,NR 283 Final Exam Pathophysiology | Questions & Answers
2026/2027 | Chamberlain
1.** A patient with long-standing, untreated hypertension undergoes an
echocardiogram. The results reveal significant thickening of the left
ventricular wall. Which cellular adaptation has occurred?
A) Hyperplasia
B) Metaplasia
C) Hypertrophy
D) Dysplasia
**Correct Answer:** C) Hypertrophy
**Rationale:** Hypertrophy is an increase in the size of individual cells, often
caused by an increased mechanical workload or stress, such as the heart
pumping against high systemic vascular resistance. This adaptation allows
the heart to generate more force but can eventually become maladaptive.
---
**2.** A tissue biopsy of a chronic smoker's bronchi reveals that normal
ciliated columnar epithelial cells have been replaced by stratified squamous
epithelial cells. This is an example of which process?
A) Anaplasia
B) Metaplasia
C) Dysplasia
D) Atrophy
,**Correct Answer:** B) Metaplasia
**Rationale:** Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one mature cell
type by another mature cell type, usually as an adaptive response to chronic
irritation or injury. In smokers, the respiratory epithelium changes from
ciliated columnar to stratified squamous cells, which are more resistant to
irritation but lose protective functions.
---
**3.** During an ischemic event, a lack of oxygen leads to a decrease in
cellular ATP production. Which immediate consequence occurs within the
cell?
A) Shrinkage of the nucleus
B) Failure of the sodium-potassium pump, leading to cellular swelling
C) Decreased intracellular calcium levels
D) Increased intracellular pH
**Correct Answer:** B) Failure of the sodium-potassium pump, leading to
cellular swelling
**Rationale:** Decreased ATP causes the Na⁺/K⁺ ATPase pump to fail. Sodium
accumulates inside the cell, pulling water in by osmosis, which results in
acute cellular swelling. This is an early sign of reversible cell injury.
---
, **4.** A patient has been diagnosed with a condition that triggers
premature, programmed cellular suicide in specific healthy tissues. What is
the medical term for this programmed cell death?
A) Liquefactive necrosis
B) Coagulative necrosis
C) Apoptosis
D) Infarction
**Correct Answer:** C) Apoptosis
**Rationale:** Apoptosis is a highly regulated, distinct process of
programmed cell death designed to eliminate unwanted or damaged cells
without triggering inflammation. It is energy-dependent and does not cause
an inflammatory response, unlike necrosis.
---
**5.** A patient with a myocardial infarction has cardiac tissue that is dead
but maintains cell outlines. The nurse recognizes this as:
A) Coagulative necrosis
B) Liquefactive necrosis
C) Caseous necrosis
D) Fat necrosis
**Correct Answer:** A) Coagulative necrosis
2026/2027 | Chamberlain
1.** A patient with long-standing, untreated hypertension undergoes an
echocardiogram. The results reveal significant thickening of the left
ventricular wall. Which cellular adaptation has occurred?
A) Hyperplasia
B) Metaplasia
C) Hypertrophy
D) Dysplasia
**Correct Answer:** C) Hypertrophy
**Rationale:** Hypertrophy is an increase in the size of individual cells, often
caused by an increased mechanical workload or stress, such as the heart
pumping against high systemic vascular resistance. This adaptation allows
the heart to generate more force but can eventually become maladaptive.
---
**2.** A tissue biopsy of a chronic smoker's bronchi reveals that normal
ciliated columnar epithelial cells have been replaced by stratified squamous
epithelial cells. This is an example of which process?
A) Anaplasia
B) Metaplasia
C) Dysplasia
D) Atrophy
,**Correct Answer:** B) Metaplasia
**Rationale:** Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one mature cell
type by another mature cell type, usually as an adaptive response to chronic
irritation or injury. In smokers, the respiratory epithelium changes from
ciliated columnar to stratified squamous cells, which are more resistant to
irritation but lose protective functions.
---
**3.** During an ischemic event, a lack of oxygen leads to a decrease in
cellular ATP production. Which immediate consequence occurs within the
cell?
A) Shrinkage of the nucleus
B) Failure of the sodium-potassium pump, leading to cellular swelling
C) Decreased intracellular calcium levels
D) Increased intracellular pH
**Correct Answer:** B) Failure of the sodium-potassium pump, leading to
cellular swelling
**Rationale:** Decreased ATP causes the Na⁺/K⁺ ATPase pump to fail. Sodium
accumulates inside the cell, pulling water in by osmosis, which results in
acute cellular swelling. This is an early sign of reversible cell injury.
---
, **4.** A patient has been diagnosed with a condition that triggers
premature, programmed cellular suicide in specific healthy tissues. What is
the medical term for this programmed cell death?
A) Liquefactive necrosis
B) Coagulative necrosis
C) Apoptosis
D) Infarction
**Correct Answer:** C) Apoptosis
**Rationale:** Apoptosis is a highly regulated, distinct process of
programmed cell death designed to eliminate unwanted or damaged cells
without triggering inflammation. It is energy-dependent and does not cause
an inflammatory response, unlike necrosis.
---
**5.** A patient with a myocardial infarction has cardiac tissue that is dead
but maintains cell outlines. The nurse recognizes this as:
A) Coagulative necrosis
B) Liquefactive necrosis
C) Caseous necrosis
D) Fat necrosis
**Correct Answer:** A) Coagulative necrosis
