ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
NURS 5315 EXAM 1 —
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWER
OPTIONS AND VERIFIED
ANSWERS — 2026 LATEST
UPDATE
1. What is an action potential?
A. The process by which excitable cells transmit information
from one to another.
B. The process by which cells divide and replicate.
C. The movement of water across a semipermeable
membrane.
D. The release of hormones into the bloodstream.
ANSWER: A
Rationale: Action potentials are the electrical signals that
allow excitable cells (such as neurons and muscle cells) to
communicate and transmit information.
2. How is the action potential altered by a potassium
imbalance? (Hyperkalemia)
A. The ECF has less K⁺ ions; membrane potential becomes
more negative; cells become less excitable.
B. The ECF has more K⁺ ions; membrane potential becomes
more positive (hypopolarized); cells become MORE excitable;
T waves peak; QRS complexes widen; causes dysrhythmias,
weakness, paresthesia.
C. The ECF has more K⁺ ions; membrane potential becomes
more negative; cells become less excitable.
D. The ECF has less K⁺ ions; membrane potential becomes
more positive; cells become more excitable.
ANSWER: B
Rationale: In hyperkalemia, elevated extracellular
potassium makes the resting membrane potential less
negative, bringing it closer to threshold and increasing
excitability. If membrane potential becomes equal to
threshold potential, cardiac standstill occurs.
1
,3. How is the action potential altered by a potassium
imbalance? (Hypokalemia)
A. The ECF has more K⁺ ions; membrane potential becomes
more positive; cells become more excitable.
B. The ECF has less K⁺ ions; membrane potential becomes
more negative or hyperpolarized; the cell becomes less
excitable; depolarization takes longer; causes weakness,
atony, cardiac dysrhythmias.
C. The ECF has less K⁺ ions; membrane potential becomes
more positive; cells become more excitable.
D. The ECF has more K⁺ ions; membrane potential becomes
more negative; cells become less excitable.
ANSWER: B
Rationale: Low extracellular potassium makes the resting
membrane potential more negative, increasing the distance
from threshold and requiring a stronger stimulus to
depolarize.
4. How is the action potential altered by a calcium
imbalance? (Hypercalcemia)
A. Increase in ECF calcium to >10.5 mg/dl; decreases cell
permeability to calcium; cell becomes hyperpolarized; less
excitable; causes weakness, hyporeflexia, lethargy,
confusion, shortened QT wave, depressed T wave.
B. Decrease in ECF calcium to <9.0 mg/dl; increases cell
permeability to Na+; cell becomes hypopolarized; more
excitable.
C. Increase in ECF calcium to >10.5 mg/dl; increases cell
permeability to Na+; cell becomes more excitable.
D. Decrease in ECF calcium to <9.0 mg/dl; decreases cell
permeability; cell becomes less excitable.
ANSWER: A
Rationale: Excess extracellular calcium reduces membrane
permeability, hyperpolarizing the cell and reducing
excitability.
5. How is the action potential altered by a calcium
imbalance? (Hypocalcemia)
2
,A. Decreased ECF calcium <9.0 mg/dl (<5.5 ionized);
increases cell permeability to Na+; resting membrane
potential gets hypopolarized; cells become excitable; causes
tetany, hyperreflexia, paresthesias, seizures, dysrhythmias.
B. Increased ECF calcium >10.5 mg/dl; decreases cell
permeability; cell becomes hyperpolarized; less excitable.
C. Decreased ECF calcium <9.0 mg/dl; decreases cell
permeability; cell becomes less excitable.
D. Increased ECF calcium >10.5 mg/dl; increases cell
permeability; cell becomes more excitable.
ANSWER: A
Rationale: Low extracellular calcium increases sodium
permeability, depolarizing the resting membrane potential
and making cells more excitable.
6. What is atrophy?
A. Catabolism of intracellular organelles causing a reduction
in intracellular contents; the cell shrinks.
B. Increase in cell size due to increased protein synthesis.
C. Increase in the number of cells.
D. Abnormal changes in cell size, shape, or organization.
ANSWER: A
Rationale: Atrophy results from catabolism of organelles
and a reduction in intracellular contents, causing cell
shrinkage. Examples: thymus gland shrinks in childhood;
disuse atrophy.
