NURS 6501: Advanced Pathophysiology Midterm
Exam Practice Questions for Graduate Nursing
Students Spring 2025
1. What is the primary function of the mitochondria?
A. Protein synthesis
B. DNA replication
C. Energy production
D. Lipid transport
✅ Answer: C. Energy production
Rationale: Mitochondria are known as the "powerhouse" of the cell because they
generate ATP through oxidative phosphorylation.
2. Which type of cell signaling involves communication between adjacent cells?
A. Endocrine
B. Paracrine
C. Autocrine
D. Neurocrine
✅ Answer: B. Paracrine
Rationale: Paracrine signaling involves nearby cells, whereas endocrine signals act
at distant targets via the bloodstream.
3. Which change occurs during cellular hypoxia?
,A. Increased ATP production
B. Decreased lactic acid
C. Anaerobic metabolism
D. Increased protein synthesis
✅ Answer: C. Anaerobic metabolism
Rationale: In the absence of oxygen, cells switch to anaerobic glycolysis,
producing lactic acid and less ATP.
4. What initiates the inflammatory response?
A. T-cell activation
B. Mast cell degranulation
C. Complement inhibition
D. B-cell proliferation
✅ Answer: B. Mast cell degranulation
Rationale: Mast cells release histamine and other chemicals, triggering
inflammation.
5. Which immunoglobulin is first produced in an immune response?
A. IgG
B. IgE
C. IgA
D. IgM
✅ Answer: D. IgM
Rationale: IgM is the first antibody produced during the primary immune
response.
6. What is the hallmark of acute inflammation?
A. Fibrosis
B. Granuloma formation
,C. Edema and neutrophil infiltration
D. T-cell recruitment
✅ Answer: C. Edema and neutrophil infiltration
Rationale: Acute inflammation is characterized by rapid onset of fluid leakage and
neutrophil migration.
7. Which gene mutation is most associated with cancer development?
A. Proto-oncogene activation
B. Oncogene suppression
C. Tumor suppressor gene activation
D. Apoptosis gene enhancement
✅ Answer: A. Proto-oncogene activation
Rationale: When proto-oncogenes become oncogenes, they promote
uncontrolled cell growth.
8. Which type of genetic mutation results in a stop codon?
A. Silent mutation
B. Missense mutation
C. Nonsense mutation
D. Frameshift mutation
✅ Answer: C. Nonsense mutation
Rationale: Nonsense mutations introduce premature stop codons, halting protein
synthesis.
9. Cystic fibrosis is inherited in what pattern?
A. X-linked dominant
B. Autosomal dominant
C. X-linked recessive
D. Autosomal recessive
, ✅ Answer: D. Autosomal recessive
Rationale: Both parents must carry a defective gene for the offspring to express
the disease.
10. What is the main cause of edema in heart failure?
A. Increased plasma proteins
B. Increased capillary permeability
C. Decreased capillary hydrostatic pressure
D. Increased capillary hydrostatic pressure
✅ Answer: D. Increased capillary hydrostatic pressure
Rationale: Left-sided heart failure increases pressure in pulmonary capillaries,
causing fluid leakage.
11. Which electrolyte imbalance is most dangerous in renal failure?
A. Hypernatremia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hyperkalemia
D. Hypocalcemia
✅ Answer: C. Hyperkalemia
Rationale: High potassium can cause fatal cardiac arrhythmias.
12. What effect does ADH have on the kidneys?
A. Promotes sodium excretion
B. Decreases water reabsorption
C. Promotes water reabsorption
D. Increases urine output
✅ Answer: C. Promotes water reabsorption
Rationale: Antidiuretic hormone causes the kidneys to reabsorb more water,
reducing urine volume.
Exam Practice Questions for Graduate Nursing
Students Spring 2025
1. What is the primary function of the mitochondria?
A. Protein synthesis
B. DNA replication
C. Energy production
D. Lipid transport
✅ Answer: C. Energy production
Rationale: Mitochondria are known as the "powerhouse" of the cell because they
generate ATP through oxidative phosphorylation.
2. Which type of cell signaling involves communication between adjacent cells?
A. Endocrine
B. Paracrine
C. Autocrine
D. Neurocrine
✅ Answer: B. Paracrine
Rationale: Paracrine signaling involves nearby cells, whereas endocrine signals act
at distant targets via the bloodstream.
3. Which change occurs during cellular hypoxia?
,A. Increased ATP production
B. Decreased lactic acid
C. Anaerobic metabolism
D. Increased protein synthesis
✅ Answer: C. Anaerobic metabolism
Rationale: In the absence of oxygen, cells switch to anaerobic glycolysis,
producing lactic acid and less ATP.
4. What initiates the inflammatory response?
A. T-cell activation
B. Mast cell degranulation
C. Complement inhibition
D. B-cell proliferation
✅ Answer: B. Mast cell degranulation
Rationale: Mast cells release histamine and other chemicals, triggering
inflammation.
5. Which immunoglobulin is first produced in an immune response?
A. IgG
B. IgE
C. IgA
D. IgM
✅ Answer: D. IgM
Rationale: IgM is the first antibody produced during the primary immune
response.
6. What is the hallmark of acute inflammation?
A. Fibrosis
B. Granuloma formation
,C. Edema and neutrophil infiltration
D. T-cell recruitment
✅ Answer: C. Edema and neutrophil infiltration
Rationale: Acute inflammation is characterized by rapid onset of fluid leakage and
neutrophil migration.
7. Which gene mutation is most associated with cancer development?
A. Proto-oncogene activation
B. Oncogene suppression
C. Tumor suppressor gene activation
D. Apoptosis gene enhancement
✅ Answer: A. Proto-oncogene activation
Rationale: When proto-oncogenes become oncogenes, they promote
uncontrolled cell growth.
8. Which type of genetic mutation results in a stop codon?
A. Silent mutation
B. Missense mutation
C. Nonsense mutation
D. Frameshift mutation
✅ Answer: C. Nonsense mutation
Rationale: Nonsense mutations introduce premature stop codons, halting protein
synthesis.
9. Cystic fibrosis is inherited in what pattern?
A. X-linked dominant
B. Autosomal dominant
C. X-linked recessive
D. Autosomal recessive
, ✅ Answer: D. Autosomal recessive
Rationale: Both parents must carry a defective gene for the offspring to express
the disease.
10. What is the main cause of edema in heart failure?
A. Increased plasma proteins
B. Increased capillary permeability
C. Decreased capillary hydrostatic pressure
D. Increased capillary hydrostatic pressure
✅ Answer: D. Increased capillary hydrostatic pressure
Rationale: Left-sided heart failure increases pressure in pulmonary capillaries,
causing fluid leakage.
11. Which electrolyte imbalance is most dangerous in renal failure?
A. Hypernatremia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hyperkalemia
D. Hypocalcemia
✅ Answer: C. Hyperkalemia
Rationale: High potassium can cause fatal cardiac arrhythmias.
12. What effect does ADH have on the kidneys?
A. Promotes sodium excretion
B. Decreases water reabsorption
C. Promotes water reabsorption
D. Increases urine output
✅ Answer: C. Promotes water reabsorption
Rationale: Antidiuretic hormone causes the kidneys to reabsorb more water,
reducing urine volume.
