Chamberlain College of Nursing NR283 Test
Question Bank (Exam 1, Exam 2, Exam 3, Final
Exam, 300 Q/A): Pathophysiology | 100 % Verified
Answers, Already Graded A
SECTION I — CELLULAR BIOLOGY, ADAPTATION, INJURY & DEATH (Q1–15)
1. A client's cardiac muscle enlarges in response to chronic hypertension. Which
cellular adaptation does the nurse identify?
A. Atrophy
B. Hyperplasia
C. Hypertrophy
D. Metaplasia
CORRECT: C
RATIONALE: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size, common in tissues that
cannot divide (cardiac muscle, skeletal muscle). Atrophy (A) is shrinkage;
hyperplasia (B) is an increase in cell number; metaplasia (D) is replacement of one
mature cell type with another.
2. Which statement best describes the mechanism of cellular injury caused by free
radicals?
A. They directly dissolve cell membranes.
B. They oxidize lipids, proteins, and DNA, causing peroxidation of membranes.
C. They block ATP production by inhibiting glycolysis.
D. They cause osmotic swelling by blocking sodium channels.
CORRECT: B
RATIONALE: Free radicals (reactive oxygen species) have unpaired electrons
,and cause lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation, and DNA damage. Antioxidants
neutralize them. Options A, C, and D describe other injury mechanisms.
3. SATA — Which findings indicate irreversible cell injury? Select all that apply.
A. Cellular swelling
B. Nuclear pyknosis
C. Karyolysis
D. Mitochondrial swelling
E. Karyorrhexis
F. Fatty change
CORRECT: B, C, E
RATIONALE: Pyknosis (nuclear shrinkage), karyolysis (nuclear dissolution), and
karyorrhexis (nuclear fragmentation) are hallmarks of irreversible injury/necrosis.
Cellular swelling (A), mitochondrial swelling (D), and fatty change (F) are reversible
changes.
4. A client experiences a prolonged period of ischemia followed by reperfusion.
The nurse understands that reperfusion injury occurs primarily because of:
A. Decreased oxygen delivery
B. Generation of reactive oxygen species and calcium overload
C. Loss of ATP
D. Anaerobic metabolism
CORRECT: B
RATIONALE: Reperfusion restores oxygen, which paradoxically increases ROS
production, calcium influx, and inflammatory mediator release, worsening injury.
Loss of ATP (C) and anaerobic metabolism (D) occur during ischemia itself.
5. Which type of necrosis is most likely in a client with a myocardial infarction?
,A. Liquefactive
B. Coagulative
C. Caseous
D. Fat
CORRECT: B
RATIONALE: Coagulative necrosis occurs with ischemia in most tissues (heart,
kidney, spleen). Liquefactive (A) occurs in brain and abscesses; caseous (C) in
tuberculosis; fat (D) in pancreatitis.
6. A client with a spinal cord injury has a pressure ulcer that extends through the
subcutaneous tissue to muscle but not bone. Which stage?
A. Stage 1
B. Stage 2
C. Stage 3
D. Stage 4
CORRECT: C
RATIONALE: Stage 3 = full-thickness loss extending into subcutaneous tissue
(may reach fascia/muscle) but not bone, tendon, or joint. Stage 4 involves
exposed bone/tendon. Stage 2 is partial-thickness.
7. Which statement about apoptosis is accurate?
A. It always causes inflammation.
B. It is a programmed, energy-dependent cell death.
C. It only occurs in pathologic states.
D. It results in cell swelling and lysis.
CORRECT: B
RATIONALE: Apoptosis is programmed, ATP-dependent, and does not cause
, inflammation (unlike necrosis). It occurs in normal physiology (e.g., sloughing of
intestinal cells) and pathology.
8. A client has a vitamin B12 deficiency. Which cellular change would the nurse
expect?
A. Hypertrophy
B. Dysplasia
C. Atrophy
D. Metaplasia
CORRECT: C
RATIONALE: Deficiency of nutrients (B12) leads to atrophy of tissues,
particularly in the nervous system and GI tract. Dysplasia is disordered growth
typically from chronic irritation.
9. Which is the most common cause of cellular injury?
A. Radiation
B. Hypoxia/ischemia
C. Chemical exposure
D. Infectious agents
CORRECT: B
RATIONALE: Hypoxia (reduced oxygen) and ischemia (reduced blood flow) are
the most common causes of cell injury and death, leading to ATP depletion and
loss of sodium-potassium pump function.
