Exam 1: NSG530/ NSG 530 (NEW 2025/ 2026 Update)
Advanced Pathophysiology Review| Questions & Answers|
Grade A| 100% Correct (Verified Solutions)- Wilkes
Exam
NSG 530 Exam 1: Advanced Pathophysiology Review
(Cellular Function, Immunity, Inflammation, & Genetics)
100% Correct | Verified Solutions | Grade A
Section 1: Cellular Injury & Adaptation (Q1-15)
Q1. A patient with chronic alcoholism presents with confusion, ataxia, and
ophthalmoplegia (Wernicke's encephalopathy). Which cellular process is most
directly affected?
A. Oxidative phosphorylation in the mitochondria
B. Thiamine-dependent enzymatic reactions in the Krebs cycle
C. DNA repair mechanisms in the nucleus
D. Ribosomal protein synthesis
Answer: B
Rationale: Wernicke's encephalopathy results from thiamine (vitamin B1)
deficiency. Thiamine is a critical cofactor for pyruvate dehydrogenase and alpha-
ketoglutarate dehydrogenase in the Krebs cycle. Without it, energy production in
neurons is impaired .
Q2. What is the single most common cause of cellular injury?
A. Physical trauma
B. Hypoxic injury
C. Chemical exposure
D. Genetic mutations
Answer: B
Rationale: Hypoxic injury, or lack of sufficient oxygen within cells, is the single
,most common cause of cellular injury. It can result from reduced oxygen in the
air, decreased hemoglobin efficacy, decreased RBCs, or ischemia .
Q3. A patient has reduced blood supply to the kidney due to arterial narrowing.
This condition is best described as:
A. Hypoxia
B. Anoxia
C. Ischemia
D. Reperfusion injury
Answer: C
Rationale: Ischemia is defined as reduced blood supply, often caused by
narrowing of arteries (arteriosclerosis) or blockage by blood clots. Ischemia is a
common cause of hypoxia .
Q4. Which of the following best describes reperfusion injury?
A. Injury caused by lack of oxygen
B. Injury caused by total lack of blood flow
C. Injury caused by providing oxygen after a hypoxic episode
D. Injury caused by bacterial toxins
Answer: C
Rationale: Reperfusion injury occurs when oxygen is provided to tissues after a
period of hypoxia. The mitochondria's electron transport chain is disrupted, and
reintroducing oxygen leads to the formation of reactive oxygen species rather
than ATP production .
Q5. In hypertonic fluid alterations, which of the following occurs?
A. Cell swelling
B. Cell shrinkage
C. No change in cell volume
D. Cell lysis
Answer: B
Rationale: In hypertonic alterations, the osmolality of the extracellular fluid is
elevated above normal. Too much solute exists outside the cell, so water moves
out of the cell to neutralize, causing the cell to shrink. A common cause is
dehydration .
, Q6. A patient has excessive accumulation of fluid within the interstitial spaces.
This is known as:
A. Ischemia
B. Hypoxia
C. Edema
D. Anoxia
Answer: C
Rationale: Edema is defined as excessive accumulation of fluid within the
interstitial spaces. It results from imbalances in filtration and reabsorption .
Q7. Which of the following is NOT one of the five mechanisms of edema?
A. Increased capillary hydrostatic pressure
B. Decreased plasma/capillary oncotic pressure
C. Increased capillary membrane permeability
D. Decreased tissue oncotic pressure
Answer: D
Rationale: The five mechanisms of edema are: (1) increased capillary hydrostatic
pressure, (2) decreased plasma/capillary oncotic pressure, (3) increased capillary
membrane permeability, (4) lymphatic channel obstruction, and (5) increased
tissue oncotic pressure. Decreased tissue oncotic pressure would not cause
edema .
Q8. A patient with severe dehydration is likely to have which type of fluid
alteration?
A. Isotonic alteration
B. Hypertonic alteration
C. Hypotonic alteration
D. Normotonic alteration
Answer: B
Rationale: Dehydration is a common cause of hypertonic alterations, where ECF
osmolality is elevated, drawing water out of cells and causing them to shrink .
Q9. Which of the following is the most common type of fluid alteration?
