NUR 376 Patho Exam 1
UPDATED ACTUAL Exam Questions and CORRECT Answers
Question 1.
Recently, Karen learned that not only does HIV directly attack CD4 cells, but the
presence of the virus seems to activate pathways responsible for programmed cell
death in CD4 cells. Thus, HIV infection appears to increase the rate of "suicide" for CD4
cells.
Correct Answer: Apoptosis
Question 2.
Define dysplasia
Correct Answer: Compared to normal cells, cells demonstrating dysplasia are
atypical in size and shape. Dysplasia does not mean the cells are cancerous.
However, some screening tests, such as the Pap smear, examine tissues to
determine if any cellular changes are taking place. Any changes in the cells
can then be monitored over time.
Question 3.
A biopsy of a skin lesion is conducted on Leann, a 48-year-old woman. Biopsy results
revealed proliferating cells that were well-differentiated and resembled surrounding
cells. The cells were contained within a well-defined area.
Correct Answer: Benign neoplasia.
Neoplasia is uncontrolled and unregulated cell growth. The mass of tissue
resulting is known as a "neoplasm." In a benign neoplasm, the cells do not
have the characteristics associated with malignancy. The cells, although
cancerous, are well-differentiated, meaning they resemble normal, mature
cells. The cells are also in a contained area and are unlikely to spread.
Question 4.
Miguel, a retired warehouse supervisor, had a myocardial infarction. Further evaluation
revealed he had significant blockage in his left descending coronary artery. The
blockage resulted in ischemia and cell death for those cells served by the artery.
Correct Answer: Necrosis
Necrosis is premature cell death caused by cell injury. Necrosis differs from
apoptosis, in that the cellular destruction results from some form of trauma,
rather than genetic programming. May lead to GANGRENE which is when dead
tissue houses bacteria.
Question 5.
Julianne, who suffers from familial hypercholesterolemia, presents with xanthomas.
,Xanthomas are excess cholesterol deposits, which appear as yellow skin lesions. What
cell process is this
Correct Answer: Intracellular accumulation.
Some disease processes stimulate intracellular accumulations of particles,
such as calcium, cholesterol, and triglycerides, glucose, among other
substances. In familial hypercholesterolemia, a genetic defect causes
decreased cellular uptake of cholesterol, resulting in high serum cholesterol
levels. Cholesterol deposits, known as xanthomas, may appear to form under
the skin.
• Janae experienced a frightening ATV accident, in which her ATV flipped over
and she ended up catching a portion of her upper arm on a barbed wire fence.
Although Janae's injuries healed fully, enlarged, keloid scar formations remain
at the injury site. - ✓✓Hyperplasia
cell proliferation, known as hyperplasia, was stimulated as a result of her
injury. A keloid results from overgrowth of granulation tissue during the
wound repair process.
Question 6.
Hypertension that leads to workload on the left ventricle and thus enlargement would be
deemed?
Correct Answer: Pathological hypertrophy.
No blood vessel growth and increased workload would lead to ischemia and
enlargement of the heart.
NCLEX TIP: Left ventricular hypertrophy would lead to displacement of the PMI
during chest palpation.
Question 7.
Hyperplasia occurs from which two mechanisms?
Correct Answer: An INCREASE in the number of cells in a tissue or organ.
1) hormonal (estrogen stimulating the mitotic division of breast gland cells;
also BPH in older males)
2) overcompensation during regeneration (keloid scars)
Question 8.
Andy has undergone a colonoscopy because his family has a history of colon cancer.
Biopsy of the colon reveals poorly differentiated cells in the samples. Cells were
abnormally organized, with distorted borders. Infiltration of the abnormal cells occurred
throughout several samples.
Correct Answer: Malignant neoplasia
Neoplasia is uncontrolled, unregulated cell growth. Malignancy, when applied
to neoplasm, indicates the cancerous cells are likely to infiltrate other tissues
and spread. The appearance of malignant cells is far from normal. Such cells
are poorly differentiated and appear to have a random organization. Biopsy
, samples of malignant neoplasia reveal cells moving beyond the borders or
edges of the growth.
Question 9.
Walter, age 62, had to undergo an endoscopic examination of his esophagus due to his
complaint of frequent "heartburn" after most meals. Examination of the cells shows that
rather than normal squamous cells lining the esophagus, Walter had columnar cells
Correct Answer: Metaplasia
Question 10.
Cardiac catheterization results for Beatrice, a 54-year-old patient, show plaque build- up,
appearing as hardened areas in the coronary arteries. Beatrice, who is overweight and
leads a sedentary lifestyle, has several risk factors for atherosclerosis. A coronary
calcium scan is conducted to help analyze the state of the arterial plaques.
Correct Answer: Pathologic calcification
Question 11.
What are types of cellular injury changes?
Correct Answer: 1) Dysfunction of the sodium potassium pump
2) Loss of plasma membrane integrity (Ex: during an MI)
3) Mitochondrial dysfunction
4) Defects in protein synthesis
5) Intracellular accumulation (xanthomas or hypercholesterolemia)
6) Cellular swelling (edema; may be caused by dysfunction of the Na+/K+
pump whereby Na+ accumulates in intracellular space, drawing water inside).
7) DNA damage
Question 12.
Malignant neoplasms
Correct Answer: Skin cancer. Cells are poorly differentiated and can
metastasize and form new neoplasms.
Question 13.
Oncotic pressure
Correct Answer: The osmotic pressure in the blood vessels due only to plasma
proteins (primarily albumin) --> causes water to rush back into capillaries
(ECF). Opposed by the hydrostatic pressure.