10. A client with chronic GERD develops Barrett esophagus. This is an example of:
A. Hyperplasia
B. Dysplasia
Question Bank (Exam 1, Exam 2, Exam 3, Final
Exam, 300 Q/A): Pathophysiology | 100 % Verified
Answers, Already Graded A
SECTION I — CELLULAR BIOLOGY, ADAPTATION, INJURY & DEATH (Q1–15)
1. A client's cardiac muscle enlarges in response to chronic hypertension. Which
cellular adaptation does the nurse identify?
A. Atrophy
B. Hyperplasia
C. Hypertrophy
D. Metaplasia
CORRECT: C
RATIONALE: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size, common in tissues that
cannot divide (cardiac muscle, skeletal muscle). Atrophy (A) is shrinkage;
hyperplasia (B) is an increase in cell number; metaplasia (D) is replacement of one
mature cell type with another.
2. Which statement best describes the mechanism of cellular injury caused by free
radicals?
A. They directly dissolve cell membranes.
B. They oxidize lipids, proteins, and DNA, causing peroxidation of membranes.
C. They block ATP production by inhibiting glycolysis.
D. They cause osmotic swelling by blocking sodium channels.
CORRECT: B
RATIONALE: Free radicals (reactive oxygen species) have unpaired electrons
,and cause lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation, and DNA damage. Antioxidants
neutralize them. Options A, C, and D describe other injury mechanisms.
3. SATA — Which findings indicate irreversible cell injury? Select all that apply.
A. Cellular swelling
B. Nuclear pyknosis
C. Karyolysis
D. Mitochondrial swelling
E. Karyorrhexis
F. Fatty change
CORRECT: B, C, E
RATIONALE: Pyknosis (nuclear shrinkage), karyolysis (nuclear dissolution), and
karyorrhexis (nuclear fragmentation) are hallmarks of irreversible injury/necrosis.
Cellular swelling (A), mitochondrial swelling (D), and fatty change (F) are reversible
changes.
4. A client experiences a prolonged period of ischemia followed by reperfusion.
The nurse understands that reperfusion injury occurs primarily because of:
A. Decreased oxygen delivery
B. Generation of reactive oxygen species and calcium overload
C. Loss of ATP
D. Anaerobic metabolism
CORRECT: B
RATIONALE: Reperfusion restores oxygen, which paradoxically increases ROS
production, calcium influx, and inflammatory mediator release, worsening injury.
Loss of ATP (C) and anaerobic metabolism (D) occur during ischemia itself.
5. Which type of necrosis is most likely in a client with a myocardial infarction?
,A. Liquefactive
B. Coagulative
C. Caseous
D. Fat
CORRECT: B
RATIONALE: Coagulative necrosis occurs with ischemia in most tissues (heart,
kidney, spleen). Liquefactive (A) occurs in brain and abscesses; caseous (C) in
tuberculosis; fat (D) in pancreatitis.
6. A client with a spinal cord injury has a pressure ulcer that extends through the
subcutaneous tissue to muscle but not bone. Which stage?
A. Stage 1
B. Stage 2
C. Stage 3
D. Stage 4
CORRECT: C
RATIONALE: Stage 3 = full-thickness loss extending into subcutaneous tissue
(may reach fascia/muscle) but not bone, tendon, or joint. Stage 4 involves
exposed bone/tendon. Stage 2 is partial-thickness.
7. Which statement about apoptosis is accurate?
A. It always causes inflammation.
B. It is a programmed, energy-dependent cell death.
C. It only occurs in pathologic states.
D. It results in cell swelling and lysis.
CORRECT: B
RATIONALE: Apoptosis is programmed, ATP-dependent, and does not cause
, inflammation (unlike necrosis). It occurs in normal physiology (e.g., sloughing of
intestinal cells) and pathology.
8. A client has a vitamin B12 deficiency. Which cellular change would the nurse
expect?
A. Hypertrophy
B. Dysplasia
C. Atrophy
D. Metaplasia
CORRECT: C
RATIONALE: Deficiency of nutrients (B12) leads to atrophy of tissues,
particularly in the nervous system and GI tract. Dysplasia is disordered growth
typically from chronic irritation.
9. Which is the most common cause of cellular injury?
A. Radiation
B. Hypoxia/ischemia
C. Chemical exposure
D. Infectious agents
CORRECT: B
RATIONALE: Hypoxia (reduced oxygen) and ischemia (reduced blood flow) are
the most common causes of cell injury and death, leading to ATP depletion and
loss of sodium-potassium pump function.
10. A client with chronic GERD develops Barrett esophagus. This is an example of:
A. Hyperplasia
B. Dysplasia
