NR 507 Final Exam 2026 — Latest Practice Questions
with Answers & Detailed Explanations
Questions 1–25
1. Which cellular adaptation occurs when a tissue increases in cell size in response
to increased workload?
A. Hyperplasia
B. Atrophy
C. Hypertrophy
D. Metaplasia
Explanation: Hypertrophy is an increase in the size of existing cells, commonly occurring
when tissues experience increased workload.
2. Which cellular adaptation involves an increase in the number of cells?
A. Hypertrophy
B. Hyperplasia
C. Atrophy
D. Dysplasia
Explanation: Hyperplasia results from increased cellular proliferation and produces an
increase in the number of cells within a tissue.
3. A decrease in cell size caused by reduced workload is called:
A. Hyperplasia
B. Hypertrophy
,C. Metaplasia
D. Atrophy
Explanation: Atrophy is a reduction in cellular size and sometimes cellular number, often
associated with decreased use or inadequate nutrition.
4. Which process involves replacement of one mature cell type by another mature
cell type?
A. Dysplasia
B. Neoplasia
C. Metaplasia
D. Hypertrophy
Explanation: Metaplasia is a reversible adaptation in which one differentiated cell type is
replaced by another better suited to a persistent stressor.
5. Which term describes disordered cellular growth with abnormal cell size, shape,
and organization?
A. Atrophy
B. Hyperplasia
C. Dysplasia
D. Hypertrophy
Explanation: Dysplasia involves abnormal cellular maturation and organization and may be
associated with premalignant changes.
6. Which organelle is primarily responsible for producing cellular ATP?
A. Lysosome
B. Golgi apparatus
,C. Ribosome
D. Mitochondrion
Explanation: Mitochondria generate most cellular ATP through oxidative phosphorylation.
7. What is the major extracellular cation responsible for maintaining fluid balance and
resting membrane potential?
A. Potassium
B. Calcium
C. Sodium
D. Magnesium
Explanation: Sodium is the major extracellular cation and plays an important role in
extracellular volume and membrane physiology.
8. Which ion is the major intracellular cation?
A. Sodium
B. Potassium
C. Chloride
D. Calcium
Explanation: Potassium is the predominant intracellular cation and is essential for cellular
electrical activity.
9. Which mechanism is primarily responsible for maintaining the resting membrane
potential?
A. Calcium influx
B. Selective ion permeability and the sodium-potassium pump
, C. Chloride synthesis
D. Protein degradation
Explanation: Ion gradients maintained by the sodium-potassium ATPase and selective
membrane permeability establish the resting membrane potential.
10. What is apoptosis?
A. Uncontrolled cellular swelling
B. Acute inflammation
C. Programmed cell death
D. Bacterial cell division
Explanation: Apoptosis is a regulated process of cellular death that generally occurs without
the extensive inflammation associated with necrosis.
11. Which finding is most characteristic of necrosis?
A. Controlled cellular removal
B. No inflammatory response
C. Cell membrane disruption with inflammation
D. Normal cellular division
Explanation: Necrosis involves loss of membrane integrity and release of cellular contents,
commonly triggering inflammation.
12. Which process occurs when cells are deprived of adequate oxygen?
A. Increased oxidative phosphorylation
B. Anaerobic metabolism and decreased ATP production
C. Increased mitochondrial efficiency
D. Increased protein synthesis
with Answers & Detailed Explanations
Questions 1–25
1. Which cellular adaptation occurs when a tissue increases in cell size in response
to increased workload?
A. Hyperplasia
B. Atrophy
C. Hypertrophy
D. Metaplasia
Explanation: Hypertrophy is an increase in the size of existing cells, commonly occurring
when tissues experience increased workload.
2. Which cellular adaptation involves an increase in the number of cells?
A. Hypertrophy
B. Hyperplasia
C. Atrophy
D. Dysplasia
Explanation: Hyperplasia results from increased cellular proliferation and produces an
increase in the number of cells within a tissue.
3. A decrease in cell size caused by reduced workload is called:
A. Hyperplasia
B. Hypertrophy
,C. Metaplasia
D. Atrophy
Explanation: Atrophy is a reduction in cellular size and sometimes cellular number, often
associated with decreased use or inadequate nutrition.
4. Which process involves replacement of one mature cell type by another mature
cell type?
A. Dysplasia
B. Neoplasia
C. Metaplasia
D. Hypertrophy
Explanation: Metaplasia is a reversible adaptation in which one differentiated cell type is
replaced by another better suited to a persistent stressor.
5. Which term describes disordered cellular growth with abnormal cell size, shape,
and organization?
A. Atrophy
B. Hyperplasia
C. Dysplasia
D. Hypertrophy
Explanation: Dysplasia involves abnormal cellular maturation and organization and may be
associated with premalignant changes.
6. Which organelle is primarily responsible for producing cellular ATP?
A. Lysosome
B. Golgi apparatus
,C. Ribosome
D. Mitochondrion
Explanation: Mitochondria generate most cellular ATP through oxidative phosphorylation.
7. What is the major extracellular cation responsible for maintaining fluid balance and
resting membrane potential?
A. Potassium
B. Calcium
C. Sodium
D. Magnesium
Explanation: Sodium is the major extracellular cation and plays an important role in
extracellular volume and membrane physiology.
8. Which ion is the major intracellular cation?
A. Sodium
B. Potassium
C. Chloride
D. Calcium
Explanation: Potassium is the predominant intracellular cation and is essential for cellular
electrical activity.
9. Which mechanism is primarily responsible for maintaining the resting membrane
potential?
A. Calcium influx
B. Selective ion permeability and the sodium-potassium pump
, C. Chloride synthesis
D. Protein degradation
Explanation: Ion gradients maintained by the sodium-potassium ATPase and selective
membrane permeability establish the resting membrane potential.
10. What is apoptosis?
A. Uncontrolled cellular swelling
B. Acute inflammation
C. Programmed cell death
D. Bacterial cell division
Explanation: Apoptosis is a regulated process of cellular death that generally occurs without
the extensive inflammation associated with necrosis.
11. Which finding is most characteristic of necrosis?
A. Controlled cellular removal
B. No inflammatory response
C. Cell membrane disruption with inflammation
D. Normal cellular division
Explanation: Necrosis involves loss of membrane integrity and release of cellular contents,
commonly triggering inflammation.
12. Which process occurs when cells are deprived of adequate oxygen?
A. Increased oxidative phosphorylation
B. Anaerobic metabolism and decreased ATP production
C. Increased mitochondrial efficiency
D. Increased protein synthesis
