NURS 6501 Advanced Pathophysiology
Exam V1 2026/2027 – Questions &
Answers with Rationales
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section 1: Cellular Adaptation, Injury & Death
Section 2: Inflammation, Immunity & Tissue Repair
Section 3: Genetics, Molecular Biology & Neoplasia
Section 4: Fluid, Electrolyte & Acid–Base Disorders
Section 5: Hematologic & Cardiovascular Pathophysiology
Section 6: Respiratory Pathophysiology
Section 7: Renal & Urinary Pathophysiology
Section 8: Endocrine, Metabolic & Integrated Pathophysiology
SECTION 1 — CELLULAR ADAPTATION, INJURY & DEATH
Question 1
Which concept describes the ability of the body to maintain a relatively stable
internal environment?
A. Adaptation
B. Homeostasis
C. Hypertrophy
D. Apoptosis
Answer: B. Homeostasis
Rationale: Homeostasis refers to maintenance of a relatively stable internal
environment despite external or internal changes. Physiologic systems
continuously monitor and adjust variables such as temperature, blood pressure,
glucose, and pH.
,Question 2
Which component of a feedback system detects a change in a physiologic
variable?
A. Effector
B. Receptor
C. Control center
D. Target organ
Answer: B. Receptor
Rationale: Receptors detect changes in the internal or external environment.
They send information to a control center, which determines an appropriate
response through an effector.
Question 3
Which type of feedback counteracts an initial disturbance and restores a variable
toward its normal range?
A. Positive feedback
B. Negative feedback
C. Feed-forward amplification
D. Pathologic feedback
Answer: B. Negative feedback
Rationale: Negative feedback opposes the original change. Regulation of body
temperature, blood glucose, and blood pressure are examples.
Question 4
Which physiologic process represents positive feedback?
A. Insulin lowering blood glucose
B. Sweating during hyperthermia
,C. Oxytocin intensifying uterine contractions
D. ADH decreasing urine output
Answer: C. Oxytocin intensifying uterine contractions
Rationale: Positive feedback amplifies the original stimulus. During labor, cervical
stretching stimulates oxytocin release, which increases uterine contractions and
further cervical stretching.
Question 5
A patient with chronic hypertension develops enlargement of the left ventricular
myocardium. Which adaptation has occurred?
A. Hyperplasia
B. Hypertrophy
C. Metaplasia
D. Atrophy
Answer: B. Hypertrophy
Rationale: Cardiac myocytes respond to chronic increased workload primarily by
increasing cell size. This produces myocardial hypertrophy.
Question 6
Which adaptation involves an increase in the number of cells?
A. Atrophy
B. Hypertrophy
C. Hyperplasia
D. Metaplasia
Answer: C. Hyperplasia
Rationale: Hyperplasia occurs when cellular proliferation increases the number of
cells in a tissue. It can be physiologic or pathologic.
, Question 7
A patient has significant muscle wasting after prolonged immobilization. Which
cellular adaptation explains this finding?
A. Hypertrophy
B. Atrophy
C. Hyperplasia
D. Metaplasia
Answer: B. Atrophy
Rationale: Atrophy is a reduction in cell size and sometimes tissue mass. Disuse,
inadequate nutrition, reduced blood supply, and loss of hormonal stimulation can
cause atrophy.
Question 8
Chronic gastroesophageal reflux causes replacement of normal esophageal
squamous epithelium with columnar epithelium. This is:
A. Dysplasia
B. Metaplasia
C. Hyperplasia
D. Hypertrophy
Answer: B. Metaplasia
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one differentiated cell type
by another better suited to tolerate chronic stress. Barrett esophagus is a classic
example.
Question 9
Which cellular process is characterized by abnormal cellular maturation, size,
shape, and organization?
A. Dysplasia
B. Hypertrophy
Exam V1 2026/2027 – Questions &
Answers with Rationales
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section 1: Cellular Adaptation, Injury & Death
Section 2: Inflammation, Immunity & Tissue Repair
Section 3: Genetics, Molecular Biology & Neoplasia
Section 4: Fluid, Electrolyte & Acid–Base Disorders
Section 5: Hematologic & Cardiovascular Pathophysiology
Section 6: Respiratory Pathophysiology
Section 7: Renal & Urinary Pathophysiology
Section 8: Endocrine, Metabolic & Integrated Pathophysiology
SECTION 1 — CELLULAR ADAPTATION, INJURY & DEATH
Question 1
Which concept describes the ability of the body to maintain a relatively stable
internal environment?
A. Adaptation
B. Homeostasis
C. Hypertrophy
D. Apoptosis
Answer: B. Homeostasis
Rationale: Homeostasis refers to maintenance of a relatively stable internal
environment despite external or internal changes. Physiologic systems
continuously monitor and adjust variables such as temperature, blood pressure,
glucose, and pH.
,Question 2
Which component of a feedback system detects a change in a physiologic
variable?
A. Effector
B. Receptor
C. Control center
D. Target organ
Answer: B. Receptor
Rationale: Receptors detect changes in the internal or external environment.
They send information to a control center, which determines an appropriate
response through an effector.
Question 3
Which type of feedback counteracts an initial disturbance and restores a variable
toward its normal range?
A. Positive feedback
B. Negative feedback
C. Feed-forward amplification
D. Pathologic feedback
Answer: B. Negative feedback
Rationale: Negative feedback opposes the original change. Regulation of body
temperature, blood glucose, and blood pressure are examples.
Question 4
Which physiologic process represents positive feedback?
A. Insulin lowering blood glucose
B. Sweating during hyperthermia
,C. Oxytocin intensifying uterine contractions
D. ADH decreasing urine output
Answer: C. Oxytocin intensifying uterine contractions
Rationale: Positive feedback amplifies the original stimulus. During labor, cervical
stretching stimulates oxytocin release, which increases uterine contractions and
further cervical stretching.
Question 5
A patient with chronic hypertension develops enlargement of the left ventricular
myocardium. Which adaptation has occurred?
A. Hyperplasia
B. Hypertrophy
C. Metaplasia
D. Atrophy
Answer: B. Hypertrophy
Rationale: Cardiac myocytes respond to chronic increased workload primarily by
increasing cell size. This produces myocardial hypertrophy.
Question 6
Which adaptation involves an increase in the number of cells?
A. Atrophy
B. Hypertrophy
C. Hyperplasia
D. Metaplasia
Answer: C. Hyperplasia
Rationale: Hyperplasia occurs when cellular proliferation increases the number of
cells in a tissue. It can be physiologic or pathologic.
, Question 7
A patient has significant muscle wasting after prolonged immobilization. Which
cellular adaptation explains this finding?
A. Hypertrophy
B. Atrophy
C. Hyperplasia
D. Metaplasia
Answer: B. Atrophy
Rationale: Atrophy is a reduction in cell size and sometimes tissue mass. Disuse,
inadequate nutrition, reduced blood supply, and loss of hormonal stimulation can
cause atrophy.
Question 8
Chronic gastroesophageal reflux causes replacement of normal esophageal
squamous epithelium with columnar epithelium. This is:
A. Dysplasia
B. Metaplasia
C. Hyperplasia
D. Hypertrophy
Answer: B. Metaplasia
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one differentiated cell type
by another better suited to tolerate chronic stress. Barrett esophagus is a classic
example.
Question 9
Which cellular process is characterized by abnormal cellular maturation, size,
shape, and organization?
A. Dysplasia
B. Hypertrophy
