensatory hyperplasia occurs when a tissue increases cell number
after partial organ loss. The liver can regenerate even after removal of up to 70% of
its mass, typically within 2 weeks. This adaptive mechanism enables certain organs
to regenerate and occurs in epidermal and intestinal epithelia, hepatocytes, bone
marrow, and fibroblasts .
Question 2
Which cellular change is most likely reversible if the stimulus is removed?
,A. Necrosis
B. Dysplasia
C. Apoptosis
D. Gangrene
Answer: B. Dysplasia
Rationale: Dysplasia is characterized by abnormal cell growth and can be reversed
if the causative stimulus is removed. Necrosis and gangrene represent irreversible
cell death, while apoptosis is programmed cell death that is typically not
reversible .
Question 3
Caseous necrosis is most commonly associated with which condition?
A. Fatty liver disease
B. Pulmonary tuberculosis
C. Myocardial infarction
D. Pancreatitis
Answer: B. Pulmonary tuberculosis
Rationale: Caseous necrosis is a form of cell death where tissue resembles cheese
(from the Latin "caseous" meaning cheese-like) and is characteristically found in
tuberculosis infections. This type of necrosis is associated with granulomatous
inflammation .
Question 4
Which type of cell death is programmed and controlled to maintain tissue
homeostasis?
A. Necrosis
B. Apoptosis
C. Coagulative necrosis
D. Liquefactive necrosis
Answer: B. Apoptosis
,Rationale: Apoptosis is an organized, programmed process of cell death that
maintains tissue homeostasis. Unlike necrosis, which is unplanned and causes
inflammation, apoptosis involves cellular shrinkage, chromatin condensation, and
phagocytosis without triggering an inflammatory response .
Question 5
What characteristic distinguishes malignant tumors from benign tumors?
A. Well-defined capsule
B. Slow growth rate
C. Ability to metastasize
D. Well-differentiated cells
Answer: C. Ability to metastasize
Rationale: The most deadly characteristic of malignant tumors is their ability to
spread far beyond the tissue of origin through metastasis. Benign tumors are
usually encapsulated, well-differentiated, grow slowly, and do not metastasize.
Malignant tumors lack encapsulation, invade local structures, and can spread
distantly through blood vessels and lymphatics .
Question 6
Anaplasia refers to which cellular change?
A. Well-differentiated cells resembling tissue of origin
B. Loss of cellular differentiation and absence of normal tissue organization
C. Increased number of cells due to hormonal stimulation
D. Replacement of one cell type with another
Answer: B. Loss of cellular differentiation and absence of normal tissue
organization
Rationale: Anaplasia is a hallmark of malignancy characterized by loss of cellular
differentiation, irregularities in the size and shape of the nucleus, and loss of
normal tissue structure. Unlike benign tumors that retain differentiation, malignant
cells show varying degrees of anaplasia .
, Question 7 k
Which statement about benign tumors is correct?
k k k k k k
A. They always progress to cancer
k k k k
B. They are named with the suffix "-sarcoma"
k k k k k k
C. They are usually encapsulated and well-differentiated
k k k k k
D. They have a high mitotic index
k k k k k
Answer: C. They are usually encapsulated and well-differentiated
k k k k k k k
Rationale: Benign tumors are generally encapsulated and well-differentiated. They
k k k k k k k k
retain some normal tissue structure and do not invade surrounding tissues or spread to
k k k k k k k k k k k k k k
regional lymph nodes. They are typically named according to tissues from which they
k k k k k k k k k k k k k
arise and include the suffix "-oma" .
k k k k k k k
Question 8 k
What is the recurrence risk for offspring when both parents are carriers of an
k k k k k k k k k k k k k
autosomal recessive disease?
k k k
A. 0%
B. 25%
C. 50%
D. 75%
Answer: B. 25% k k
Rationale: For autosomal recessive disorders, individuals must be homozygous for a
k k k k k k k k k k
recessive allele to express the disease. When both parents are carriers, the recurrence
k k k k k k k k k k k k k
risk for each offspring is 25%. Cystic fibrosis is a common example of an autosomal
k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k
recessive disorder .
k k k
Question 9 k
Klinefelter syndrome is characterized by which chromosomal abnormality?
k k k k k k k
