NU 545 Exam 3 Study Guide (2026/2027) (PDF) |
Pathophysiology | University of South Alabama
,NU 545 Exam 3 Study Guide – Questions 1–50
Pathophysiology | University of South Alabama | 2026/2027
Core Focus Areas:
• Cellular adaptation and injury
• Inflammation and immunity
• Hematologic disorders
• Cardiovascular and respiratory pathophysiology
• Endocrine and metabolic disorders
• Renal, gastrointestinal, and hepatic pathophysiology
• Neurologic and musculoskeletal disorders
1–10: Cellular Adaptation & Injury
1. The primary mechanism of cell injury in ischemia is:
A. ATP depletion
B. Increased protein synthesis
C. Enhanced DNA repair
D. Lysosomal proliferation
Answer: A – ATP depletion
Rationale: Without ATP, Na⁺/K⁺ pumps fail, leading to cell swelling, calcium influx, and necrosis.
2. Reversible cell injury is characterized by:
A. Cellular swelling and fatty change
B. Karyolysis
C. Nuclear fragmentation
D. Complete cell death
Answer: A – Swelling + fatty change
Rationale: Early hypoxic or toxic injury can be reversed if the stressor is removed.
3. Which cellular adaptation is most common in response to increased workload?
A. Hypertrophy
B. Hyperplasia
C. Atrophy
D. Metaplasia
,Answer: A – Hypertrophy
Rationale: Cells enlarge to increase functional capacity, as seen in cardiac hypertrophy.
4. Atrophy is often caused by:
A. Disuse, ischemia, denervation
B. Overnutrition
C. Hypertension only
D. Hyperglycemia only
Answer: A – Disuse, ischemia, denervation
Rationale: Reduced demand or nutrient supply leads to cell shrinkage.
5. Metaplasia involves:
A. Replacement of one differentiated cell type by another
B. Cell death
C. Cell hypertrophy only
D. Inflammation only
Answer: A – Replacement
Rationale: Adaptive change that may increase cancer risk (e.g., Barrett’s esophagus).
6. Necrosis differs from apoptosis in that necrosis:
A. Causes inflammation
B. Is energy-dependent
C. Is physiologic
D. Occurs without membrane rupture
Answer: A – Causes inflammation
Rationale: Necrosis is uncontrolled cell death; apoptosis is programmed and non-inflammatory.
7. Free radical injury primarily damages cells by:
A. Lipid peroxidation of membranes
B. Increasing ATP
C. Enhancing DNA repair
D. Stabilizing proteins
Answer: A – Lipid peroxidation
Rationale: Oxidative stress disrupts membranes, proteins, and nucleic acids.
8. Which vitamin acts as a key antioxidant?
A. Vitamin E
, B. Vitamin K only
C. Vitamin D only
D. Vitamin B12 only
Answer: A – Vitamin E
Rationale: Protects cell membranes from free radical damage.
9. Hypoxic injury initially leads to:
A. Anaerobic metabolism → lactic acid → decreased pH
B. Increased ATP
C. Stabilized lysosomes
D. Membrane hyperpolarization
Answer: A – Anaerobic metabolism
Rationale: Acidic pH damages cellular enzymes and structures.
10. Coagulative necrosis is most characteristic of:
A. Ischemic infarction in solid organs
B. Brain infarction
C. Fat necrosis only
D. Gangrene only
Answer: A – Solid organ ischemia
Rationale: Protein denaturation preserves tissue architecture; brain undergoes liquefactive necrosis.
11–20: Inflammation & Immunity
11. Acute inflammation is characterized by:
A. Neutrophil infiltration
B. Lymphocyte predominance only
C. Fibrosis only
D. Chronic tissue remodeling only
Answer: A – Neutrophils
Rationale: Rapid responders to infection or injury; early immune response.
