Chamberlain University NR 507
Advanced Pathophysiology -
Midterm Exam With Questions
And Correct Answers Verified
Rationales [ Latest 2026]
1. A 45-year-old patient is diagnosed with a condition characterized
by a failure of the sodium-potassium pump. Which cellular process
would be most immediately affected?
• a) Protein synthesis
• b) DNA replication
• c) Maintenance of resting membrane potential
• d) Phagocytosis
Rationale: The sodium-potassium pump (Na+/K+ ATPase) is primarily
responsible for maintaining the resting membrane potential by pumping
3 Na+ out and 2 K+ in. Its failure leads to cellular depolarization and loss
of excitability .
2. Which type of cellular adaptation is most likely to occur in the
uterine myometrium during pregnancy?
• a) Atrophy
• b) Metaplasia
• c) Dysplasia
• d) Hypertrophy
,Rationale: Hypertrophy is the increase in cell size, leading to an increase
in organ size. The uterine smooth muscle cells enlarge in response to
estrogen stimulation during pregnancy .
3. A chemotherapeutic agent that halts DNA synthesis would exert
its primary effect during which phase of the cell cycle?
• a) G1 phase
• b) S phase
• c) G2 phase
• d) M phase
Rationale: The S phase (synthesis phase) is when DNA replication
occurs. Agents that inhibit DNA synthesis target this specific phase .
4. Which describes the inheritance pattern of Duchenne Muscular
Dystrophy?
• a) Autosomal dominant
• b) Autosomal recessive
• c) X-linked recessive
• d) Mitochondrial inheritance
Rationale: Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is caused by a mutation in the
dystrophin gene located on the X chromosome. It primarily affects
males, who have only one X chromosome .
5. A patient with a family history of Huntington's disease undergoes
genetic testing. This disorder is associated with which inheritance
pattern?
, • a) Autosomal dominant
• b) Autosomal recessive
• c) X-linked dominant
• d) Multifactorial
Rationale: Huntington's disease is an autosomal dominant disorder
characterized by a trinucleotide repeat (CAG) on chromosome 4. A single
copy of the mutated gene is sufficient to cause the disease .
6. Which finding would confirm cell death is occurring via apoptosis
rather than necrosis?
• a) Release of intracellular enzymes into the bloodstream
• b) Fragmentation of the cell into membrane-bound bodies
• c) Significant inflammatory response in surrounding tissue
• d) Swelling and rupture of the plasma membrane
Rationale: Apoptosis is programmed cell death characterized by cell
shrinkage, chromatin condensation, and formation of apoptotic bodies
that are phagocytosed without eliciting an inflammatory response .
Section II: Immunology & Hypersensitivity
7. Allergic contact dermatitis is an example of which
hypersensitivity reaction?
• a) Type I
• b) Type II
• c) Type III
• d) Type IV
Rationale: Type IV (delayed-type) hypersensitivity is mediated by T
lymphocytes and is responsible for allergic contact dermatitis (e.g.,
poison ivy) .
, 8. Hives (urticaria) are an example of which hypersensitivity
reaction?
• a) Type I
• b) Type II
• c) Type III
• d) Type IV
Rationale: Type I hypersensitivity is mediated by IgE antibodies and
mast cell degranulation, leading to conditions such as anaphylaxis,
allergic rhinitis, and urticaria .
9. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is primarily associated with
which hypersensitivity reaction?
• a) Type I
• b) Type II
• c) Type III
• d) Type IV
Rationale: SLE often involves Type III hypersensitivity (immune complex-
mediated). Antigen-antibody complexes deposit in tissues such as the
glomeruli and joints, activating complement and causing inflammation .
10. Graves disease is associated with which hypersensitivity
mechanism?
• a) Type I
• b) Type II
• c) Type III
• d) Type IV
Advanced Pathophysiology -
Midterm Exam With Questions
And Correct Answers Verified
Rationales [ Latest 2026]
1. A 45-year-old patient is diagnosed with a condition characterized
by a failure of the sodium-potassium pump. Which cellular process
would be most immediately affected?
• a) Protein synthesis
• b) DNA replication
• c) Maintenance of resting membrane potential
• d) Phagocytosis
Rationale: The sodium-potassium pump (Na+/K+ ATPase) is primarily
responsible for maintaining the resting membrane potential by pumping
3 Na+ out and 2 K+ in. Its failure leads to cellular depolarization and loss
of excitability .
2. Which type of cellular adaptation is most likely to occur in the
uterine myometrium during pregnancy?
• a) Atrophy
• b) Metaplasia
• c) Dysplasia
• d) Hypertrophy
,Rationale: Hypertrophy is the increase in cell size, leading to an increase
in organ size. The uterine smooth muscle cells enlarge in response to
estrogen stimulation during pregnancy .
3. A chemotherapeutic agent that halts DNA synthesis would exert
its primary effect during which phase of the cell cycle?
• a) G1 phase
• b) S phase
• c) G2 phase
• d) M phase
Rationale: The S phase (synthesis phase) is when DNA replication
occurs. Agents that inhibit DNA synthesis target this specific phase .
4. Which describes the inheritance pattern of Duchenne Muscular
Dystrophy?
• a) Autosomal dominant
• b) Autosomal recessive
• c) X-linked recessive
• d) Mitochondrial inheritance
Rationale: Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is caused by a mutation in the
dystrophin gene located on the X chromosome. It primarily affects
males, who have only one X chromosome .
5. A patient with a family history of Huntington's disease undergoes
genetic testing. This disorder is associated with which inheritance
pattern?
, • a) Autosomal dominant
• b) Autosomal recessive
• c) X-linked dominant
• d) Multifactorial
Rationale: Huntington's disease is an autosomal dominant disorder
characterized by a trinucleotide repeat (CAG) on chromosome 4. A single
copy of the mutated gene is sufficient to cause the disease .
6. Which finding would confirm cell death is occurring via apoptosis
rather than necrosis?
• a) Release of intracellular enzymes into the bloodstream
• b) Fragmentation of the cell into membrane-bound bodies
• c) Significant inflammatory response in surrounding tissue
• d) Swelling and rupture of the plasma membrane
Rationale: Apoptosis is programmed cell death characterized by cell
shrinkage, chromatin condensation, and formation of apoptotic bodies
that are phagocytosed without eliciting an inflammatory response .
Section II: Immunology & Hypersensitivity
7. Allergic contact dermatitis is an example of which
hypersensitivity reaction?
• a) Type I
• b) Type II
• c) Type III
• d) Type IV
Rationale: Type IV (delayed-type) hypersensitivity is mediated by T
lymphocytes and is responsible for allergic contact dermatitis (e.g.,
poison ivy) .
, 8. Hives (urticaria) are an example of which hypersensitivity
reaction?
• a) Type I
• b) Type II
• c) Type III
• d) Type IV
Rationale: Type I hypersensitivity is mediated by IgE antibodies and
mast cell degranulation, leading to conditions such as anaphylaxis,
allergic rhinitis, and urticaria .
9. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is primarily associated with
which hypersensitivity reaction?
• a) Type I
• b) Type II
• c) Type III
• d) Type IV
Rationale: SLE often involves Type III hypersensitivity (immune complex-
mediated). Antigen-antibody complexes deposit in tissues such as the
glomeruli and joints, activating complement and causing inflammation .
10. Graves disease is associated with which hypersensitivity
mechanism?
• a) Type I
• b) Type II
• c) Type III
• d) Type IV
