NR 507 Midterm Exam Prep (2026) – Chamberlain
Advanced Pathophysiology – 300 Practice Questions
& Verified Answers
300 QUESTIONS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
# TOPIC
NR 507 Midterm Exam Prep (2026) – Chamberlain Advanced Pathophysiology – 300 Practice Questions
1
& Verified Answers
,Q1
A 68-year-old male with long-standing hypertension has an echocardiogram demonstrating
increased left ventricular wall thickness without chamber dilation. Which cellular adaptation is
primarily responsible for this finding?
A) Hyperplasia of cardiac myocytes
B) Hypertrophy of cardiac myocytes CORRECT
C) Metaplasia of cardiac tissue
D) Atrophy of ventricular myocardium
Rationale
Chronic pressure overload from hypertension stimulates an increase in individual myocyte size
(hypertrophy), thickening the ventricular wall without increasing cell number, because cardiac cells are
terminally differentiated and cannot undergo hyperplasia.
Q2
During an acute myocardial infarction, a region of irreversibly injured myocardium exhibits
disrupted cell membranes, mitochondrial swelling, and calcium influx. Which form of cell death is
primarily occurring?
A) Apoptosis with orderly DNA fragmentation
B) Autophagy with lysosomal recycling
C) Necrosis with inflammatory sequelae CORRECT
D) Senescence with permanent cell-cycle arrest
Rationale
Ischemic necrosis is characterized by loss of membrane integrity, organelle swelling, and subsequent
inflammation, distinguishing it from the energy-dependent, non-inflammatory process of apoptosis.
Q3
A patient with chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease develops replacement of normal
esophageal squamous epithelium with columnar epithelium. This adaptive change is best
classified as which process?
A) Metaplasia driven by chronic injury CORRECT
2
,B) Hyperplasia of residual squamous cells
C) Dysplasia with disordered maturation
D) Neoplastic transformation to adenocarcinoma
Rationale
Barrett esophagus exemplifies metaplasia, a reversible change in which one differentiated cell type is
replaced by another better suited to withstand chronic acid exposure.
Q4
A pathologist examining a cervical biopsy notes cells with abnormal size, shape, and
organization, but the basement membrane remains intact. This finding is most consistent with
which classification?
A) Metaplasia
B) Hyperplasia
C) Dysplasia CORRECT
D) Anaplasia
Rationale
Dysplasia refers to disorganized growth with abnormal cell morphology and loss of cellular polarity, yet
the basement membrane remains intact, distinguishing it from invasive carcinoma.
Q5
Which type of cellular adaptation involves an increase in the number of cells in response to
hormonal stimulation or increased functional demand?
A) Hypertrophy
B) Atrophy
C) Metaplasia
D) Hyperplasia CORRECT
3
, Rationale
Hyperplasia is an increase in cell number, often in response to hormonal stimulation or increased
functional demand, and can be physiologic or pathologic.
Q6
Cell swelling is caused by:
A) ATP depletion CORRECT
B) Hyperplasia
C) Atrophy
D) Fibrosis
Rationale
Hypoxic injury initially depletes ATP, impairing the Na+/K+ pump, causing sodium influx, water entry, and
cellular swelling (hydropic change), which is reversible if oxygen is restored.
Q7
Apoptosis is:
A) Programmed cell death CORRECT
B) Cell swelling
C) Infection
D) Inflammation
Rationale
Apoptosis is programmed cell death that occurs when cellular damage is extensive and continuing
survival could be harmful.
Q8
Necrosis usually causes:
A) Inflammation CORRECT
B) Adaptation
4
Advanced Pathophysiology – 300 Practice Questions
& Verified Answers
300 QUESTIONS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
# TOPIC
NR 507 Midterm Exam Prep (2026) – Chamberlain Advanced Pathophysiology – 300 Practice Questions
1
& Verified Answers
,Q1
A 68-year-old male with long-standing hypertension has an echocardiogram demonstrating
increased left ventricular wall thickness without chamber dilation. Which cellular adaptation is
primarily responsible for this finding?
A) Hyperplasia of cardiac myocytes
B) Hypertrophy of cardiac myocytes CORRECT
C) Metaplasia of cardiac tissue
D) Atrophy of ventricular myocardium
Rationale
Chronic pressure overload from hypertension stimulates an increase in individual myocyte size
(hypertrophy), thickening the ventricular wall without increasing cell number, because cardiac cells are
terminally differentiated and cannot undergo hyperplasia.
Q2
During an acute myocardial infarction, a region of irreversibly injured myocardium exhibits
disrupted cell membranes, mitochondrial swelling, and calcium influx. Which form of cell death is
primarily occurring?
A) Apoptosis with orderly DNA fragmentation
B) Autophagy with lysosomal recycling
C) Necrosis with inflammatory sequelae CORRECT
D) Senescence with permanent cell-cycle arrest
Rationale
Ischemic necrosis is characterized by loss of membrane integrity, organelle swelling, and subsequent
inflammation, distinguishing it from the energy-dependent, non-inflammatory process of apoptosis.
Q3
A patient with chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease develops replacement of normal
esophageal squamous epithelium with columnar epithelium. This adaptive change is best
classified as which process?
A) Metaplasia driven by chronic injury CORRECT
2
,B) Hyperplasia of residual squamous cells
C) Dysplasia with disordered maturation
D) Neoplastic transformation to adenocarcinoma
Rationale
Barrett esophagus exemplifies metaplasia, a reversible change in which one differentiated cell type is
replaced by another better suited to withstand chronic acid exposure.
Q4
A pathologist examining a cervical biopsy notes cells with abnormal size, shape, and
organization, but the basement membrane remains intact. This finding is most consistent with
which classification?
A) Metaplasia
B) Hyperplasia
C) Dysplasia CORRECT
D) Anaplasia
Rationale
Dysplasia refers to disorganized growth with abnormal cell morphology and loss of cellular polarity, yet
the basement membrane remains intact, distinguishing it from invasive carcinoma.
Q5
Which type of cellular adaptation involves an increase in the number of cells in response to
hormonal stimulation or increased functional demand?
A) Hypertrophy
B) Atrophy
C) Metaplasia
D) Hyperplasia CORRECT
3
, Rationale
Hyperplasia is an increase in cell number, often in response to hormonal stimulation or increased
functional demand, and can be physiologic or pathologic.
Q6
Cell swelling is caused by:
A) ATP depletion CORRECT
B) Hyperplasia
C) Atrophy
D) Fibrosis
Rationale
Hypoxic injury initially depletes ATP, impairing the Na+/K+ pump, causing sodium influx, water entry, and
cellular swelling (hydropic change), which is reversible if oxygen is restored.
Q7
Apoptosis is:
A) Programmed cell death CORRECT
B) Cell swelling
C) Infection
D) Inflammation
Rationale
Apoptosis is programmed cell death that occurs when cellular damage is extensive and continuing
survival could be harmful.
Q8
Necrosis usually causes:
A) Inflammation CORRECT
B) Adaptation
4
