NUR 2063 PATHOPHYSIOLOGY EXAM 1
Comprehensive Practice Examination – 75
Questions Original NCLEX-Style Questions
with Detailed Rationales All correct
answers are highlighted in bold green.
Q1. A patient with a history of chronic alcohol use presents with liver enlargement
due to fat accumulation. This cellular change is an example of:
• A) Atrophy
• B) Hyperplasia
• C) Hypertrophy
• D) Metaplasia
✅ Answer: C) Hypertrophy
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size due to increased workload or
stimulation. In chronic alcohol use, liver cells enlarge to meet metabolic demands.
Atrophy is a decrease in cell size. Hyperplasia is an increase in cell number. Metaplasia is
the replacement of one mature cell type with another .
Q2. A patient with a spinal cord injury has been immobile for 6 months and now
has decreased muscle mass in the legs. This change is best described as:
• A) Hypertrophy
• B) Hyperplasia
• C) Atrophy
, • D) Dysplasia
✅ Answer: C) Atrophy
Rationale: Atrophy is a decrease in cell size and number that occurs when cellular work
demands decrease. Prolonged immobility reduces muscle workload, leading to muscle
wasting. Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size; hyperplasia is an increase in cell number;
dysplasia is abnormal cellular growth .
Q3. A patient who smokes cigarettes has developed a chronic cough, and biopsy of
the bronchial epithelium shows replacement of normal ciliated columnar cells with
stratified squamous cells. This is an example of:
• A) Atrophy
• B) Hyperplasia
• C) Metaplasia
• D) Neoplasia
✅ Answer: C) Metaplasia
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one mature cell type by another,
often due to chronic irritation. In smokers, the respiratory epithelium changes from
ciliated columnar to stratified squamous cells to better withstand irritants .
Q4. A 55-year-old female is diagnosed with breast cancer. The term used to
describe new and abnormal tissue growth is:
• A) Metaplasia
• B) Dysplasia
• C) Neoplasia
• D) Hypertrophy
✅ Answer: C) Neoplasia
Rationale: Neoplasia refers to new, abnormal growth (tumor) that is unresponsive to
normal growth controls. It can be benign or malignant. Dysplasia is abnormal cellular
development but is not necessarily neoplastic .
, Q5. A patient has been diagnosed with a disease whose cause is unknown. This
type of disease is called:
• A) Iatrogenic
• B) Idiopathic
• C) Nosocomial
• D) Congenital
✅ Answer: B) Idiopathic
Rationale: Idiopathic conditions have an unknown origin or cause. Iatrogenic diseases
are caused by medical treatment. Nosocomial infections are acquired in healthcare
settings. Congenital diseases are present at birth .
Q6. Which cellular organelle is responsible for ATP production and is often called
the "powerhouse of the cell"?
• A) Rough endoplasmic reticulum
• B) Golgi apparatus
• C) Mitochondria
• D) Lysosomes
✅ Answer: C) Mitochondria
Rationale: Mitochondria are responsible for cellular respiration and energy production,
producing ATP for cellular energy. They have their own DNA and ribosomes. Rough ER
synthesizes proteins; Golgi sorts and packages proteins; lysosomes break down cellular
waste .
Q7. A patient with chronic reflux has developed Barrett's esophagus, where the
esophageal epithelium has changed to intestinal-type epithelium. This is an
example of:
• A) Atrophy
• B) Metaplasia
Comprehensive Practice Examination – 75
Questions Original NCLEX-Style Questions
with Detailed Rationales All correct
answers are highlighted in bold green.
Q1. A patient with a history of chronic alcohol use presents with liver enlargement
due to fat accumulation. This cellular change is an example of:
• A) Atrophy
• B) Hyperplasia
• C) Hypertrophy
• D) Metaplasia
✅ Answer: C) Hypertrophy
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size due to increased workload or
stimulation. In chronic alcohol use, liver cells enlarge to meet metabolic demands.
Atrophy is a decrease in cell size. Hyperplasia is an increase in cell number. Metaplasia is
the replacement of one mature cell type with another .
Q2. A patient with a spinal cord injury has been immobile for 6 months and now
has decreased muscle mass in the legs. This change is best described as:
• A) Hypertrophy
• B) Hyperplasia
• C) Atrophy
, • D) Dysplasia
✅ Answer: C) Atrophy
Rationale: Atrophy is a decrease in cell size and number that occurs when cellular work
demands decrease. Prolonged immobility reduces muscle workload, leading to muscle
wasting. Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size; hyperplasia is an increase in cell number;
dysplasia is abnormal cellular growth .
Q3. A patient who smokes cigarettes has developed a chronic cough, and biopsy of
the bronchial epithelium shows replacement of normal ciliated columnar cells with
stratified squamous cells. This is an example of:
• A) Atrophy
• B) Hyperplasia
• C) Metaplasia
• D) Neoplasia
✅ Answer: C) Metaplasia
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one mature cell type by another,
often due to chronic irritation. In smokers, the respiratory epithelium changes from
ciliated columnar to stratified squamous cells to better withstand irritants .
Q4. A 55-year-old female is diagnosed with breast cancer. The term used to
describe new and abnormal tissue growth is:
• A) Metaplasia
• B) Dysplasia
• C) Neoplasia
• D) Hypertrophy
✅ Answer: C) Neoplasia
Rationale: Neoplasia refers to new, abnormal growth (tumor) that is unresponsive to
normal growth controls. It can be benign or malignant. Dysplasia is abnormal cellular
development but is not necessarily neoplastic .
, Q5. A patient has been diagnosed with a disease whose cause is unknown. This
type of disease is called:
• A) Iatrogenic
• B) Idiopathic
• C) Nosocomial
• D) Congenital
✅ Answer: B) Idiopathic
Rationale: Idiopathic conditions have an unknown origin or cause. Iatrogenic diseases
are caused by medical treatment. Nosocomial infections are acquired in healthcare
settings. Congenital diseases are present at birth .
Q6. Which cellular organelle is responsible for ATP production and is often called
the "powerhouse of the cell"?
• A) Rough endoplasmic reticulum
• B) Golgi apparatus
• C) Mitochondria
• D) Lysosomes
✅ Answer: C) Mitochondria
Rationale: Mitochondria are responsible for cellular respiration and energy production,
producing ATP for cellular energy. They have their own DNA and ribosomes. Rough ER
synthesizes proteins; Golgi sorts and packages proteins; lysosomes break down cellular
waste .
Q7. A patient with chronic reflux has developed Barrett's esophagus, where the
esophageal epithelium has changed to intestinal-type epithelium. This is an
example of:
• A) Atrophy
• B) Metaplasia
