NURS 5315 Exam 1 V1 | NURS 5315
Advanced Pathophysiology | Actual Q&A
with Rationale (NURS5315 Exam 1) | The
University of Texas at Arlington
1. A patient presents with a decrease in the size of the left calf muscle after being in a cast for
six weeks. Which cellular adaptation has occurred?
A. Atrophy
B. Hypertrophy
C. Metaplasia
D. Dysplasia
Answer: A
Rationale: Atrophy is a decrease in cellular size caused by aging, disuse, or reduced blood
supply. In this scenario, the cast leads to disuse atrophy of the skeletal muscle. It is a
physiologic or pathologic attempt to reach a new equilibrium in response to reduced
functional demand.
2. Which process involves the replacement of one mature cell type by another, often as a
response to chronic irritation?
A. Neoplasia
B. Hyperplasia
,C. Anaplasia
D. Metaplasia
Answer: D
Rationale: Metaplasia is a reversible replacement of one mature cell type by another less
mature cell type. A common example is the replacement of ciliated columnar epithelial cells
in the airway with stratified squamous cells in smokers. While it provides a more robust
protective lining, the loss of specialized functions like mucus secretion can be detrimental.
3. What is the primary mechanism of cellular injury caused by hypoxia?
A. Activation of the sodium-potassium pump
B. Increased protein synthesis
C. Reduced ATP production
D. Decreased cellular swelling
Answer: C
Rationale: Hypoxia leads to a decrease in mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, which
results in reduced ATP production. Without sufficient ATP, the sodium-potassium pump
fails, causing sodium and water to enter the cell and leading to acute cellular swelling. This
is the most common form of cell injury and can be reversible if oxygen is restored quickly.
4. Dysplasia is best described as which of the following?
A. A normal adaptive response to stress
, B. Abnormal changes in size, shape, and organization of mature cells
C. A direct precursor to certain bacterial infections
D. The complete death of a tissue segment
Answer: B
Rationale: Dysplasia, also known as atypical hyperplasia, is characterized by deranged cell
growth. It is frequently encountered in epithelial tissue of the cervix and respiratory tract.
Although it is not a true adaptive process, it is strongly associated with neoplastic
transformation.
5. Free radicals cause cell damage by which of the following mechanisms?
A. Lipid peroxidation and DNA fragmentation
B. Increasing cellular alkalinity
C. Stabilizing lysosomal membranes
D. Inhibiting calcium influx
Answer: A
Rationale: Free radicals are highly reactive chemical species with an unpaired electron
that cause oxidative stress. They damage cells through lipid peroxidation of membranes,
oxidative modification of proteins, and DNA breaks. This mechanism is central to aging and
various disease processes, including atherosclerosis and cancer.
Advanced Pathophysiology | Actual Q&A
with Rationale (NURS5315 Exam 1) | The
University of Texas at Arlington
1. A patient presents with a decrease in the size of the left calf muscle after being in a cast for
six weeks. Which cellular adaptation has occurred?
A. Atrophy
B. Hypertrophy
C. Metaplasia
D. Dysplasia
Answer: A
Rationale: Atrophy is a decrease in cellular size caused by aging, disuse, or reduced blood
supply. In this scenario, the cast leads to disuse atrophy of the skeletal muscle. It is a
physiologic or pathologic attempt to reach a new equilibrium in response to reduced
functional demand.
2. Which process involves the replacement of one mature cell type by another, often as a
response to chronic irritation?
A. Neoplasia
B. Hyperplasia
,C. Anaplasia
D. Metaplasia
Answer: D
Rationale: Metaplasia is a reversible replacement of one mature cell type by another less
mature cell type. A common example is the replacement of ciliated columnar epithelial cells
in the airway with stratified squamous cells in smokers. While it provides a more robust
protective lining, the loss of specialized functions like mucus secretion can be detrimental.
3. What is the primary mechanism of cellular injury caused by hypoxia?
A. Activation of the sodium-potassium pump
B. Increased protein synthesis
C. Reduced ATP production
D. Decreased cellular swelling
Answer: C
Rationale: Hypoxia leads to a decrease in mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, which
results in reduced ATP production. Without sufficient ATP, the sodium-potassium pump
fails, causing sodium and water to enter the cell and leading to acute cellular swelling. This
is the most common form of cell injury and can be reversible if oxygen is restored quickly.
4. Dysplasia is best described as which of the following?
A. A normal adaptive response to stress
, B. Abnormal changes in size, shape, and organization of mature cells
C. A direct precursor to certain bacterial infections
D. The complete death of a tissue segment
Answer: B
Rationale: Dysplasia, also known as atypical hyperplasia, is characterized by deranged cell
growth. It is frequently encountered in epithelial tissue of the cervix and respiratory tract.
Although it is not a true adaptive process, it is strongly associated with neoplastic
transformation.
5. Free radicals cause cell damage by which of the following mechanisms?
A. Lipid peroxidation and DNA fragmentation
B. Increasing cellular alkalinity
C. Stabilizing lysosomal membranes
D. Inhibiting calcium influx
Answer: A
Rationale: Free radicals are highly reactive chemical species with an unpaired electron
that cause oxidative stress. They damage cells through lipid peroxidation of membranes,
oxidative modification of proteins, and DNA breaks. This mechanism is central to aging and
various disease processes, including atherosclerosis and cancer.
