NR 283 Pathophysiology Exam 1 | Questions and
Answers + Expert Rationales | 2026 Updated |
Chamberlain
1. What is the definition of etiology?
A) The story of how a disease develops
B) The cause of a particular disease at the microscopic level
C) The study of disease prevalence in populations
D) The process of programmed cell death
Correct Answer: B. The cause of a particular disease at the microscopic level
Expert Rationale: Etiology refers to the study of the causes or origins of disease. At the
microscopic level, it involves identifying the specific pathogen, genetic mutation, or cellular
abnormality that initiates the disease process. The story of disease development is
pathogenesis, making option A incorrect. Option C describes epidemiology, and option D
describes apoptosis.
2. What is the definition of pathogenesis?
A) The cause of a particular disease
B) The process of cell enlargement
C) The story of how a disease develops
D) The replacement of one mature cell type with another
Correct Answer: C. The story of how a disease develops
Expert Rationale: Pathogenesis is the sequence of events that occur from the initial stimulus to
the development of clinical manifestations. It is often described as the "story" of the disease
process. Understanding the pathogenesis helps clinicians understand how to interrupt disease
progression. Option A describes etiology, option B describes hypertrophy, and option D
describes metaplasia .
3. Which term describes a DECREASE in the SIZE of cells, resulting in reduced tissue mass?
A) Hypertrophy
B) Hyperplasia
,C) Atrophy
D) Metaplasia
Correct Answer: C. Atrophy
Expert Rationale: Atrophy is a decrease in cell size and consequently tissue mass. This can occur
due to disuse (casted limb), denervation, ischemia, malnutrition, or aging. The cells shrink but
remain viable. This is distinct from hypertrophy (increase in cell size), hyperplasia (increase in
cell number), and metaplasia (cell type replacement) .
4. Which cellular adaptation involves an INCREASE in CELL SIZE, resulting in enlarged tissue
mass?
A) Atrophy
B) Hypertrophy
C) Hyperplasia
D) Dysplasia
Correct Answer: B. Hypertrophy
Expert Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in individual cell size due to increased functional
demand or hormonal stimulation. The cell synthesizes more structural proteins and organelles.
This is reversible. Classic examples include cardiac muscle hypertrophy from hypertension
(pathological) and skeletal muscle hypertrophy from weightlifting (physiological). Note that
cardiac muscle cannot undergo hyperplasia, so it relies solely on hypertrophy .
5. Which term describes an INCREASED NUMBER of cells, resulting in enlarged tissue mass?
A) Hypertrophy
B) Hyperplasia
C) Metaplasia
D) Atrophy
Correct Answer: B. Hyperplasia
Expert Rationale: Hyperplasia is an increase in the number of cells due to increased mitotic
division. This occurs in tissues that can divide (labile or stable cells). Examples include
endometrial hyperplasia from estrogen stimulation (physiological), benign prostatic hyperplasia
(BPH), and liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy (compensatory). It can be physiological
or pathological. Hyperplasia and hypertrophy often occur together .
,6. What is metaplasia?
A) Decrease in cell size
B) Increase in cell number
C) Mature cell type replaced by a different mature cell type
D) Cells of varying size and shape
Correct Answer: C. Mature cell type replaced by a different mature cell type
Expert Rationale: Metaplasia is a reversible change where one differentiated cell type is
replaced by another. This occurs as an adaptive response to chronic irritation. The classic
example is in chronic smokers—the normal ciliated pseudostratified columnar epithelium of the
airways is replaced by stratified squamous epithelium, which is more durable but loses the
protective ciliary function. This can predispose to infection and increase the risk of malignant
transformation .
7. What is dysplasia?
A) Decrease in cell size
B) Increase in cell number
C) Replacement of mature cells
D) Cells that are different looking, varying in size and shape
Correct Answer: D. Cells that are different looking, varying in size and shape
Expert Rationale: Dysplasia refers to abnormal changes in cell size, shape, and organization,
resulting in "disordered growth." The cells exhibit pleomorphism (varying sizes and shapes).
Dysplasia is often found in epithelial tissues as a response to chronic irritation or inflammation.
It is NOT considered a true adaptive response but rather a precancerous condition. Cervical
dysplasia (CIN) is a classic example. Dysplasia is reversible if the stimulus is removed but can
progress to carcinoma in situ .
