NRS 232 Cardiac Pathophysiology – Unit 7 Final Exam Questions and Answers
(2025/2026, Graded A+
What is pathophysiology? - ANSWER-Book Definition: "Pathology is the study and
diagnosis of disease through examination of organs, tissues, cells, and bodily
fluids. Physiology is the study of the mechanical, physical, and biochemical
functions of living organisms. Together, as pathophysiology, the term refers to the
study of abnormalities in physiologic functioning of living beings.
How are etiology and pathogenesis used to predict clinical manifestations and
response to therapy? - ANSWER-Book Definition: "pathogenesis is a description of
how etiologic factors are thought to alter physiologic function and lead to the
development of clinical manifestations that are observed in a particular disorder
or disease."
Knowledge Question: A healthcare provider is caring for a person with an inborn
error of metabolism. Which would be an expected finding? - ANSWER-Metabolite
accumulation in the cells
Which statement indicates cell death from apoptosis as opposed to necrosis? -
ANSWER-Cells dismantle and cell blebs are phagocytized by macrophages.
Which finding indicates that a person has wet gangrene, instead of an infarction,
in a lower extremity wound? - ANSWER-Bacteria in the wound
Somatic death refers to death: - ANSWER-of the entire organism.
A change in a tissue marked by cells that vary quite a bit in size and shape, and
with increased mitotic divisions indicates which of the following: - ANSWER-
dysplasia.
What term should you use when talking with professional colleagues to describe a
change from squamous to columnar epithelium in the esophageal lining due to chronic
acid reflux? - ANSWER-Metaplasia
When a cell is injured from lack of oxygen - ANSWER-it may recover if oxygen is
restored before the injury is irreversible.
Hyperplasia is beneficial because it: - ANSWER-causes cells to become larger and
stronger.
You are preparing a poster on cell aging for an educational poster day at your home
health agency. Which of the following terms should you use to explain the concept
that most cells have a limited number of divisions? - ANSWER-Telomere
Billy, age 10, will have his cast removed from his broken arm later today. You
explain to Billy that his arm will probably look different when the cast is
removed. It probably will be: - ANSWER-smaller, due to muscle atrophy from lack of
use
Of the following situations, which one would be an example of a maladaptive
cellular change? - ANSWER-44-year-old male with a 60 pack/year smoking history who
was diagnosed with a histological grade-3 lung cancer
A client is experiencing muscle atrophy following 2 weeks in traction after a motor
vehicle accident. Which factor has most likely contributed to the atrophy of the
client's muscle cells? - ANSWER-A reduction of skeletal muscle use secondary to the
traction treatment
The nurse is teaching new nursing assistants on the unit about the phenomenon of
muscle hypertrophy. Which client on the unit is most likely to experience muscle
hypertrophy? A client with: - ANSWER-hypertension, obesity, and decreased activity
intolerance
Which client is at high risk for developing dilated cardiomyopathy? - ANSWER-44-
year-old non-compliant female who forgets to take her hypertensive medications
Which student statement demonstrates a sound understanding of the cellular
processes of hypertrophy and hyperplasia? - ANSWER-"I know that cells, like
neurons, have little capacity for hyperplastic growth"
A nurse in the emergency department admits a male client who has experienced severe
frostbite to his hands and toes after becoming lost on a ski hill. The nurse
recognizes that which phenomenon has contributed to his tissue damage? - ANSWER-
Decreased blood flow has induced hypoxia.
During a myocardial infarction (MI), a client with a 97% occlusion of the left
, descending artery develops ventricular dysrhythmias due to the amount of ischemia
occurring in the myocardium. While providing education about MI's, which statement
is most accurate to share with this client? - ANSWER-Treatment needs to be sought
immediately so that the buildup of lactic acid is limited and cellular changes can
be reversed.
Which statement most accurately conveys an aspect of cell injury due to impaired
calcium homeostasis? - ANSWER-Injured cells tend to accumulate calcium.
