Nursing Pathophysiology — Exam 3
Complete Study Guide Questions With
Verified Answers & Detailed Rationales
2026-2027 Update Brand New Version!!
1. Which cellular change is most directly associated with hypertrophy?
A. Increase in cell number
B. Increase in cell size
C. Decrease in cell size
D. Replacement of one cell type by another
Correct Answer: B. Increase in cell size
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in individual cell size, resulting in enlargement of the
affected tissue or organ.
2. Which process involves an increase in the number of cells within a tissue?
A. Hypertrophy
B. Atrophy
C. Hyperplasia
D. Metaplasia
Correct Answer: C. Hyperplasia
Rationale: Hyperplasia results from increased cell proliferation and therefore increases the
number of cells in a tissue.
3. Which cellular adaptation occurs when one mature cell type is replaced by another mature
cell type?
A. Dysplasia
B. Metaplasia
C. Hypertrophy
D. Necrosis
,Correct Answer: B. Metaplasia
Rationale: Metaplasia is a reversible adaptation in which one differentiated cell type changes to
another better able to tolerate a particular stress.
4. Which finding is most characteristic of cellular injury caused by inadequate oxygen?
A. Increased ATP production
B. Failure of the sodium-potassium pump
C. Increased protein synthesis
D. Increased oxidative phosphorylation
Correct Answer: B. Failure of the sodium-potassium pump
Rationale: Reduced oxygen decreases ATP production, impairing ATP-dependent membrane
pumps and causing cellular swelling.
5. What is the primary consequence of decreased ATP production during reversible cell injury?
A. Increased DNA replication
B. Failure of energy-dependent cellular processes
C. Increased mitochondrial activity
D. Increased protein synthesis
Correct Answer: B. Failure of energy-dependent cellular processes
Rationale: ATP is required for membrane transport, protein synthesis, and other cellular
functions. ATP depletion disrupts these processes.
6. Which finding is most consistent with irreversible cellular injury?
A. Mild cellular swelling
B. Fatty change
C. Severe mitochondrial damage
D. Temporary reduction in ATP
Correct Answer: C. Severe mitochondrial damage
Rationale: Severe mitochondrial dysfunction and extensive membrane damage are associated
with irreversible injury and cell death.
7. Which form of cell death is characterized by controlled, programmed cellular destruction?
A. Necrosis
,B. Apoptosis
C. Ischemia
D. Infarction
Correct Answer: B. Apoptosis
Rationale: Apoptosis is programmed cell death that generally occurs without the extensive
inflammation associated with necrosis.
8. Which finding is most characteristic of necrosis?
A. Controlled cell removal without inflammation
B. Cell death with inflammatory response
C. Normal cellular turnover
D. Increased cellular replication
Correct Answer: B. Cell death with inflammatory response
Rationale: Necrotic cells lose membrane integrity, release intracellular contents, and commonly
trigger inflammation.
9. Which substance is primarily responsible for maintaining plasma oncotic pressure?
A. Sodium
B. Albumin
C. Glucose
D. Potassium
Correct Answer: B. Albumin
Rationale: Albumin is the major plasma protein contributing to colloid oncotic pressure and
helps retain fluid within blood vessels.
10. A patient develops generalized edema after severe loss of plasma proteins. What
mechanism best explains the edema?
A. Increased plasma oncotic pressure
B. Decreased plasma oncotic pressure
C. Increased lymphatic drainage
D. Decreased capillary permeability
, Correct Answer: B. Decreased plasma oncotic pressure
Rationale: Loss of albumin reduces plasma oncotic pressure, allowing fluid to move from the
intravascular space into the interstitial tissues.
11. Which mediator is strongly associated with increased vascular permeability during acute
inflammation?
A. Histamine
B. Insulin
C. Erythropoietin
D. Thyroxine
Correct Answer: A. Histamine
Rationale: Histamine released by mast cells increases vascular permeability and contributes to
edema during acute inflammation.
12. Which leukocyte is typically one of the first cells recruited during acute bacterial
inflammation?
A. Neutrophil
B. Eosinophil
C. Plasma cell
D. Basophil
Correct Answer: A. Neutrophil
Rationale: Neutrophils are major early responders to acute bacterial infection and tissue injury.
13. Which inflammatory response is most directly responsible for redness and warmth at an
injured site?
A. Vasoconstriction
B. Increased blood flow
C. Decreased vascular permeability
D. Reduced cardiac output
Correct Answer: B. Increased blood flow
Rationale: Vasodilation increases local blood flow, producing the characteristic redness and
warmth of acute inflammation.