8. What is neoplasia?
A) Programmed cell death
B) New growth, commonly a tumor, may be malignant or benign
C) Reduced oxygen in tissues
D) Deficit of oxygen in cells
, Correct Answer: B. New growth, commonly a tumor, may be malignant or benign
Expert Rationale: Neoplasia literally means "new growth." A neoplasm is a tumor that results
from uncontrolled cell proliferation. Neoplasms can be benign (well-differentiated,
encapsulated, non-invasive, good prognosis) or malignant (poorly differentiated, invasive,
metastatic, poor prognosis). This is distinct from hyperplasia, which is a controlled, reversible
process. Neoplasia is the hallmark of cancer .
9. What is apoptosis?
A) Cellular enlargement
B) Cellular death due to injury
C) Programmed cell death, a normal occurrence in the body
D) Formation of a tumor
Correct Answer: C. Programmed cell death, a normal occurrence in the body
Expert Rationale: Apoptosis is a highly regulated, energy-dependent process of programmed
cell death. It is essential for normal development (webbing between digits in embryos), tissue
homeostasis (replacing old cells), and immune function (eliminating self-reactive lymphocytes).
Unlike necrosis, apoptosis does NOT trigger inflammation. Cells shrink, the nucleus fragments,
and the cell breaks into apoptotic bodies that are phagocytosed. Dysregulation of apoptosis is
implicated in cancer (too little apoptosis) and neurodegenerative diseases (too much
apoptosis) .
10. What is ischemia?
A) Reduced oxygen in tissues
B) Deficit of oxygen in cells
C) Complete lack of oxygen
D) Death of tissue
Correct Answer: B. Deficit of oxygen in cells
Expert Rationale: Ischemia is a reduced supply of oxygenated blood to a tissue or organ, leading
to a deficit of oxygen at the cellular level. It is caused by reduced blood flow (arterial
obstruction, venous stasis, or shock). Ischemia causes cellular injury due to lack of oxygen and
nutrients and accumulation of metabolic waste. Ischemia is the most common cause of hypoxia.
Prolonged ischemia leads to necrosis. The most common example is myocardial ischemia
(angina or MI) .
Answers + Expert Rationales | 2026 Updated |
Chamberlain
1. What is the definition of etiology?
A) The story of how a disease develops
B) The cause of a particular disease at the microscopic level
C) The study of disease prevalence in populations
D) The process of programmed cell death
Correct Answer: B. The cause of a particular disease at the microscopic level
Expert Rationale: Etiology refers to the study of the causes or origins of disease. At the
microscopic level, it involves identifying the specific pathogen, genetic mutation, or cellular
abnormality that initiates the disease process. The story of disease development is
pathogenesis, making option A incorrect. Option C describes epidemiology, and option D
describes apoptosis.
2. What is the definition of pathogenesis?
A) The cause of a particular disease
B) The process of cell enlargement
C) The story of how a disease develops
D) The replacement of one mature cell type with another
Correct Answer: C. The story of how a disease develops
Expert Rationale: Pathogenesis is the sequence of events that occur from the initial stimulus to
the development of clinical manifestations. It is often described as the "story" of the disease
process. Understanding the pathogenesis helps clinicians understand how to interrupt disease
progression. Option A describes etiology, option B describes hypertrophy, and option D
describes metaplasia .
3. Which term describes a DECREASE in the SIZE of cells, resulting in reduced tissue mass?
A) Hypertrophy
B) Hyperplasia
,C) Atrophy
D) Metaplasia
Correct Answer: C. Atrophy
Expert Rationale: Atrophy is a decrease in cell size and consequently tissue mass. This can occur
due to disuse (casted limb), denervation, ischemia, malnutrition, or aging. The cells shrink but
remain viable. This is distinct from hypertrophy (increase in cell size), hyperplasia (increase in
cell number), and metaplasia (cell type replacement) .
4. Which cellular adaptation involves an INCREASE in CELL SIZE, resulting in enlarged tissue
mass?
A) Atrophy
B) Hypertrophy
C) Hyperplasia
D) Dysplasia
Correct Answer: B. Hypertrophy
Expert Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in individual cell size due to increased functional
demand or hormonal stimulation. The cell synthesizes more structural proteins and organelles.
