PATHOPHYSIOLOGY Exam 1 Questions with
100% Correct Answers Latest Versions 2025
Graded A+
Pathophysiology Exam 1 in nursing programs (e.g., Rasmussen,
Chamberlain, or similar courses) typically covers foundational concepts
from the early chapters of textbooks like *Porth's Essentials of
Pathophysiology* or *Understanding Pathophysiology* by Huether. Key
topics include:
1. A patient has a lobe of the liver removed due to disease. Adaptation
in the remaining liver cells is best described as:
A. Metaplasia
B. Organ atrophy
C. Compensatory hyperplasia
D. Physiologic hyperplasia
**Correct Answer**>>C Compensatory hyperplasia**
Explanation: After partial removal, remaining liver cells increase in
number to compensate (hyperplasia), a common adaptation in organs
like the liver.
,2. Muscular atrophy involves a decrease in muscle cell:
A. Number
B. Size
C. Vacuoles
D. Lipofuscin
**Correct Answer**>>B Size**
Explanation: Atrophy is a reduction in cell size (and thus tissue mass),
often from disuse, denervation, or reduced nutrition.
3. A smoker develops changes where bronchial columnar ciliated
epithelium is replaced by stratified squamous epithelium. This
adaptation is:
A. Anaplasia
B. Hyperplasia
C. Metaplasia
D. Dysplasia
**Correct Answer**>>C Metaplasia**
Explanation: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one
differentiated cell type with another, often as a protective response to
chronic irritation (e.g., smoking).
,4. Dry gangrene on a toe in a patient with severe peripheral vascular
disease is most likely due to:
A. Inappropriate activation of apoptosis
B. Bacterial invasion
C. Ischemic coagulative necrosis
D. Liquefactive necrosis
**Correct Answer**>>C Ischemic coagulative necrosis**
Explanation: Dry gangrene results from ischemia (reduced blood flow),
leading to coagulative necrosis where tissue architecture is preserved
but cells die.
5. Pathophysiology is best described as the study of:
A. Causes of diseases only
B. Signs and symptoms of disease
C. Cellular/tissue changes from disease
D. Functional/physiologic changes in the body from disease processes
**Correct Answer**>>D. Functional/physiologic changes in the body
from disease processes**
, Explanation: Pathophysiology focuses on how diseases alter normal
body functions (vs. pathology, which is structural changes).
6. Hyperplasia refers to:
A. Increase in cell size
B. Decrease in tissue mass
C. Increase in number of cells
D. Replacement of one cell type with another
**Correct Answer**>>C Increase in number of cells**
Explanation: Common in hormone-stimulated tissues (e.g.,
endometrial hyperplasia) or compensatory responses.
7. A Pap smear examines cervical cells for:
A. Presence of unexpected cell types
B. Changes in cell shape, size, and organization
C. Bacterial infection
D. Viral load only
**Correct Answer**>>BChanges in cell shape, size, and organization**
Explanation: Looks for dysplasia or neoplastic changes indicative of
cervical cancer risk.
100% Correct Answers Latest Versions 2025
Graded A+
Pathophysiology Exam 1 in nursing programs (e.g., Rasmussen,
Chamberlain, or similar courses) typically covers foundational concepts
from the early chapters of textbooks like *Porth's Essentials of
Pathophysiology* or *Understanding Pathophysiology* by Huether. Key
topics include:
1. A patient has a lobe of the liver removed due to disease. Adaptation
in the remaining liver cells is best described as:
A. Metaplasia
B. Organ atrophy
C. Compensatory hyperplasia
D. Physiologic hyperplasia
**Correct Answer**>>C Compensatory hyperplasia**
Explanation: After partial removal, remaining liver cells increase in
number to compensate (hyperplasia), a common adaptation in organs
like the liver.
,2. Muscular atrophy involves a decrease in muscle cell:
A. Number
B. Size
C. Vacuoles
D. Lipofuscin
**Correct Answer**>>B Size**
Explanation: Atrophy is a reduction in cell size (and thus tissue mass),
often from disuse, denervation, or reduced nutrition.
3. A smoker develops changes where bronchial columnar ciliated
epithelium is replaced by stratified squamous epithelium. This
adaptation is:
A. Anaplasia
B. Hyperplasia
C. Metaplasia
D. Dysplasia
**Correct Answer**>>C Metaplasia**
Explanation: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one
differentiated cell type with another, often as a protective response to
chronic irritation (e.g., smoking).
,4. Dry gangrene on a toe in a patient with severe peripheral vascular
disease is most likely due to:
A. Inappropriate activation of apoptosis
B. Bacterial invasion
C. Ischemic coagulative necrosis
D. Liquefactive necrosis
**Correct Answer**>>C Ischemic coagulative necrosis**
Explanation: Dry gangrene results from ischemia (reduced blood flow),
leading to coagulative necrosis where tissue architecture is preserved
but cells die.
5. Pathophysiology is best described as the study of:
A. Causes of diseases only
B. Signs and symptoms of disease
C. Cellular/tissue changes from disease
D. Functional/physiologic changes in the body from disease processes
**Correct Answer**>>D. Functional/physiologic changes in the body
from disease processes**
, Explanation: Pathophysiology focuses on how diseases alter normal
body functions (vs. pathology, which is structural changes).
6. Hyperplasia refers to:
A. Increase in cell size
B. Decrease in tissue mass
C. Increase in number of cells
D. Replacement of one cell type with another
**Correct Answer**>>C Increase in number of cells**
Explanation: Common in hormone-stimulated tissues (e.g.,
endometrial hyperplasia) or compensatory responses.
7. A Pap smear examines cervical cells for:
A. Presence of unexpected cell types
B. Changes in cell shape, size, and organization
C. Bacterial infection
D. Viral load only
**Correct Answer**>>BChanges in cell shape, size, and organization**
Explanation: Looks for dysplasia or neoplastic changes indicative of
cervical cancer risk.