The nurse is caring for a client with arterial insufficiency of the left leg with
gangrenous wounds on the second and third toes. What characteristics of the wounds
should the nurse evaluate as expected? Select all that apply. - ANSWER-A clear
demarcation between the healthy and affected tissue
Diminished pulse strength
Atrophy to the affected toes
Darkened appearance of affected tissue
Which change exemplifies physiologic hypertrophy? - ANSWER-Muscle mass increase
with exercise
The nurse is counseling a heavy smoker about the dangers of smoking. The nurse
tells the smoker that due to persistent irritation of the lungs from carcinogens,
the normal ciliated columnar epithelial cells of the trachea may transform into
stratisfied squamous epithelial cells as a method of adaptation known as: - ANSWER-
metaplasia
The client is found to have liver disease, resulting in the removal of a lobe of
the liver. Adaptation to the reduced size of the liver leads to which phenomenon in
the remaining liver cells? - ANSWER-Compensatory hyperplasia
The obstetric nurse explains to the client that when she stops breast feeding, her
breast tissue will reduce in size. The nurse understands that this regression is
due to which physiologic process? - ANSWER-Apoptosis
A client's lab report returns and a nurse is explaining to the client the
significance of the changes. The nurse states the finding is implicated as a
precursor to cancer. Which finding was most likely on the lab report? - ANSWER-
Dysplasia
Which condition is an example of physiologic hyperplasia? - ANSWER-Uterine
enlargement in pregnancy
A 23-year-old man has received a recent diagnosis of appendicitis. The nurse
providing care for the man is explaining that the inflammation of his appendix is
playing a role in his body's fight against the underlying infectious process. Which
teaching points should the nurse eliminate from client education? -
ANSWER-"Inflammation helps your body to produce the right antibodies to fight the
infection."
A client presented to the emergency department of the hospital with a swollen,
reddened, painful leg wound and has been diagnosed with methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) cellulitis. The client's physician has ordered a
complete blood count and white cell differential. Which blood component would the
physician most likely anticipate to be elevated? - ANSWER-Neutrophils
Which phenomena best accounts for the increased presence of leukocytes at the site
of inflammation? - ANSWER-Existing leukocytes stick to the epithelial cells and
move along blood vessel walls.
A deficiency in which of these would result in an inhibition of the inflammatory
response? - ANSWER-Histamine
Which aspect of a client's site of inflammation would help the care provider rule
out chronic inflammation? - ANSWER-Increased neutrophils
A 24-year-old woman presents with fever and painful, swollen cervical lymph noses.
Her blood work indicates neutrophilia with a shift to the left. She most likely
has: - ANSWER-A severe bacterial infection
Which client would have a very poor response related to tissue regeneration of his
or her injured area? - ANSWER-54-year-old male who had a massive MI 4 days ago and
came to the ED today for treatment.
Which client is most likely to have impairments to the wound healing process? A
client with: - ANSWER-poorly controlled blood sugars with small blood vessel
(2025/2026, Graded A+
What is pathophysiology? - ANSWER-Book Definition: "Pathology is the study and
diagnosis of disease through examination of organs, tissues, cells, and bodily
fluids. Physiology is the study of the mechanical, physical, and biochemical
functions of living organisms. Together, as pathophysiology, the term refers to the
study of abnormalities in physiologic functioning of living beings.
How are etiology and pathogenesis used to predict clinical manifestations and
response to therapy? - ANSWER-Book Definition: "pathogenesis is a description of
how etiologic factors are thought to alter physiologic function and lead to the
development of clinical manifestations that are observed in a particular disorder
or disease."
Knowledge Question: A healthcare provider is caring for a person with an inborn
error of metabolism. Which would be an expected finding? - ANSWER-Metabolite
accumulation in the cells
Which statement indicates cell death from apoptosis as opposed to necrosis? -
ANSWER-Cells dismantle and cell blebs are phagocytized by macrophages.
Which finding indicates that a person has wet gangrene, instead of an infarction,
in a lower extremity wound? - ANSWER-Bacteria in the wound
Somatic death refers to death: - ANSWER-of the entire organism.
A change in a tissue marked by cells that vary quite a bit in size and shape, and
with increased mitotic divisions indicates which of the following: - ANSWER-
dysplasia.
What term should you use when talking with professional colleagues to describe a
change from squamous to columnar epithelium in the esophageal lining due to chronic
acid reflux? - ANSWER-Metaplasia
When a cell is injured from lack of oxygen - ANSWER-it may recover if oxygen is
restored before the injury is irreversible.
Hyperplasia is beneficial because it: - ANSWER-causes cells to become larger and
stronger.