7. What is hypertrophy?
A. Catabolism of intracellular organelles causing cell
shrinkage.
B. Hormonal stimulation in response to increased demand
that causes an increase in cellular protein; the cell gets
larger—eventually causing the whole organ to get larger.
C. Increase in the number of cells capable of mitosis.
D. Abnormal changes in cell size, shape, or organization.
ANSWER: B
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size due to
increased protein synthesis in response to demand.
Examples: skeletal muscle hypertrophy in the weight lifter;
cardiomegaly in response to hypertensive heart disease.
3
, 8. What is hyperplasia?
A. Increase in the number of growth factor cell receptors that
activate cellular proliferation; only happens in cells capable
of mitosis; increased number of cells.
B. Increase in cell size due to increased protein synthesis.
C. Catabolism of intracellular organelles.
D. Abnormal changes in cell size, shape, or organization.
ANSWER: A
Rationale: Hyperplasia is an increase in cell number from
proliferation, occurring only in cells capable of mitosis.
Examples: uterine and mammary glands in pregnancy;
increased production of endometrial cells due to
estrogen/progesterone imbalance.
9. What is dysplasia?
A. Abnormal changes in cell size, shape, or organization in
response to cell injury or irritation; not a true adaptive
process.
B. Increase in cell number.
C. Increase in cell size.
D. Replacement of one mature cell type with another.
ANSWER: A
Rationale: Dysplasia is abnormal cellular change in
response to injury or irritation and is not a true adaptive
process. Example: cervical dysplasia.
10. What is metaplasia?
A. Mature cell type is replaced by a different mature cell
type; reversible, but can induce metastatic change; result of
chronic stressor to the cell.
B. Increase in cell number.
C. Increase in cell size.
D. Abnormal changes in cell size, shape, or organization.
ANSWER: A
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one
mature cell type with another in response to chronic stress.
Examples: chronic smokers who lose normal ciliated
4
NURS 5315 EXAM 1 —
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWER
OPTIONS AND VERIFIED
ANSWERS — 2026 LATEST
UPDATE
1. What is an action potential?
A. The process by which excitable cells transmit information
from one to another.
B. The process by which cells divide and replicate.
C. The movement of water across a semipermeable
membrane.
D. The release of hormones into the bloodstream.
ANSWER: A
Rationale: Action potentials are the electrical signals that
allow excitable cells (such as neurons and muscle cells) to
communicate and transmit information.
2. How is the action potential altered by a potassium
imbalance? (Hyperkalemia)
A. The ECF has less K⁺ ions; membrane potential becomes
more negative; cells become less excitable.
B. The ECF has more K⁺ ions; membrane potential becomes
more positive (hypopolarized); cells become MORE excitable;
T waves peak; QRS complexes widen; causes dysrhythmias,
weakness, paresthesia.
C. The ECF has more K⁺ ions; membrane potential becomes
more negative; cells become less excitable.
D. The ECF has less K⁺ ions; membrane potential becomes
more positive; cells become more excitable.
ANSWER: B
Rationale: In hyperkalemia, elevated extracellular
potassium makes the resting membrane potential less
negative, bringing it closer to threshold and increasing
excitability. If membrane potential becomes equal to
threshold potential, cardiac standstill occurs.
1
,3. How is the action potential altered by a potassium
imbalance? (Hypokalemia)
A. The ECF has more K⁺ ions; membrane potential becomes
more positive; cells become more excitable.
B. The ECF has less K⁺ ions; membrane potential becomes
more negative or hyperpolarized; the cell becomes less
excitable; depolarization takes longer; causes weakness,
atony, cardiac dysrhythmias.
C. The ECF has less K⁺ ions; membrane potential becomes
more positive; cells become more excitable.
D. The ECF has more K⁺ ions; membrane potential becomes
more negative; cells become less excitable.
ANSWER: B
Rationale: Low extracellular potassium makes the resting
membrane potential more negative, increasing the distance
from threshold and requiring a stronger stimulus to
depolarize.
