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NURS 5315 ADVANCED
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY UTA EXAM 1
HIGH-YIELD COMPREHENSIVE EXAM
WITH RATIONALES
VERIFIED QUESTIONS & ANSWERS |
UPDATED 2026-2027
SECTION A: CELLULAR ADAPTATION &
INJURY
Question 1: Atrophy
A patient presents with muscle wasting
following a prolonged period of immobilization
after a stroke. Which of the following best
describes the cellular process occurring in the
affected muscle tissue?
A) Increase in cell number through mitosis
B) Decrease in cell size due to reduced protein
synthesis and increased catabolism
C) Replacement of one cell type with another
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D) Increase in cell size due to increased
functional demand
Answer: B) Decrease in cell size due to reduced
protein synthesis and increased catabolism
Rationale: Atrophy is characterized by a
decrease in cell size resulting from an imbalance
between protein synthesis and degradation.
Essentially, there is an increase in the
catabolism of intracellular organelles, reducing
structural components of the cell. This occurs
physiologically (e.g., thymus gland shrinking in
childhood) or pathologically due to decreased
workload, pressure, use, blood supply, nutrition,
or hormonal/nervous stimulation. The cell
compensates for decreased blood supply and
nutrient supply, achieving a new homeostasis,
though cells remain functional with diminished
capacity .
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Question 2: Hypertrophy
A 55-year-old with long-standing uncontrolled
hypertension develops left ventricular
hypertrophy. Which cellular mechanism
primarily accounts for this adaptation?
A) Increased cell division rate
B) Increased synthesis of structural proteins and
organelles
C) Metaplastic transformation of cardiac muscle
cells
D) Decreased protein degradation
Answer: B) Increased synthesis of structural
proteins and organelles
Rationale: Hypertrophy involves an increase in
cell SIZE, leading to organ enlargement. This is
caused by hormonal stimulation or increased
functional demand. Physiologic hypertrophy
occurs with skeletal muscle adaptation to
weightlifting or compensatory kidney
enlargement following nephrectomy. Pathologic
hypertrophy, such as cardiomegaly from
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hypertension or left ventricular hypertrophy,
results from increased workload. The increased
cellular workload stimulates protein synthesis
and organelle production to meet higher
functional demands .
Question 3: Hyperplasia
A postmenopausal woman not on hormone
replacement therapy presents with endometrial
hyperplasia. Which of the following correctly
describes this process?
A) Decrease in cell size in estrogen-dependent
tissues
B) Increase in cell number in tissues capable of
mitosis
C) Metaplastic change from columnar to
squamous epithelium
D) Apoptosis of endometrial cells
Answer: B) Increase in cell number in tissues
capable of mitosis
NURS 5315 ADVANCED
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY UTA EXAM 1
HIGH-YIELD COMPREHENSIVE EXAM
WITH RATIONALES
VERIFIED QUESTIONS & ANSWERS |
UPDATED 2026-2027
SECTION A: CELLULAR ADAPTATION &
INJURY
Question 1: Atrophy
A patient presents with muscle wasting
following a prolonged period of immobilization
after a stroke. Which of the following best
describes the cellular process occurring in the
affected muscle tissue?
A) Increase in cell number through mitosis
B) Decrease in cell size due to reduced protein
synthesis and increased catabolism
C) Replacement of one cell type with another
,2|Page
D) Increase in cell size due to increased
functional demand
Answer: B) Decrease in cell size due to reduced
protein synthesis and increased catabolism
Rationale: Atrophy is characterized by a
decrease in cell size resulting from an imbalance
between protein synthesis and degradation.
Essentially, there is an increase in the
catabolism of intracellular organelles, reducing
structural components of the cell. This occurs
physiologically (e.g., thymus gland shrinking in
childhood) or pathologically due to decreased
workload, pressure, use, blood supply, nutrition,
or hormonal/nervous stimulation. The cell
compensates for decreased blood supply and
nutrient supply, achieving a new homeostasis,
though cells remain functional with diminished
capacity .
,3|Page
Question 2: Hypertrophy
A 55-year-old with long-standing uncontrolled
hypertension develops left ventricular
hypertrophy. Which cellular mechanism
primarily accounts for this adaptation?
A) Increased cell division rate
B) Increased synthesis of structural proteins and
organelles
C) Metaplastic transformation of cardiac muscle
cells
D) Decreased protein degradation
Answer: B) Increased synthesis of structural
proteins and organelles
Rationale: Hypertrophy involves an increase in
cell SIZE, leading to organ enlargement. This is
caused by hormonal stimulation or increased
functional demand. Physiologic hypertrophy
occurs with skeletal muscle adaptation to
weightlifting or compensatory kidney
enlargement following nephrectomy. Pathologic
hypertrophy, such as cardiomegaly from
, 4|Page
hypertension or left ventricular hypertrophy,
results from increased workload. The increased
cellular workload stimulates protein synthesis
and organelle production to meet higher
functional demands .
Question 3: Hyperplasia
A postmenopausal woman not on hormone
replacement therapy presents with endometrial
hyperplasia. Which of the following correctly
describes this process?
A) Decrease in cell size in estrogen-dependent
tissues
B) Increase in cell number in tissues capable of
mitosis
C) Metaplastic change from columnar to
squamous epithelium
D) Apoptosis of endometrial cells
Answer: B) Increase in cell number in tissues
capable of mitosis