Complete Study Guide Questions With
Verified Answers & Detailed Rationales
2026-2027 Update Brand New Version!!
1. Which cellular change is most directly associated with hypertrophy?
A. Increase in cell number
B. Increase in cell size
C. Decrease in cell size
D. Replacement of one cell type by another
Correct Answer: B. Increase in cell size
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in individual cell size, resulting in enlargement of the
affected tissue or organ.
2. Which process involves an increase in the number of cells within a tissue?
A. Hypertrophy
B. Atrophy
C. Hyperplasia
D. Metaplasia
Correct Answer: C. Hyperplasia
Rationale: Hyperplasia results from increased cell proliferation and therefore increases the
number of cells in a tissue.
3. Which cellular adaptation occurs when one mature cell type is replaced by another mature
cell type?
A. Dysplasia
B. Metaplasia
C. Hypertrophy
D. Necrosis
,Correct Answer: B. Metaplasia
Rationale: Metaplasia is a reversible adaptation in which one differentiated cell type changes to
another better able to tolerate a particular stress.
4. Which finding is most characteristic of cellular injury caused by inadequate oxygen?
A. Increased ATP production
B. Failure of the sodium-potassium pump
C. Increased protein synthesis
D. Increased oxidative phosphorylation
Correct Answer: B. Failure of the sodium-potassium pump
Rationale: Reduced oxygen decreases ATP production, impairing ATP-dependent membrane
pumps and causing cellular swelling.
5. What is the primary consequence of decreased ATP production during reversible cell injury?
A. Increased DNA replication
B. Failure of energy-dependent cellular processes
C. Increased mitochondrial activity
D. Increased protein synthesis
Correct Answer: B. Failure of energy-dependent cellular processes
Rationale: ATP is required for membrane transport, protein synthesis, and other cellular
functions. ATP depletion disrupts these processes.
6. Which finding is most consistent with irreversible cellular injury?
A. Mild cellular swelling
B. Fatty change
C. Severe mitochondrial damage
D. Temporary reduction in ATP
Correct Answer: C. Severe mitochondrial damage
Rationale: Severe mitochondrial dysfunction and extensive membrane damage are associated
with irreversible injury and cell death.
7. Which form of cell death is characterized by controlled, programmed cellular destruction?
A. Necrosis
,B. Apoptosis
C. Ischemia
D. Infarction
Correct Answer: B. Apoptosis
Rationale: Apoptosis is programmed cell death that generally occurs without the extensive
inflammation associated with necrosis.
8. Which finding is most characteristic of necrosis?
A. Controlled cell removal without inflammation
B. Cell death with inflammatory response
C. Normal cellular turnover
D. Increased cellular replication
Correct Answer: B. Cell death with inflammatory response
Rationale: Necrotic cells lose membrane integrity, release intracellular contents, and commonly
trigger inflammation.
9. Which substance is primarily responsible for maintaining plasma oncotic pressure?
A. Sodium
B. Albumin
C. Glucose
D. Potassium
Correct Answer: B. Albumin
Rationale: Albumin is the major plasma protein contributing to colloid oncotic pressure and
helps retain fluid within blood vessels.
10. A patient develops generalized edema after severe loss of plasma proteins. What
mechanism best explains the edema?
A. Increased plasma oncotic pressure
B. Decreased plasma oncotic pressure
C. Increased lymphatic drainage
D. Decreased capillary permeability
, Correct Answer: B. Decreased plasma oncotic pressure
Rationale: Loss of albumin reduces plasma oncotic pressure, allowing fluid to move from the
intravascular space into the interstitial tissues.
11. Which mediator is strongly associated with increased vascular permeability during acute
inflammation?
A. Histamine
B. Insulin
C. Erythropoietin
D. Thyroxine
Correct Answer: A. Histamine
Rationale: Histamine released by mast cells increases vascular permeability and contributes to
edema during acute inflammation.
12. Which leukocyte is typically one of the first cells recruited during acute bacterial
inflammation?
A. Neutrophil
B. Eosinophil
C. Plasma cell
D. Basophil
Correct Answer: A. Neutrophil
Rationale: Neutrophils are major early responders to acute bacterial infection and tissue injury.
13. Which inflammatory response is most directly responsible for redness and warmth at an
injured site?
A. Vasoconstriction
B. Increased blood flow
C. Decreased vascular permeability
D. Reduced cardiac output
Correct Answer: B. Increased blood flow
Rationale: Vasodilation increases local blood flow, producing the characteristic redness and
warmth of acute inflammation.
