NU 578 Unit 1 Study Guide - Pathophysiology and Advanced Nursing
2026/2027-USA
1. Which type of cellular adaptation occurs when an individual’s muscle cells
increase in size due to heavy weightlifting?
A. Hyperplasia
B. Hypertrophy
C. Metaplasia
D. Atrophy
Answer: B
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in the size of cells, resulting in an increase in the
size of the organ, commonly seen in skeletal muscle in response to mechanical load.
2. What is the most common cause of cellular injury in clinical practice?
A. Hypoxia
B. Chemical injury
C. Infectious agents
D. Genetic defects
Answer: A
Rationale: Hypoxia, or lack of sufficient oxygen, is the single most common cause of
cellular injury.
,3. Which electrolyte is primarily responsible for maintaining the osmotic
balance of the extracellular fluid (ECF)?
A. Potassium
B. Magnesium
C. Calcium
D. Sodium
Answer: D
Rationale: Sodium is the most abundant cation in the ECF and is the primary determinant
of ECF osmolality.
4. A patient presents with a blood pH of 7.25, PaCO2 of 55 mmHg, and HCO3 of
24 mEq/L. What is the interpretation?
A. Metabolic Acidosis
B. Metabolic Alkalosis
C. Respiratory Acidosis
D. Respiratory Alkalosis
Answer: C
Rationale: A pH below 7.35 indicates acidosis, and an elevated PaCO2 indicates a
respiratory origin.
5. What is the term for the programmed cell death that is a normal part of
development and homeostasis?
A. Necrosis
B. Autolysis
C. Infarction
D. Apoptosis
Answer: D
Rationale: Apoptosis is an active process of cellular self-destruction, often called
programmed cell death.
, 6. Which of the following describes the phenotype of an individual?
A. The genetic makeup of the individual
B. The physical or observable expression of the genotype
C. The sequence of nitrogenous bases in DNA
D. The specific alleles inherited from parents
Answer: B
Rationale: Phenotype refers to the outward appearance or manifestation of an individual’s
genetic traits combined with environmental factors.
7. In the context of fluid balance, what does the ‘Starling Hypothesis’ explain?
A. The movement of fluid between the ECF and ICF
B. The transmission of nerve impulses
C. The secretion of hormones from the pituitary gland
D. The net filtration of fluid across the capillary membrane
Answer: D
Rationale: The Starling Hypothesis states that net filtration is equal to the forces favoring
filtration minus the forces opposing filtration at the capillary level.
8. Which hormone is released by the posterior pituitary in response to increased
plasma osmolality?
A. Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH)
B. Renin
C. Aldosterone
D. Atrial Natriuretic Peptide
Answer: A
Rationale: ADH is secreted when plasma osmolality increases or circulating blood volume
decreases, causing water reabsorption in the kidneys.
2026/2027-USA
1. Which type of cellular adaptation occurs when an individual’s muscle cells
increase in size due to heavy weightlifting?
A. Hyperplasia
B. Hypertrophy
C. Metaplasia
D. Atrophy
Answer: B
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in the size of cells, resulting in an increase in the
size of the organ, commonly seen in skeletal muscle in response to mechanical load.
2. What is the most common cause of cellular injury in clinical practice?
A. Hypoxia
B. Chemical injury
C. Infectious agents
D. Genetic defects
Answer: A
Rationale: Hypoxia, or lack of sufficient oxygen, is the single most common cause of
cellular injury.
,3. Which electrolyte is primarily responsible for maintaining the osmotic
balance of the extracellular fluid (ECF)?
A. Potassium
B. Magnesium
C. Calcium
D. Sodium
Answer: D
Rationale: Sodium is the most abundant cation in the ECF and is the primary determinant
of ECF osmolality.
4. A patient presents with a blood pH of 7.25, PaCO2 of 55 mmHg, and HCO3 of
24 mEq/L. What is the interpretation?
A. Metabolic Acidosis
B. Metabolic Alkalosis
C. Respiratory Acidosis
D. Respiratory Alkalosis
Answer: C
Rationale: A pH below 7.35 indicates acidosis, and an elevated PaCO2 indicates a
respiratory origin.
5. What is the term for the programmed cell death that is a normal part of
development and homeostasis?
A. Necrosis
B. Autolysis
C. Infarction
D. Apoptosis
Answer: D
Rationale: Apoptosis is an active process of cellular self-destruction, often called
programmed cell death.
, 6. Which of the following describes the phenotype of an individual?
A. The genetic makeup of the individual
B. The physical or observable expression of the genotype
C. The sequence of nitrogenous bases in DNA
D. The specific alleles inherited from parents
Answer: B
Rationale: Phenotype refers to the outward appearance or manifestation of an individual’s
genetic traits combined with environmental factors.
7. In the context of fluid balance, what does the ‘Starling Hypothesis’ explain?
A. The movement of fluid between the ECF and ICF
B. The transmission of nerve impulses
C. The secretion of hormones from the pituitary gland
D. The net filtration of fluid across the capillary membrane
Answer: D
Rationale: The Starling Hypothesis states that net filtration is equal to the forces favoring
filtration minus the forces opposing filtration at the capillary level.
8. Which hormone is released by the posterior pituitary in response to increased
plasma osmolality?
A. Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH)
B. Renin
C. Aldosterone
D. Atrial Natriuretic Peptide
Answer: A
Rationale: ADH is secreted when plasma osmolality increases or circulating blood volume
decreases, causing water reabsorption in the kidneys.