UPDATED ACTUAL Exam Questions and CORRECT Answers
Question 1.
Recently, Karen learned that not only does HIV directly attack CD4 cells, but the
presence of the virus seems to activate pathways responsible for programmed cell
death in CD4 cells. Thus, HIV infection appears to increase the rate of "suicide" for CD4
cells.
Correct Answer: Apoptosis
Question 2.
Define dysplasia
Correct Answer: Compared to normal cells, cells demonstrating dysplasia are
atypical in size and shape. Dysplasia does not mean the cells are cancerous.
However, some screening tests, such as the Pap smear, examine tissues to
determine if any cellular changes are taking place. Any changes in the cells
can then be monitored over time.
Question 3.
A biopsy of a skin lesion is conducted on Leann, a 48-year-old woman. Biopsy results
revealed proliferating cells that were well-differentiated and resembled surrounding
cells. The cells were contained within a well-defined area.
Correct Answer: Benign neoplasia.
Neoplasia is uncontrolled and unregulated cell growth. The mass of tissue
resulting is known as a "neoplasm." In a benign neoplasm, the cells do not
have the characteristics associated with malignancy. The cells, although
cancerous, are well-differentiated, meaning they resemble normal, mature
cells. The cells are also in a contained area and are unlikely to spread.
Question 4.
Miguel, a retired warehouse supervisor, had a myocardial infarction. Further evaluation
revealed he had significant blockage in his left descending coronary artery. The
blockage resulted in ischemia and cell death for those cells served by the artery.
Correct Answer: Necrosis
Necrosis is premature cell death caused by cell injury. Necrosis differs from
apoptosis, in that the cellular destruction results from some form of trauma,
rather than genetic programming. May lead to GANGRENE which is when dead
tissue houses bacteria.
Question 5.
Julianne, who suffers from familial hypercholesterolemia, presents with xanthomas.
,Xanthomas are excess cholesterol deposits, which appear as yellow skin lesions. What
cell process is this
Correct Answer: Intracellular accumulation.
Some disease processes stimulate intracellular accumulations of particles,
such as calcium, cholesterol, and triglycerides, glucose, among other
substances. In familial hypercholesterolemia, a genetic defect causes
decreased cellular uptake of cholesterol, resulting in high serum cholesterol
levels. Cholesterol deposits, known as xanthomas, may appear to form under
the skin.
• Janae experienced a frightening ATV accident, in which her ATV flipped over
and she ended up catching a portion of her upper arm on a barbed wire fence.
Although Janae's injuries healed fully, enlarged, keloid scar formations remain
at the injury site. - ✓✓Hyperplasia
cell proliferation, known as hyperplasia, was stimulated as a result of her
injury. A keloid results from overgrowth of granulation tissue during the
wound repair process.
Question 6.
Hypertension that leads to workload on the left ventricle and thus enlargement would be
deemed?
Correct Answer: Pathological hypertrophy.
No blood vessel growth and increased workload would lead to ischemia and
enlargement of the heart.
NCLEX TIP: Left ventricular hypertrophy would lead to displacement of the PMI
during chest palpation.
Question 7.
Hyperplasia occurs from which two mechanisms?
Correct Answer: An INCREASE in the number of cells in a tissue or organ.
1) hormonal (estrogen stimulating the mitotic division of breast gland cells;
also BPH in older males)
2) overcompensation during regeneration (keloid scars)
Question 8.
Andy has undergone a colonoscopy because his family has a history of colon cancer.
Biopsy of the colon reveals poorly differentiated cells in the samples. Cells were
abnormally organized, with distorted borders. Infiltration of the abnormal cells occurred
throughout several samples.
Correct Answer: Malignant neoplasia
Neoplasia is uncontrolled, unregulated cell growth. Malignancy, when applied
to neoplasm, indicates the cancerous cells are likely to infiltrate other tissues
and spread. The appearance of malignant cells is far from normal. Such cells
are poorly differentiated and appear to have a random organization. Biopsy
, samples of malignant neoplasia reveal cells moving beyond the borders or
edges of the growth.
Question 9.
Walter, age 62, had to undergo an endoscopic examination of his esophagus due to his
complaint of frequent "heartburn" after most meals. Examination of the cells shows that
rather than normal squamous cells lining the esophagus, Walter had columnar cells
Correct Answer: Metaplasia
Question 10.
Cardiac catheterization results for Beatrice, a 54-year-old patient, show plaque build- up,
appearing as hardened areas in the coronary arteries. Beatrice, who is overweight and
leads a sedentary lifestyle, has several risk factors for atherosclerosis. A coronary
calcium scan is conducted to help analyze the state of the arterial plaques.
Correct Answer: Pathologic calcification
Question 11.
What are types of cellular injury changes?
Correct Answer: 1) Dysfunction of the sodium potassium pump
2) Loss of plasma membrane integrity (Ex: during an MI)
3) Mitochondrial dysfunction
4) Defects in protein synthesis
5) Intracellular accumulation (xanthomas or hypercholesterolemia)
6) Cellular swelling (edema; may be caused by dysfunction of the Na+/K+
pump whereby Na+ accumulates in intracellular space, drawing water inside).
7) DNA damage
Question 12.
Malignant neoplasms
Correct Answer: Skin cancer. Cells are poorly differentiated and can
metastasize and form new neoplasms.
Question 13.
Oncotic pressure
Correct Answer: The osmotic pressure in the blood vessels due only to plasma
proteins (primarily albumin) --> causes water to rush back into capillaries
(ECF). Opposed by the hydrostatic pressure.
