NURSING 212 PATHOPHYSIOLOGY EXAM 2 STUDY GUIDE WITH
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | 2026 UPDATED | 100% CORRECT -
EASTWICK COLLEGE
Core Domains
Cellular Adaptation, Injury, and Death
Inflammation and Tissue Repair
Fluid, Electrolyte, and Acid-Base Balance
Acid-Base Imbalances
Genetics and Inherited Disorders
Neoplasia and Cancer Pathophysiology
Immunity and Immune System Disorders
Hypersensitivity Reactions
Stress and the Stress Response
Introduction
This comprehensive review guide prepares students for the N212
Pathophysiology Exam 2 at Eastwick College. The examination
assesses knowledge of cellular adaptation and injury, inflammation,
fluid and electrolyte balance, acid-base regulation, immune system
disorders, genetics, and cancer biology. Questions are structured in
multiple-choice format with scenario-based clinical applications
that test critical thinking and decision-making skills. Each question
is accompanied by the correct answer and a detailed rationale
reinforcing key pathophysiologic mechanisms. This guide reflects
current curriculum standards and emphasizes real-world
application of foundational disease processes.
,SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1–100
Question 1
A 45-year-old man undergoes a biopsy of his left ventricle
following a myocardial infarction. The pathology report notes an
increase in the size of individual cardiac muscle cells without an
increase in cell number. Which of the following best describes this
cellular adaptation?
A. Hyperplasia
B. Metaplasia
C. Hypertrophy
D. Dysplasia
🟢 C. Hypertrophy
🔴 RATIONALE: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size, which
occurs in cardiac muscle cells in response to increased workload
such as myocardial infarction or hypertension. Hyperplasia
involves an increase in cell number; metaplasia is replacement of
one cell type with another; dysplasia is abnormal cell growth.
Question 2
A patient with chronic bronchitis has been a heavy smoker for 30
years. The bronchial epithelium has changed from columnar
ciliated cells to stratified squamous cells. This change is best
described as:
A. Hyperplasia
B. Metaplasia
,C. Dysplasia
D. Anaplasia
🟢 B. Metaplasia
🔴 RATIONALE: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one
differentiated cell type with another, often in response to chronic
irritation such as smoking. This adaptive change can predispose to
malignancy.
Question 3
Which of the following is a characteristic of reversible cell injury?
A. Nuclear pyknosis
B. Karyolysis
C. Cellular swelling
D. Membrane rupture
🟢 C. Cellular swelling
🔴 RATIONALE: Cellular swelling (hydropic change) is an early
manifestation of reversible cell injury caused by failure of the
sodium-potassium pump. Nuclear pyknosis, karyolysis, and
membrane rupture are features of irreversible injury and cell
death.
Question 4
A patient presents with fever, redness, swelling, and pain at the
site of a wound. These signs are characteristic of which process?
, A. Apoptosis
B. Inflammation
C. Necrosis
D. Metaplasia
🟢 B. Inflammation
🔴 RATIONALE: The classic signs of inflammation are rubor
(redness), tumor (swelling), calor (heat), dolor (pain), and functio
laesa (loss of function). This response is the body's defense
mechanism to eliminate the initial cause of cell injury and initiate
repair.
Question 5
What is the primary purpose of the inflammatory response?
A. To eliminate the initial cause of injury and initiate repair
B. To induce programmed cell death
C. To promote cellular hypertrophy
D. To decrease blood flow to the injured area
🟢 A. To eliminate the initial cause of injury and initiate repair
🔴 RATIONALE: The inflammatory response is designed to
neutralize and eliminate the offending agent, remove necrotic
cells, and establish conditions for tissue repair and healing.
Question 6
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | 2026 UPDATED | 100% CORRECT -
EASTWICK COLLEGE
Core Domains
Cellular Adaptation, Injury, and Death
Inflammation and Tissue Repair
Fluid, Electrolyte, and Acid-Base Balance
Acid-Base Imbalances
Genetics and Inherited Disorders
Neoplasia and Cancer Pathophysiology
Immunity and Immune System Disorders
Hypersensitivity Reactions
Stress and the Stress Response
Introduction
This comprehensive review guide prepares students for the N212
Pathophysiology Exam 2 at Eastwick College. The examination
assesses knowledge of cellular adaptation and injury, inflammation,
fluid and electrolyte balance, acid-base regulation, immune system
disorders, genetics, and cancer biology. Questions are structured in
multiple-choice format with scenario-based clinical applications
that test critical thinking and decision-making skills. Each question
is accompanied by the correct answer and a detailed rationale
reinforcing key pathophysiologic mechanisms. This guide reflects
current curriculum standards and emphasizes real-world
application of foundational disease processes.
,SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1–100
Question 1
A 45-year-old man undergoes a biopsy of his left ventricle
following a myocardial infarction. The pathology report notes an
increase in the size of individual cardiac muscle cells without an
increase in cell number. Which of the following best describes this
cellular adaptation?
A. Hyperplasia
B. Metaplasia
C. Hypertrophy
D. Dysplasia
🟢 C. Hypertrophy
🔴 RATIONALE: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size, which
occurs in cardiac muscle cells in response to increased workload
such as myocardial infarction or hypertension. Hyperplasia
involves an increase in cell number; metaplasia is replacement of
one cell type with another; dysplasia is abnormal cell growth.
Question 2
A patient with chronic bronchitis has been a heavy smoker for 30
years. The bronchial epithelium has changed from columnar
ciliated cells to stratified squamous cells. This change is best
described as:
A. Hyperplasia
B. Metaplasia
,C. Dysplasia
D. Anaplasia
🟢 B. Metaplasia
🔴 RATIONALE: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one
differentiated cell type with another, often in response to chronic
irritation such as smoking. This adaptive change can predispose to
malignancy.
Question 3
Which of the following is a characteristic of reversible cell injury?
A. Nuclear pyknosis
B. Karyolysis
C. Cellular swelling
D. Membrane rupture
🟢 C. Cellular swelling
🔴 RATIONALE: Cellular swelling (hydropic change) is an early
manifestation of reversible cell injury caused by failure of the
sodium-potassium pump. Nuclear pyknosis, karyolysis, and
membrane rupture are features of irreversible injury and cell
death.
Question 4
A patient presents with fever, redness, swelling, and pain at the
site of a wound. These signs are characteristic of which process?
, A. Apoptosis
B. Inflammation
C. Necrosis
D. Metaplasia
🟢 B. Inflammation
🔴 RATIONALE: The classic signs of inflammation are rubor
(redness), tumor (swelling), calor (heat), dolor (pain), and functio
laesa (loss of function). This response is the body's defense
mechanism to eliminate the initial cause of cell injury and initiate
repair.
Question 5
What is the primary purpose of the inflammatory response?
A. To eliminate the initial cause of injury and initiate repair
B. To induce programmed cell death
C. To promote cellular hypertrophy
D. To decrease blood flow to the injured area
🟢 A. To eliminate the initial cause of injury and initiate repair
🔴 RATIONALE: The inflammatory response is designed to
neutralize and eliminate the offending agent, remove necrotic
cells, and establish conditions for tissue repair and healing.
Question 6
