Practice Bank
2026/2027 Edition | Verified Answers with Detailed
Rationales
INTRODUCTION
The Rasmussen University NUR 2063 Pathophysiology Exam 2
covers gastrointestinal, renal and urinary, endocrine,
neurological, and musculoskeletal disorders, plus foundational
concepts like cellular injury, inflammation, and immune
responses . This comprehensive practice bank contains 150
exam-style questions with verified answers and detailed
rationales .
Exam Topics Covered
SECTION 1: CELLULAR INJURY, INFLAMMATION & IMMUNITY
(Questions 1-20)
Question 1: Which assessment finding indicates an alteration
in homeostatic control mechanisms?
A) Bradycardia
B) Fever
C) Hypertension
D) Tachypnea
Correct Answer: B
,Rationale: Fever indicates a change in the body's homeostatic
set point, triggered by pyrogens acting on the hypothalamus .
Bradycardia, hypertension, and tachypnea can be physiologic
responses but do not directly indicate a resetting of
homeostatic mechanisms.
Key Concept: Fever = alteration in hypothalamic set point.
Difficulty: Easy
Question 2: Injury that occurs when blood flow is diminished
to tissue is called:
A) Hypoxic injury
B) Ischemic injury
C) Necrotic injury
D) Apoptotic injury
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Ischemic injury specifically refers to tissue damage
caused by reduced or interrupted blood flow (ischemia),
leading to decreased oxygen and nutrient delivery . Hypoxic
injury refers to low oxygen alone without reduced blood flow.
Key Concept: Ischemia = reduced blood flow; hypoxia = low
oxygen.
Difficulty: Easy
,Question 3: During acute inflammation, which cell arrives
early in great numbers?
A) Basophils
B) Lymphocytes
C) Neutrophils
D) Monocytes
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Neutrophils are the first leukocytes to arrive at the
site of acute inflammation, typically within 6-24 hours. They are
the primary phagocytes in early inflammatory responses .
Macrophages arrive later and are involved in chronic
inflammation.
Key Concept: Neutrophils = early acute inflammation.
Difficulty: Easy
Question 4: Which type of cell adaptation is characterized by
an increase in cell size?
A) Hyperplasia
B) Hypertrophy
C) Atrophy
D) Metaplasia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in individual cell size,
often in response to increased workload. Hyperplasia is
, increased cell number, atrophy is decreased size, and
metaplasia is conversion of one cell type to another .
Key Concept: Hypertrophy = increased cell size.
Difficulty: Easy
Question 5: Apoptosis differs from necrosis in that apoptosis:
A) Causes inflammation and tissue damage
B) Is a programmed, energy-dependent cell death
C) Results from severe cellular injury
D) Leads to cell swelling and membrane rupture
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Apoptosis is programmed cell death that is orderly,
energy-dependent, and does not trigger inflammation .
Necrosis is unprogrammed cell death from injury that causes
inflammation and tissue damage .
Key Concept: Apoptosis = programmed, non-inflammatory cell
death.
Difficulty: Easy
Question 6: What is the most common cause of cellular
injury?
A) Genetic mutations
B) Hypoxia