BSN3A Pathophysiology Exam Practice
Questions & [Verified Answers], Plus
Explained Rationales|2026 Latest Update|
Instant Download PDF
1. Which cellular adaptation occurs when a tissue increases in cell size
in response to increased workload?
A. Hyperplasia
B. Atrophy
C. Hypertrophy
D. Metaplasia
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in the size of individual cells,
commonly occurring when cells experience increased workload.
Hyperplasia involves an increase in cell number.
2. A patient has sustained a myocardial infarction resulting in
permanent loss of cardiac muscle cells. Which type of cellular
response is most likely?
A. Hyperplasia
B. Metaplasia
C. Hypertrophy
D. Necrosis
Rationale: Necrosis is uncontrolled cell death caused by injury such as
ischemia. Myocardial cells are particularly vulnerable to prolonged
oxygen deprivation.
3. Which finding is most characteristic of apoptosis?
1|Page
,A. Severe inflammation
B. Cell swelling and rupture
C. Programmed cell death without significant inflammation
D. Immediate destruction of surrounding tissue
Rationale: Apoptosis is programmed, regulated cell death. Cellular
fragments are removed without the extensive inflammatory response
typically associated with necrosis.
4. What is the primary cause of cellular injury during ischemia?
A. Excess glucose production
B. Increased protein synthesis
C. Decreased oxygen and nutrient delivery
D. Increased intracellular calcium removal
Rationale: Ischemia reduces blood flow, limiting oxygen and nutrients
while impairing removal of metabolic waste. ATP production
decreases, leading to cellular dysfunction.
5. Which electrolyte disturbance is most directly associated with
impaired cardiac conduction and potentially life-threatening
dysrhythmias?
A. Hypochloremia
B. Hyperkalemia
C. Hyperphosphatemia
D. Hypomagnesemia
Rationale: Potassium is essential for normal cardiac membrane
potentials. Significant hyperkalemia can cause conduction
abnormalities and dangerous cardiac dysrhythmias.
6. A patient develops swelling around an injured ankle. Which
mechanism primarily causes this localized edema?
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,A. Decreased capillary hydrostatic pressure
B. Increased plasma oncotic pressure
C. Increased capillary permeability
D. Decreased inflammatory mediator release
Rationale: Inflammation increases vascular permeability, allowing
protein-rich fluid to move into tissues and produce localized edema.
7. Which substance is primarily responsible for vasodilation during the
early inflammatory response?
A. Albumin
B. Hemoglobin
C. Histamine
D. Insulin
Rationale: Histamine released from mast cells causes vasodilation and
increases vascular permeability, contributing to redness, warmth, and
edema.
8. Which leukocyte is usually the first major cell type recruited to an
area of acute bacterial inflammation?
A. Lymphocyte
B. Monocyte
C. Eosinophil
D. Neutrophil
Rationale: Neutrophils are typically the predominant early responders
in acute inflammation and are important for phagocytosing bacteria
and cellular debris.
9. Which inflammatory mediator is strongly associated with fever and
systemic inflammatory responses?
3|Page
, A. Interleukin-1
B. Insulin
C. Erythropoietin
D. Thyroxine
Rationale: Interleukin-1 is a cytokine involved in systemic
inflammation and can act on the hypothalamus to contribute to fever.
10. A patient has a chronic inflammatory disorder. Which cell type is
commonly associated with chronic inflammation?
A. Neutrophil only
B. Macrophage
C. Platelet only
D. Erythrocyte
Rationale: Chronic inflammation commonly involves macrophages,
lymphocytes, and plasma cells. Macrophages release cytokines and
growth factors that can contribute to tissue injury and repair.
11. Which mechanism best explains why a patient with severe
hypoalbuminemia develops generalized edema?
A. Increased plasma oncotic pressure
B. Increased intracellular fluid concentration
C. Decreased plasma oncotic pressure
D. Increased lymphatic drainage
Rationale: Albumin contributes substantially to plasma oncotic
pressure. Low albumin allows fluid to move from the intravascular
space into interstitial tissues, producing edema.
12. A patient experiences significant blood loss. Which compensatory
response would occur initially?
