NSG 500: ADVANCED PHYSIOLOGY
AND PATHOPHYSIOLOGY FINAL EXAM
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS
|GRADE A+| JUST RELEASED
1. Which cellular adaptation is characterized by a decrease in cell size due to a loss of
subcellular components, often seen in skeletal muscle during prolonged immobilization?
A. Hyperplasia
B. Metaplasia
C. Atrophy
D. Dysplasia
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Atrophy is a decrease in cellular size. If it occurs in a sufficient
number of an organ’s cells, the entire organ shrinks. This often occurs from disuse,
denervation, or ischemia.
2. A 55-year-old male with a history of smoking presents with a change in his bronchial
epithelium from ciliated columnar cells to stratified squamous cells. What is this process
called?
A. Dysplasia
,B. Hyperplasia
C. Anaplasia
D. Metaplasia
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one mature cell type
by another, less differentiated cell type, often as an adaptation to chronic irritation.
3. Which mechanism of cell death is an active, highly regulated process characterized by cell
shrinkage, DNA fragmentation, and the absence of an inflammatory response?
A. Apoptosis
B. Autophagy
C. Necrosis
D. Pyoptosis
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: Apoptosis is programmed cell death, distinct from necrosis in
that it is orderly and does not typically trigger inflammation because the cell membrane
remains intact until phagocytosed.
4. In the context of fluid shifts, which pressure is primarily responsible for pulling water into
the capillaries from the interstitial space?
A. Capillary hydrostatic pressure
, B. Plasma oncotic pressure
C. Interstitial hydrostatic pressure
D. Interstitial oncotic pressure
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Plasma oncotic (colloid osmotic) pressure is exerted by proteins
(primarily albumin) in the blood, which attracts water into the circulatory system.
5. A patient presents with a pH of 7.25, a pCO2 of 55 mmHg, and a HCO3 of 24 mEq/L. Which
acid-base imbalance is occurring?
A. Metabolic Acidosis
B. Metabolic Alkalosis
C. Respiratory Acidosis
D. Respiratory Alkalosis
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: A pH below 7.35 indicates acidosis. A pCO2 above 45 mmHg
indicates a respiratory cause. Since the bicarbonate is normal, it is uncompensated
respiratory acidosis.
6. Huntington disease is inherited in which manner?
A. Autosomal Recessive
B. X-linked Recessive
AND PATHOPHYSIOLOGY FINAL EXAM
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS
|GRADE A+| JUST RELEASED
1. Which cellular adaptation is characterized by a decrease in cell size due to a loss of
subcellular components, often seen in skeletal muscle during prolonged immobilization?
A. Hyperplasia
B. Metaplasia
C. Atrophy
D. Dysplasia
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Atrophy is a decrease in cellular size. If it occurs in a sufficient
number of an organ’s cells, the entire organ shrinks. This often occurs from disuse,
denervation, or ischemia.
2. A 55-year-old male with a history of smoking presents with a change in his bronchial
epithelium from ciliated columnar cells to stratified squamous cells. What is this process
called?
A. Dysplasia
,B. Hyperplasia
C. Anaplasia
D. Metaplasia
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one mature cell type
by another, less differentiated cell type, often as an adaptation to chronic irritation.
3. Which mechanism of cell death is an active, highly regulated process characterized by cell
shrinkage, DNA fragmentation, and the absence of an inflammatory response?
A. Apoptosis
B. Autophagy
C. Necrosis
D. Pyoptosis
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: Apoptosis is programmed cell death, distinct from necrosis in
that it is orderly and does not typically trigger inflammation because the cell membrane
remains intact until phagocytosed.
4. In the context of fluid shifts, which pressure is primarily responsible for pulling water into
the capillaries from the interstitial space?
A. Capillary hydrostatic pressure
, B. Plasma oncotic pressure
C. Interstitial hydrostatic pressure
D. Interstitial oncotic pressure
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Plasma oncotic (colloid osmotic) pressure is exerted by proteins
(primarily albumin) in the blood, which attracts water into the circulatory system.
5. A patient presents with a pH of 7.25, a pCO2 of 55 mmHg, and a HCO3 of 24 mEq/L. Which
acid-base imbalance is occurring?
A. Metabolic Acidosis
B. Metabolic Alkalosis
C. Respiratory Acidosis
D. Respiratory Alkalosis
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: A pH below 7.35 indicates acidosis. A pCO2 above 45 mmHg
indicates a respiratory cause. Since the bicarbonate is normal, it is uncompensated
respiratory acidosis.
6. Huntington disease is inherited in which manner?
A. Autosomal Recessive
B. X-linked Recessive
