1. Cellular adaptation, injury, and death (atrophy, hypertrophy, hyperplasia, metaplasia,
dysplasia, necrosis, apoptosis)
2. Cell membrane transport and fluid compartments (osmosis, diffusion, active transport,
edema, tonicity)
3. Electrolyte imbalances (sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphate) and
acid-base disorders
4. Inflammation, vascular response, and chemical mediators (histamine, prostaglandins,
bradykinin, cytokines)
5. Wound healing (primary, secondary, tertiary intention; granulation; remodeling;
healing complications)
6. Innate and adaptive immunity (antibodies, T cells, B cells, MHC, complement,
hypersensitivity types I–IV)
7. Immunodeficiency and autoimmune disorders (HIV/AIDS, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis,
transplant rejection)
8. Stress response and neuroendocrine regulation (HPA axis, cortisol, catecholamines,
general adaptation syndrome)
9. Genetics and genetic disorders (mutations, autosomal dominant/recessive,
chromosomal disorders, multifactorial inheritance)
,10. Neoplasia (benign vs malignant, carcinogenesis, tumor markers, metastasis, grading
and staging)
NSG 3280 Pathophysiology Exam 1
1. A nursing student is reviewing how cells respond to persistent stress and which
adaptive change involves a decrease in cell size and function. Which cellular
adaptation is best described?
A. Hypertrophy
B. Atrophy
C. Hyperplasia
D. Metaplasia
Answer: B
Notes:
Atrophy is a reduction in cell size and often function due to decreased workload,
ischemia, nutrition, or hormonal stimulation.
Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size, not a decrease.
Hyperplasia is an increase in cell number.
Metaplasia is replacement of one mature cell type with another.
,2. During a pathology lecture, the instructor explains that an increase in the number of
cells in an organ in response to hormonal stimulation is called what?
A. Dysplasia
B. Atrophy
C. Hyperplasia
D. Hypertrophy
Answer: C
Notes:
Hyperplasia is an increase in cell number and often occurs in hormonally responsive
tissues such as breast and endometrium.
Dysplasia involves disordered growth and atypical cells.
Atrophy is shrinkage.
Hypertrophy is enlargement of existing cells.
3. A biopsy report describes replacement of normal columnar respiratory epithelium with
stratified squamous epithelium in a chronic smoker. Which adaptive process is most
likely present?
A. Metaplasia
B. Hyperplasia
, C. Atrophy
D. Apoptosis
Answer: A
Notes:
Metaplasia is reversible replacement of one mature cell type by another, often due to
chronic irritation.
Hyperplasia increases cell number without changing cell type.
Atrophy reduces cell size.
Apoptosis is programmed cell death.
4. A pathologist notes disorganized, atypical cells with variation in size and shape but no
invasion beyond the basement membrane. Which term best describes this finding?
A. Dysplasia
B. Metaplasia
C. Hypertrophy
D. Necrosis
Answer: A
Notes:
dysplasia, necrosis, apoptosis)
2. Cell membrane transport and fluid compartments (osmosis, diffusion, active transport,
edema, tonicity)
3. Electrolyte imbalances (sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphate) and
acid-base disorders
4. Inflammation, vascular response, and chemical mediators (histamine, prostaglandins,
bradykinin, cytokines)
5. Wound healing (primary, secondary, tertiary intention; granulation; remodeling;
healing complications)
6. Innate and adaptive immunity (antibodies, T cells, B cells, MHC, complement,
hypersensitivity types I–IV)
7. Immunodeficiency and autoimmune disorders (HIV/AIDS, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis,
transplant rejection)
8. Stress response and neuroendocrine regulation (HPA axis, cortisol, catecholamines,
general adaptation syndrome)
9. Genetics and genetic disorders (mutations, autosomal dominant/recessive,
chromosomal disorders, multifactorial inheritance)
,10. Neoplasia (benign vs malignant, carcinogenesis, tumor markers, metastasis, grading
and staging)
NSG 3280 Pathophysiology Exam 1
1. A nursing student is reviewing how cells respond to persistent stress and which
adaptive change involves a decrease in cell size and function. Which cellular
adaptation is best described?
A. Hypertrophy
B. Atrophy
C. Hyperplasia
D. Metaplasia
Answer: B
Notes:
Atrophy is a reduction in cell size and often function due to decreased workload,
ischemia, nutrition, or hormonal stimulation.
Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size, not a decrease.
Hyperplasia is an increase in cell number.
Metaplasia is replacement of one mature cell type with another.
,2. During a pathology lecture, the instructor explains that an increase in the number of
cells in an organ in response to hormonal stimulation is called what?
A. Dysplasia
B. Atrophy
C. Hyperplasia
D. Hypertrophy
Answer: C
Notes:
Hyperplasia is an increase in cell number and often occurs in hormonally responsive
tissues such as breast and endometrium.
Dysplasia involves disordered growth and atypical cells.
Atrophy is shrinkage.
Hypertrophy is enlargement of existing cells.
3. A biopsy report describes replacement of normal columnar respiratory epithelium with
stratified squamous epithelium in a chronic smoker. Which adaptive process is most
likely present?
A. Metaplasia
B. Hyperplasia
, C. Atrophy
D. Apoptosis
Answer: A
Notes:
Metaplasia is reversible replacement of one mature cell type by another, often due to
chronic irritation.
Hyperplasia increases cell number without changing cell type.
Atrophy reduces cell size.
Apoptosis is programmed cell death.
4. A pathologist notes disorganized, atypical cells with variation in size and shape but no
invasion beyond the basement membrane. Which term best describes this finding?
A. Dysplasia
B. Metaplasia
C. Hypertrophy
D. Necrosis
Answer: A
Notes:
