1
NSG 1520 Pathophysiology Exam 3 Review – Questions
and Answers | winter 2026 | 100% Correct - South
College.
South College | 100% Correct Questions & Answers
Section 1: Cellular Adaptation & Injury
Question 1:
The basic structural and functional unit of all living organisms is the:
A) Organelle
B) Tissue
C) Cell
D) Molecule
Correct Answer-: C. Cell
Rationale: The cell is the fundamental unit of life. Organelles are components
within cells, tissues are groups of cells, and molecules are chemical building
blocks. All physiological processes depend on cellular function .
Question 2:
A patient's lab report indicates muscular atrophy. The nurse recalls that this
involves a decrease in muscle cell:
A) Number
B) Size
C) Vacuoles
D) Lipofuscin
Correct Answer-: B. Size
,2
Rationale: Atrophy is a decrease in the size of cells, not their number
(hyperplasia). This adaptation occurs from disuse, denervation, or reduced blood
supply .
Question 3:
In response to an increased workload (e.g., hypertension), cardiac myocardial
cells will undergo hypertrophy, which is an:
A) Increase in size
B) Decrease in length
C) Increase in excitability
D) Decrease in number
Correct Answer-: A. Increase in size
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size, leading to organ enlargement.
The heart adapts to increased afterload by enlarging its muscle cells, not by
creating new ones .
Question 4:
Hypoxia causes cell injury primarily by:
A) Increasing ATP production
B) Reducing oxygen for cellular metabolism
C) Enhancing protein synthesis
D) Stimulating cell growth
Correct Answer-: B. Reducing oxygen for cellular metabolism
Rationale: Hypoxia is a lack of adequate oxygen. This leads to a reduction in
aerobic metabolism, decreased ATP production, and failure of the sodium-
potassium pump, resulting in cellular swelling and injury .
Question 5:
Programmed cell death that does not trigger an inflammatory response is known
as:
A) Necrosis
B) Apoptosis
C) Caseous necrosis
D) Gangrene
Correct Answer-: B. Apoptosis
,3
Rationale: Apoptosis is a highly regulated, energy-dependent process of cell
death that eliminates damaged or unwanted cells without causing inflammation.
Necrosis is unregulated and inflammatory .
Section 2: Fluid, Electrolyte & Acid-Base Balance
Question 6:
A patient with serum sodium of 128 mEq/L presents with confusion and lethargy.
This condition is:
A) Hypernatremia
B) Hyponatremia
C) Hyperkalemia
D) Hypokalemia
Correct Answer-: B. Hyponatremia
Rationale: Hyponatremia is a serum sodium level below 135 mEq/L. It causes
cerebral edema as water shifts into brain cells, leading to confusion, lethargy, and
seizures .
Question 7:
A patient with serum potassium of 6.2 mEq/L is at greatest risk for:
A) Muscle weakness and cardiac arrhythmias
B) Bradycardia only
C) Hyperreflexia
D) Polyuria
Correct Answer-: A. Muscle weakness and cardiac arrhythmias
Rationale: Hyperkalemia (K+ >5.0 mEq/L) alters the resting membrane potential
of cells, causing muscle weakness and life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias (e.g.,
peaked T waves) .
Question 8:
Edema can result from all of the following EXCEPT:
A) Increased capillary hydrostatic pressure
B) Decreased capillary oncotic pressure
C) Increased plasma albumin
, 4
D) Lymphatic obstruction
Correct Answer-: C. Increased plasma albumin
Rationale: Plasma albumin contributes to capillary oncotic pressure, which pulls
fluid back into the vessels. Increased albumin would increase this pulling
force, preventing edema. Low albumin (hypoalbuminemia) causes edema .
Question 9:
A patient with anxiety hyperventilating will likely develop:
A) Metabolic acidosis
B) Metabolic alkalosis
C) Respiratory acidosis
D) Respiratory alkalosis
Correct Answer-: D. Respiratory alkalosis
Rationale: Hyperventilation causes excessive exhalation of CO₂, leading to a
decrease in PaCO₂ (hypocapnia) and an increase in blood pH, resulting in
respiratory alkalosis .
Section 3: Inflammation & Immunity
Question 10:
Acute inflammation is characterized by:
A) Slow onset and minimal swelling
B) Rapid onset, redness, heat, and swelling
C) Chronic tissue damage
D) Fibrosis only
Correct Answer-: B. Rapid onset, redness, heat, and swelling
Rationale: The cardinal signs of acute inflammation are rubor (redness), calor
(heat), tumor (swelling), and dolor (pain). It is a rapid, protective response to
injury .