4|Page
Questions & [Verified Answers], Plus
Explained Rationales|2026 Latest Update|
Instant Download PDF
1. Which cellular adaptation occurs when a tissue increases in cell size
in response to increased workload?
A. Hyperplasia
B. Atrophy
C. Hypertrophy
D. Metaplasia
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in the size of individual cells,
commonly occurring when cells experience increased workload.
Hyperplasia involves an increase in cell number.
2. A patient has sustained a myocardial infarction resulting in
permanent loss of cardiac muscle cells. Which type of cellular
response is most likely?
A. Hyperplasia
B. Metaplasia
C. Hypertrophy
D. Necrosis
Rationale: Necrosis is uncontrolled cell death caused by injury such as
ischemia. Myocardial cells are particularly vulnerable to prolonged
oxygen deprivation.
3. Which finding is most characteristic of apoptosis?
1|Page
,A. Severe inflammation
B. Cell swelling and rupture
C. Programmed cell death without significant inflammation
D. Immediate destruction of surrounding tissue
Rationale: Apoptosis is programmed, regulated cell death. Cellular
fragments are removed without the extensive inflammatory response
typically associated with necrosis.
4. What is the primary cause of cellular injury during ischemia?
A. Excess glucose production
B. Increased protein synthesis
C. Decreased oxygen and nutrient delivery
D. Increased intracellular calcium removal
Rationale: Ischemia reduces blood flow, limiting oxygen and nutrients
while impairing removal of metabolic waste. ATP production
decreases, leading to cellular dysfunction.
5. Which electrolyte disturbance is most directly associated with
impaired cardiac conduction and potentially life-threatening
dysrhythmias?
A. Hypochloremia
B. Hyperkalemia
C. Hyperphosphatemia
D. Hypomagnesemia
Rationale: Potassium is essential for normal cardiac membrane
potentials. Significant hyperkalemia can cause conduction
abnormalities and dangerous cardiac dysrhythmias.
6. A patient develops swelling around an injured ankle. Which
mechanism primarily causes this localized edema?
2|Page
,A. Decreased capillary hydrostatic pressure
B. Increased plasma oncotic pressure
C. Increased capillary permeability
D. Decreased inflammatory mediator release
Rationale: Inflammation increases vascular permeability, allowing
protein-rich fluid to move into tissues and produce localized edema.
7. Which substance is primarily responsible for vasodilation during the
early inflammatory response?
A. Albumin
B. Hemoglobin
C. Histamine
D. Insulin
Rationale: Histamine released from mast cells causes vasodilation and
increases vascular permeability, contributing to redness, warmth, and
edema.
8. Which leukocyte is usually the first major cell type recruited to an
area of acute bacterial inflammation?
A. Lymphocyte
B. Monocyte
C. Eosinophil
D. Neutrophil
Rationale: Neutrophils are typically the predominant early responders
in acute inflammation and are important for phagocytosing bacteria
and cellular debris.
9. Which inflammatory mediator is strongly associated with fever and
systemic inflammatory responses?
3|Page
, A. Interleukin-1
B. Insulin
C. Erythropoietin
D. Thyroxine
Rationale: Interleukin-1 is a cytokine involved in systemic
inflammation and can act on the hypothalamus to contribute to fever.
10. A patient has a chronic inflammatory disorder. Which cell type is
commonly associated with chronic inflammation?
A. Neutrophil only
B. Macrophage
C. Platelet only
D. Erythrocyte
Rationale: Chronic inflammation commonly involves macrophages,
lymphocytes, and plasma cells. Macrophages release cytokines and
growth factors that can contribute to tissue injury and repair.
11. Which mechanism best explains why a patient with severe
hypoalbuminemia develops generalized edema?
A. Increased plasma oncotic pressure
B. Increased intracellular fluid concentration
C. Decreased plasma oncotic pressure
D. Increased lymphatic drainage
Rationale: Albumin contributes substantially to plasma oncotic
pressure. Low albumin allows fluid to move from the intravascular
space into interstitial tissues, producing edema.
12. A patient experiences significant blood loss. Which compensatory
response would occur initially?
4|Page