4. How is the action potential altered by a calcium
imbalance? (Hypercalcemia)
A. Increase in ECF calcium to >10.5 mg/dl; decreases cell
permeability to calcium; cell becomes hyperpolarized; less
excitable; causes weakness, hyporeflexia, lethargy,
confusion, shortened QT wave, depressed T wave.
B. Decrease in ECF calcium to <9.0 mg/dl; increases cell
permeability to Na+; cell becomes hypopolarized; more
excitable.
C. Increase in ECF calcium to >10.5 mg/dl; increases cell
permeability to Na+; cell becomes more excitable.
D. Decrease in ECF calcium to <9.0 mg/dl; decreases cell
permeability; cell becomes less excitable.
ANSWER: A
Rationale: Excess extracellular calcium reduces membrane
permeability, hyperpolarizing the cell and reducing
excitability.
5. How is the action potential altered by a calcium
imbalance? (Hypocalcemia)
2
,A. Decreased ECF calcium <9.0 mg/dl (<5.5 ionized);
increases cell permeability to Na+; resting membrane
potential gets hypopolarized; cells become excitable; causes
tetany, hyperreflexia, paresthesias, seizures, dysrhythmias.
B. Increased ECF calcium >10.5 mg/dl; decreases cell
permeability; cell becomes hyperpolarized; less excitable.
C. Decreased ECF calcium <9.0 mg/dl; decreases cell
permeability; cell becomes less excitable.
D. Increased ECF calcium >10.5 mg/dl; increases cell
permeability; cell becomes more excitable.
ANSWER: A
Rationale: Low extracellular calcium increases sodium
permeability, depolarizing the resting membrane potential
and making cells more excitable.
6. What is atrophy?
A. Catabolism of intracellular organelles causing a reduction
in intracellular contents; the cell shrinks.
B. Increase in cell size due to increased protein synthesis.
C. Increase in the number of cells.
D. Abnormal changes in cell size, shape, or organization.
ANSWER: A
Rationale: Atrophy results from catabolism of organelles
and a reduction in intracellular contents, causing cell
shrinkage. Examples: thymus gland shrinks in childhood;
disuse atrophy.
7. What is hypertrophy?
A. Catabolism of intracellular organelles causing cell
shrinkage.
B. Hormonal stimulation in response to increased demand
that causes an increase in cellular protein; the cell gets
larger—eventually causing the whole organ to get larger.
C. Increase in the number of cells capable of mitosis.
D. Abnormal changes in cell size, shape, or organization.
ANSWER: B
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size due to
increased protein synthesis in response to demand.
Examples: skeletal muscle hypertrophy in the weight lifter;
cardiomegaly in response to hypertensive heart disease.
3
, 8. What is hyperplasia?
A. Increase in the number of growth factor cell receptors that
activate cellular proliferation; only happens in cells capable
of mitosis; increased number of cells.
B. Increase in cell size due to increased protein synthesis.
C. Catabolism of intracellular organelles.
D. Abnormal changes in cell size, shape, or organization.
ANSWER: A
Rationale: Hyperplasia is an increase in cell number from
proliferation, occurring only in cells capable of mitosis.
Examples: uterine and mammary glands in pregnancy;
increased production of endometrial cells due to
estrogen/progesterone imbalance.
9. What is dysplasia?
A. Abnormal changes in cell size, shape, or organization in
response to cell injury or irritation; not a true adaptive
process.
B. Increase in cell number.
C. Increase in cell size.
D. Replacement of one mature cell type with another.
ANSWER: A
Rationale: Dysplasia is abnormal cellular change in
response to injury or irritation and is not a true adaptive
process. Example: cervical dysplasia.
10. What is metaplasia?
A. Mature cell type is replaced by a different mature cell
type; reversible, but can induce metastatic change; result of
chronic stressor to the cell.
B. Increase in cell number.
C. Increase in cell size.
D. Abnormal changes in cell size, shape, or organization.
ANSWER: A
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one
mature cell type with another in response to chronic stress.
Examples: chronic smokers who lose normal ciliated
4