This is reversible. Classic examples include cardiac muscle hypertrophy from hypertension
(pathological) and skeletal muscle hypertrophy from weightlifting (physiological). Note that
cardiac muscle cannot undergo hyperplasia, so it relies solely on hypertrophy .
5. Which term describes an INCREASED NUMBER of cells, resulting in enlarged tissue mass?
A) Hypertrophy
B) Hyperplasia
C) Metaplasia
D) Atrophy
Correct Answer: B. Hyperplasia
Expert Rationale: Hyperplasia is an increase in the number of cells due to increased mitotic
division. This occurs in tissues that can divide (labile or stable cells). Examples include
endometrial hyperplasia from estrogen stimulation (physiological), benign prostatic hyperplasia
(BPH), and liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy (compensatory). It can be physiological
or pathological. Hyperplasia and hypertrophy often occur together .
,6. What is metaplasia?
A) Decrease in cell size
B) Increase in cell number
C) Mature cell type replaced by a different mature cell type
D) Cells of varying size and shape
Correct Answer: C. Mature cell type replaced by a different mature cell type
Expert Rationale: Metaplasia is a reversible change where one differentiated cell type is
replaced by another. This occurs as an adaptive response to chronic irritation. The classic
example is in chronic smokers—the normal ciliated pseudostratified columnar epithelium of the
airways is replaced by stratified squamous epithelium, which is more durable but loses the
protective ciliary function. This can predispose to infection and increase the risk of malignant
transformation .
7. What is dysplasia?
A) Decrease in cell size
B) Increase in cell number
C) Replacement of mature cells
D) Cells that are different looking, varying in size and shape
Correct Answer: D. Cells that are different looking, varying in size and shape
Expert Rationale: Dysplasia refers to abnormal changes in cell size, shape, and organization,
resulting in "disordered growth." The cells exhibit pleomorphism (varying sizes and shapes).
Dysplasia is often found in epithelial tissues as a response to chronic irritation or inflammation.
It is NOT considered a true adaptive response but rather a precancerous condition. Cervical
dysplasia (CIN) is a classic example. Dysplasia is reversible if the stimulus is removed but can
progress to carcinoma in situ .
8. What is neoplasia?
A) Programmed cell death
B) New growth, commonly a tumor, may be malignant or benign
C) Reduced oxygen in tissues
D) Deficit of oxygen in cells
, Correct Answer: B. New growth, commonly a tumor, may be malignant or benign
Expert Rationale: Neoplasia literally means "new growth." A neoplasm is a tumor that results
from uncontrolled cell proliferation. Neoplasms can be benign (well-differentiated,
encapsulated, non-invasive, good prognosis) or malignant (poorly differentiated, invasive,
metastatic, poor prognosis). This is distinct from hyperplasia, which is a controlled, reversible
process. Neoplasia is the hallmark of cancer .
9. What is apoptosis?
A) Cellular enlargement
B) Cellular death due to injury
C) Programmed cell death, a normal occurrence in the body
D) Formation of a tumor
Correct Answer: C. Programmed cell death, a normal occurrence in the body
Expert Rationale: Apoptosis is a highly regulated, energy-dependent process of programmed
cell death. It is essential for normal development (webbing between digits in embryos), tissue
homeostasis (replacing old cells), and immune function (eliminating self-reactive lymphocytes).
Unlike necrosis, apoptosis does NOT trigger inflammation. Cells shrink, the nucleus fragments,
and the cell breaks into apoptotic bodies that are phagocytosed. Dysregulation of apoptosis is
implicated in cancer (too little apoptosis) and neurodegenerative diseases (too much
apoptosis) .
10. What is ischemia?
A) Reduced oxygen in tissues
B) Deficit of oxygen in cells
C) Complete lack of oxygen
D) Death of tissue
Correct Answer: B. Deficit of oxygen in cells
Expert Rationale: Ischemia is a reduced supply of oxygenated blood to a tissue or organ, leading
to a deficit of oxygen at the cellular level. It is caused by reduced blood flow (arterial
obstruction, venous stasis, or shock). Ischemia causes cellular injury due to lack of oxygen and
nutrients and accumulation of metabolic waste. Ischemia is the most common cause of hypoxia.
Prolonged ischemia leads to necrosis. The most common example is myocardial ischemia
(angina or MI) .