You are preparing a poster on cell aging for an educational poster day at your home
health agency. Which of the following terms should you use to explain the concept
that most cells have a limited number of divisions? - ANSWER-Telomere
Billy, age 10, will have his cast removed from his broken arm later today. You
explain to Billy that his arm will probably look different when the cast is
removed. It probably will be: - ANSWER-smaller, due to muscle atrophy from lack of
use
Of the following situations, which one would be an example of a maladaptive
cellular change? - ANSWER-44-year-old male with a 60 pack/year smoking history who
was diagnosed with a histological grade-3 lung cancer
A client is experiencing muscle atrophy following 2 weeks in traction after a motor
vehicle accident. Which factor has most likely contributed to the atrophy of the
client's muscle cells? - ANSWER-A reduction of skeletal muscle use secondary to the
traction treatment
The nurse is teaching new nursing assistants on the unit about the phenomenon of
muscle hypertrophy. Which client on the unit is most likely to experience muscle
hypertrophy? A client with: - ANSWER-hypertension, obesity, and decreased activity
intolerance
Which client is at high risk for developing dilated cardiomyopathy? - ANSWER-44-
year-old non-compliant female who forgets to take her hypertensive medications
Which student statement demonstrates a sound understanding of the cellular
processes of hypertrophy and hyperplasia? - ANSWER-"I know that cells, like
neurons, have little capacity for hyperplastic growth"
A nurse in the emergency department admits a male client who has experienced severe
frostbite to his hands and toes after becoming lost on a ski hill. The nurse
recognizes that which phenomenon has contributed to his tissue damage? - ANSWER-
Decreased blood flow has induced hypoxia.
During a myocardial infarction (MI), a client with a 97% occlusion of the left
, descending artery develops ventricular dysrhythmias due to the amount of ischemia
occurring in the myocardium. While providing education about MI's, which statement
is most accurate to share with this client? - ANSWER-Treatment needs to be sought
immediately so that the buildup of lactic acid is limited and cellular changes can
be reversed.
Which statement most accurately conveys an aspect of cell injury due to impaired
calcium homeostasis? - ANSWER-Injured cells tend to accumulate calcium.
The nurse is caring for a client with arterial insufficiency of the left leg with
gangrenous wounds on the second and third toes. What characteristics of the wounds
should the nurse evaluate as expected? Select all that apply. - ANSWER-A clear
demarcation between the healthy and affected tissue
Diminished pulse strength
Atrophy to the affected toes
Darkened appearance of affected tissue
Which change exemplifies physiologic hypertrophy? - ANSWER-Muscle mass increase
with exercise
The nurse is counseling a heavy smoker about the dangers of smoking. The nurse
tells the smoker that due to persistent irritation of the lungs from carcinogens,
the normal ciliated columnar epithelial cells of the trachea may transform into
stratisfied squamous epithelial cells as a method of adaptation known as: - ANSWER-
metaplasia
The client is found to have liver disease, resulting in the removal of a lobe of
the liver. Adaptation to the reduced size of the liver leads to which phenomenon in
the remaining liver cells? - ANSWER-Compensatory hyperplasia
The obstetric nurse explains to the client that when she stops breast feeding, her
breast tissue will reduce in size. The nurse understands that this regression is
due to which physiologic process? - ANSWER-Apoptosis
A client's lab report returns and a nurse is explaining to the client the
significance of the changes. The nurse states the finding is implicated as a
precursor to cancer. Which finding was most likely on the lab report? - ANSWER-
Dysplasia
Which condition is an example of physiologic hyperplasia? - ANSWER-Uterine
enlargement in pregnancy
A 23-year-old man has received a recent diagnosis of appendicitis. The nurse
providing care for the man is explaining that the inflammation of his appendix is
playing a role in his body's fight against the underlying infectious process. Which
teaching points should the nurse eliminate from client education? -
ANSWER-"Inflammation helps your body to produce the right antibodies to fight the
infection."
A client presented to the emergency department of the hospital with a swollen,
reddened, painful leg wound and has been diagnosed with methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) cellulitis. The client's physician has ordered a
complete blood count and white cell differential. Which blood component would the
physician most likely anticipate to be elevated? - ANSWER-Neutrophils
Which phenomena best accounts for the increased presence of leukocytes at the site
of inflammation? - ANSWER-Existing leukocytes stick to the epithelial cells and
move along blood vessel walls.
A deficiency in which of these would result in an inhibition of the inflammatory
response? - ANSWER-Histamine
Which aspect of a client's site of inflammation would help the care provider rule
out chronic inflammation? - ANSWER-Increased neutrophils
A 24-year-old woman presents with fever and painful, swollen cervical lymph noses.
Her blood work indicates neutrophilia with a shift to the left. She most likely
has: - ANSWER-A severe bacterial infection
Which client would have a very poor response related to tissue regeneration of his
or her injured area? - ANSWER-54-year-old male who had a massive MI 4 days ago and
came to the ED today for treatment.
Which client is most likely to have impairments to the wound healing process? A
client with: - ANSWER-poorly controlled blood sugars with small blood vessel