12. Chronic inflammation often shows:
A. Macrophages, lymphocytes, fibrosis
B. Neutrophils only
C. Necrosis only
D. Eosinophils only
Pathophysiology | University of South Alabama
,NU 545 Exam 3 Study Guide – Questions 1–50
Pathophysiology | University of South Alabama | 2026/2027
Core Focus Areas:
• Cellular adaptation and injury
• Inflammation and immunity
• Hematologic disorders
• Cardiovascular and respiratory pathophysiology
• Endocrine and metabolic disorders
• Renal, gastrointestinal, and hepatic pathophysiology
• Neurologic and musculoskeletal disorders
1–10: Cellular Adaptation & Injury
1. The primary mechanism of cell injury in ischemia is:
A. ATP depletion
B. Increased protein synthesis
C. Enhanced DNA repair
D. Lysosomal proliferation
Answer: A – ATP depletion
Rationale: Without ATP, Na⁺/K⁺ pumps fail, leading to cell swelling, calcium influx, and necrosis.
2. Reversible cell injury is characterized by:
A. Cellular swelling and fatty change
B. Karyolysis
C. Nuclear fragmentation
D. Complete cell death
Answer: A – Swelling + fatty change
Rationale: Early hypoxic or toxic injury can be reversed if the stressor is removed.
3. Which cellular adaptation is most common in response to increased workload?
A. Hypertrophy
B. Hyperplasia
C. Atrophy
D. Metaplasia
,Answer: A – Hypertrophy
Rationale: Cells enlarge to increase functional capacity, as seen in cardiac hypertrophy.
4. Atrophy is often caused by:
A. Disuse, ischemia, denervation
B. Overnutrition
C. Hypertension only
D. Hyperglycemia only
Answer: A – Disuse, ischemia, denervation
Rationale: Reduced demand or nutrient supply leads to cell shrinkage.
5. Metaplasia involves:
A. Replacement of one differentiated cell type by another
B. Cell death
C. Cell hypertrophy only
D. Inflammation only
Answer: A – Replacement
Rationale: Adaptive change that may increase cancer risk (e.g., Barrett’s esophagus).
6. Necrosis differs from apoptosis in that necrosis:
A. Causes inflammation
B. Is energy-dependent
C. Is physiologic
D. Occurs without membrane rupture
Answer: A – Causes inflammation
Rationale: Necrosis is uncontrolled cell death; apoptosis is programmed and non-inflammatory.
7. Free radical injury primarily damages cells by:
A. Lipid peroxidation of membranes
B. Increasing ATP
C. Enhancing DNA repair
D. Stabilizing proteins
Answer: A – Lipid peroxidation
Rationale: Oxidative stress disrupts membranes, proteins, and nucleic acids.
8. Which vitamin acts as a key antioxidant?
A. Vitamin E
, B. Vitamin K only
C. Vitamin D only
D. Vitamin B12 only
Answer: A – Vitamin E
Rationale: Protects cell membranes from free radical damage.
9. Hypoxic injury initially leads to:
A. Anaerobic metabolism → lactic acid → decreased pH
B. Increased ATP
C. Stabilized lysosomes
D. Membrane hyperpolarization
Answer: A – Anaerobic metabolism
Rationale: Acidic pH damages cellular enzymes and structures.
10. Coagulative necrosis is most characteristic of:
A. Ischemic infarction in solid organs
B. Brain infarction
C. Fat necrosis only
D. Gangrene only
Answer: A – Solid organ ischemia
Rationale: Protein denaturation preserves tissue architecture; brain undergoes liquefactive necrosis.
11–20: Inflammation & Immunity
11. Acute inflammation is characterized by:
A. Neutrophil infiltration
B. Lymphocyte predominance only
C. Fibrosis only
D. Chronic tissue remodeling only
Answer: A – Neutrophils
Rationale: Rapid responders to infection or injury; early immune response.
12. Chronic inflammation often shows:
A. Macrophages, lymphocytes, fibrosis
B. Neutrophils only
C. Necrosis only
D. Eosinophils only