A. Hypertonic
B. Hypotonic
Advanced Pathophysiology Review| Questions & Answers|
Grade A| 100% Correct (Verified Solutions)- Wilkes
Exam
NSG 530 Exam 1: Advanced Pathophysiology Review
(Cellular Function, Immunity, Inflammation, & Genetics)
100% Correct | Verified Solutions | Grade A
Section 1: Cellular Injury & Adaptation (Q1-15)
Q1. A patient with chronic alcoholism presents with confusion, ataxia, and
ophthalmoplegia (Wernicke's encephalopathy). Which cellular process is most
directly affected?
A. Oxidative phosphorylation in the mitochondria
B. Thiamine-dependent enzymatic reactions in the Krebs cycle
C. DNA repair mechanisms in the nucleus
D. Ribosomal protein synthesis
Answer: B
Rationale: Wernicke's encephalopathy results from thiamine (vitamin B1)
deficiency. Thiamine is a critical cofactor for pyruvate dehydrogenase and alpha-
ketoglutarate dehydrogenase in the Krebs cycle. Without it, energy production in
neurons is impaired .
Q2. What is the single most common cause of cellular injury?
A. Physical trauma
B. Hypoxic injury
C. Chemical exposure
D. Genetic mutations
Answer: B
Rationale: Hypoxic injury, or lack of sufficient oxygen within cells, is the single
,most common cause of cellular injury. It can result from reduced oxygen in the
air, decreased hemoglobin efficacy, decreased RBCs, or ischemia .
Q3. A patient has reduced blood supply to the kidney due to arterial narrowing.
This condition is best described as:
A. Hypoxia
B. Anoxia
C. Ischemia
D. Reperfusion injury
Answer: C
Rationale: Ischemia is defined as reduced blood supply, often caused by
narrowing of arteries (arteriosclerosis) or blockage by blood clots. Ischemia is a
common cause of hypoxia .
Q4. Which of the following best describes reperfusion injury?
A. Injury caused by lack of oxygen
B. Injury caused by total lack of blood flow
C. Injury caused by providing oxygen after a hypoxic episode
D. Injury caused by bacterial toxins
Answer: C
Rationale: Reperfusion injury occurs when oxygen is provided to tissues after a
period of hypoxia. The mitochondria's electron transport chain is disrupted, and
reintroducing oxygen leads to the formation of reactive oxygen species rather
than ATP production .
Q5. In hypertonic fluid alterations, which of the following occurs?
A. Cell swelling
B. Cell shrinkage
C. No change in cell volume
D. Cell lysis
Answer: B
Rationale: In hypertonic alterations, the osmolality of the extracellular fluid is
elevated above normal. Too much solute exists outside the cell, so water moves
out of the cell to neutralize, causing the cell to shrink. A common cause is
dehydration .
, Q6. A patient has excessive accumulation of fluid within the interstitial spaces.
This is known as:
A. Ischemia
B. Hypoxia
C. Edema
D. Anoxia
Answer: C
Rationale: Edema is defined as excessive accumulation of fluid within the
interstitial spaces. It results from imbalances in filtration and reabsorption .
Q7. Which of the following is NOT one of the five mechanisms of edema?
A. Increased capillary hydrostatic pressure
B. Decreased plasma/capillary oncotic pressure
C. Increased capillary membrane permeability
D. Decreased tissue oncotic pressure
Answer: D
Rationale: The five mechanisms of edema are: (1) increased capillary hydrostatic
pressure, (2) decreased plasma/capillary oncotic pressure, (3) increased capillary
membrane permeability, (4) lymphatic channel obstruction, and (5) increased
tissue oncotic pressure. Decreased tissue oncotic pressure would not cause
edema .
Q8. A patient with severe dehydration is likely to have which type of fluid
alteration?
A. Isotonic alteration
B. Hypertonic alteration
C. Hypotonic alteration
D. Normotonic alteration
Answer: B
Rationale: Dehydration is a common cause of hypertonic alterations, where ECF
osmolality is elevated, drawing water out of cells and causing them to shrink .
Q9. Which of the following is the most common type of fluid alteration?
A. Hypertonic
B. Hypotonic
