NURS 5315 EXAM AND PRACTICE EXAM LATEST
2026/2027 TEST BANK| NURS5315 ADVANCED
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY EXAM REVIEW WITH ACTUAL
EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT VERIFIED ANSWERS/
ALREADY GRADED A+
1. A 58-year-old male with a long-standing history of
hypertension presents with progressive left ventricular
hypertrophy noted on echocardiogram. What is the most likely
pathophysiological explanation for this compensatory
mechanism?
A. Decreased myocardial oxygen demand due to reduced
afterload
B. Increased cardiac muscle mass in response to chronic pressure
overload
C. Fibrotic replacement of myocardial cells causing ventricular
dilation
1
,D. Reduced sympathetic nervous system activation leading to
cardiac remodeling
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Chronic hypertension increases afterload (the
resistance the left ventricle must overcome to eject blood). Over
time, myocardial cells enlarge (hypertrophy) to compensate for
the increased workload. This is pathologic hypertrophy resulting
from increased workload due to disease. Option A is incorrect
because afterload is increased, not decreased. Option C
describes fibrosis, which occurs in later stages of heart failure.
Option D is incorrect because sympathetic activation is typically
increased in hypertension .
2. Upon examining a paraplegic patient, the nurse practitioner
notes that the patient's lower extremities are thin and wasted.
This is an example of which cellular adaptation pattern?
2
,A. Atrophy
B. Hypertrophy
C. Hyperplasia
D. Dysplasia
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The patient has experienced muscle wasting (atrophy)
secondary to the loss of use of their lower extremities (disuse
atrophy). Atrophy occurs as a result of decreased workload, use,
blood supply, or nervous stimulation. Cells are alive but have
diminished function and reduced size. Hypertrophy is an increase
in cell size, hyperplasia is an increase in cell number, and
dysplasia involves abnormal cell changes .
3. A patient with a long-standing history of GERD is at greater
risk of which cellular adaptation pattern?
A. Esophageal hypertrophy
B. Esophageal metaplasia
3
, C. Esophageal atrophy
D. Esophageal dysplasia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Long-standing GERD predisposes esophageal cells to
undergo metaplasia. In esophageal metaplasia (Barrett
esophagus), the normal squamous epithelial cells are replaced by
intestinal-like columnar cells under the influence of refluxed
gastric acid. The columnar cells are better equipped to handle
the acid but this is a precancerous condition. This is not
hypertrophy (increase in cell size), atrophy (decrease in cell size),
or dysplasia (abnormal cell changes) .
4. What is the body's primary defense against reactive oxygen
species (ROS)?
A. Increased NADH production
B. Antioxidants such as Vitamin E, Vitamin C, and glutathione
4
2026/2027 TEST BANK| NURS5315 ADVANCED
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY EXAM REVIEW WITH ACTUAL
EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT VERIFIED ANSWERS/
ALREADY GRADED A+
1. A 58-year-old male with a long-standing history of
hypertension presents with progressive left ventricular
hypertrophy noted on echocardiogram. What is the most likely
pathophysiological explanation for this compensatory
mechanism?
A. Decreased myocardial oxygen demand due to reduced
afterload
B. Increased cardiac muscle mass in response to chronic pressure
overload
C. Fibrotic replacement of myocardial cells causing ventricular
dilation
1
,D. Reduced sympathetic nervous system activation leading to
cardiac remodeling
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Chronic hypertension increases afterload (the
resistance the left ventricle must overcome to eject blood). Over
time, myocardial cells enlarge (hypertrophy) to compensate for
the increased workload. This is pathologic hypertrophy resulting
from increased workload due to disease. Option A is incorrect
because afterload is increased, not decreased. Option C
describes fibrosis, which occurs in later stages of heart failure.
Option D is incorrect because sympathetic activation is typically
increased in hypertension .
2. Upon examining a paraplegic patient, the nurse practitioner
notes that the patient's lower extremities are thin and wasted.
This is an example of which cellular adaptation pattern?
2
,A. Atrophy
B. Hypertrophy
C. Hyperplasia
D. Dysplasia
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The patient has experienced muscle wasting (atrophy)
secondary to the loss of use of their lower extremities (disuse
atrophy). Atrophy occurs as a result of decreased workload, use,
blood supply, or nervous stimulation. Cells are alive but have
diminished function and reduced size. Hypertrophy is an increase
in cell size, hyperplasia is an increase in cell number, and
dysplasia involves abnormal cell changes .
3. A patient with a long-standing history of GERD is at greater
risk of which cellular adaptation pattern?
A. Esophageal hypertrophy
B. Esophageal metaplasia
3
, C. Esophageal atrophy
D. Esophageal dysplasia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Long-standing GERD predisposes esophageal cells to
undergo metaplasia. In esophageal metaplasia (Barrett
esophagus), the normal squamous epithelial cells are replaced by
intestinal-like columnar cells under the influence of refluxed
gastric acid. The columnar cells are better equipped to handle
the acid but this is a precancerous condition. This is not
hypertrophy (increase in cell size), atrophy (decrease in cell size),
or dysplasia (abnormal cell changes) .
4. What is the body's primary defense against reactive oxygen
species (ROS)?
A. Increased NADH production
B. Antioxidants such as Vitamin E, Vitamin C, and glutathione
4