Question 11:
The first leukocyte to arrive at an inflammation site is the:
A) Lymphocyte
B) Neutrophil
NSG 1520 Pathophysiology Exam 3 Review – Questions
and Answers | winter 2026 | 100% Correct - South
College.
South College | 100% Correct Questions & Answers
Section 1: Cellular Adaptation & Injury
Question 1:
The basic structural and functional unit of all living organisms is the:
A) Organelle
B) Tissue
C) Cell
D) Molecule
Correct Answer-: C. Cell
Rationale: The cell is the fundamental unit of life. Organelles are components
within cells, tissues are groups of cells, and molecules are chemical building
blocks. All physiological processes depend on cellular function .
Question 2:
A patient's lab report indicates muscular atrophy. The nurse recalls that this
involves a decrease in muscle cell:
A) Number
B) Size
C) Vacuoles
D) Lipofuscin
Correct Answer-: B. Size
,2
Rationale: Atrophy is a decrease in the size of cells, not their number
(hyperplasia). This adaptation occurs from disuse, denervation, or reduced blood
supply .
Question 3:
In response to an increased workload (e.g., hypertension), cardiac myocardial
cells will undergo hypertrophy, which is an:
A) Increase in size
B) Decrease in length
C) Increase in excitability
D) Decrease in number
Correct Answer-: A. Increase in size
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size, leading to organ enlargement.
The heart adapts to increased afterload by enlarging its muscle cells, not by
creating new ones .
Question 4:
Hypoxia causes cell injury primarily by:
A) Increasing ATP production
B) Reducing oxygen for cellular metabolism
C) Enhancing protein synthesis
D) Stimulating cell growth
Correct Answer-: B. Reducing oxygen for cellular metabolism
Rationale: Hypoxia is a lack of adequate oxygen. This leads to a reduction in
aerobic metabolism, decreased ATP production, and failure of the sodium-
potassium pump, resulting in cellular swelling and injury .
Question 5:
Programmed cell death that does not trigger an inflammatory response is known
as:
A) Necrosis
B) Apoptosis
C) Caseous necrosis
D) Gangrene
Correct Answer-: B. Apoptosis
,3
Rationale: Apoptosis is a highly regulated, energy-dependent process of cell
death that eliminates damaged or unwanted cells without causing inflammation.
Necrosis is unregulated and inflammatory .
Section 2: Fluid, Electrolyte & Acid-Base Balance
Question 6:
A patient with serum sodium of 128 mEq/L presents with confusion and lethargy.
This condition is:
A) Hypernatremia
B) Hyponatremia
C) Hyperkalemia
D) Hypokalemia
Correct Answer-: B. Hyponatremia
Rationale: Hyponatremia is a serum sodium level below 135 mEq/L. It causes
cerebral edema as water shifts into brain cells, leading to confusion, lethargy, and
seizures .
Question 7:
A patient with serum potassium of 6.2 mEq/L is at greatest risk for:
A) Muscle weakness and cardiac arrhythmias
B) Bradycardia only
C) Hyperreflexia
D) Polyuria
Correct Answer-: A. Muscle weakness and cardiac arrhythmias
Rationale: Hyperkalemia (K+ >5.0 mEq/L) alters the resting membrane potential
of cells, causing muscle weakness and life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias (e.g.,
peaked T waves) .
Question 8:
Edema can result from all of the following EXCEPT:
A) Increased capillary hydrostatic pressure
B) Decreased capillary oncotic pressure
C) Increased plasma albumin
, 4
D) Lymphatic obstruction
Correct Answer-: C. Increased plasma albumin
Rationale: Plasma albumin contributes to capillary oncotic pressure, which pulls
fluid back into the vessels. Increased albumin would increase this pulling
force, preventing edema. Low albumin (hypoalbuminemia) causes edema .
Question 9:
A patient with anxiety hyperventilating will likely develop:
A) Metabolic acidosis
B) Metabolic alkalosis
C) Respiratory acidosis
D) Respiratory alkalosis
Correct Answer-: D. Respiratory alkalosis
Rationale: Hyperventilation causes excessive exhalation of CO₂, leading to a
decrease in PaCO₂ (hypocapnia) and an increase in blood pH, resulting in
respiratory alkalosis .
Section 3: Inflammation & Immunity
Question 10:
Acute inflammation is characterized by:
A) Slow onset and minimal swelling
B) Rapid onset, redness, heat, and swelling
C) Chronic tissue damage
D) Fibrosis only
Correct Answer-: B. Rapid onset, redness, heat, and swelling
Rationale: The cardinal signs of acute inflammation are rubor (redness), calor
(heat), tumor (swelling), and dolor (pain). It is a rapid, protective response to
injury .
Question 11:
The first leukocyte to arrive at an inflammation site is the:
A) Lymphocyte
B) Neutrophil
