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NSG 3113 Pathophysiology for Nurses Exam 1 EXAM
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT VERIFIED SOLUTIONS LATEST
UPDATE THIS YEAR – JUST RELEASED
NSG 3113 Pathophysiology for Nurses Exam 1
250 Practice Questions with Rationales
EXAM COVERAGE OVERVIEW (10 Key Points)
1. Cellular Adaptation – Atrophy (decrease in cell size), Hypertrophy (increase in cell size),
Hyperplasia (increase in cell number), Metaplasia (replacement of one cell type by
another), Dysplasia (abnormal cell growth, often pre-cancerous). These are fundamental
to understanding how cells respond to stress and injury .
2. Cellular Injury & Death – Reversible injury (fatty change, cellular swelling) vs. irreversible
injury (necrosis, apoptosis). Necrosis is unprogrammed cell death; apoptosis is
programmed .
3. Genetics & Congenital Disorders – Genotype (genetic makeup) vs. Phenotype
(observable traits). Autosomal dominant (Huntington's), autosomal recessive (cystic
fibrosis, Tay-Sachs), X-linked recessive (hemophilia), chromosomal abnormalities (Down
syndrome, Turner syndrome) .
4. Neurofibromatosis Type 1 – Autosomal dominant disorder; diagnostic criteria include
café-au-lait spots (≥ 6 spots > 5mm in children, > 15mm in adults) .
5. Neural Tube Defects – Risk factors include folic acid deficiency, valproic acid use,
hyperthermia, monozygotic twins .
6. Fluid, Electrolyte & Acid-Base Balance – Sodium is the primary ECF cation; potassium is
the primary ICF cation. The Na⁺/K⁺ pump maintains these gradients. RAAS (renin-
angiotensin-aldosterone system) and ADH regulate fluid balance and blood pressure .
7. Inflammation & Wound Healing – Acute inflammation (neutrophils, rapid onset) vs.
Chronic inflammation (macrophages, lymphocytes, granuloma formation). Vasodilation
increases blood flow to injured tissues .
8. Stress Response & Immobility – Alarm stage (SNS activation), Resistance stage
(hormonal adaptation), Exhaustion stage (overwhelmed). Immobility causes muscle
atrophy, venous stasis, DVT risk, and contractures .
9. Oncology – Anaplasia (loss of cell differentiation, abnormal appearance). Metastasis
(cells break away and travel to distant sites). Angiogenesis (tumor develops its own
blood vessels via VEGF) .
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10. Fluid & Electrolyte Disorders – Hypotonic (water moves into cells), Hypertonic (water
moves out of cells, cells shrink), Isotonic (no fluid shift). SIADH causes excessive ADH,
water retention, and hyponatremia .
QUESTIONS 1-250
1. Which term describes a decrease in cell size due to reduced work demands?
A) Hyperplasia
B) Hypertrophy
C) Metaplasia
D) Atrophy
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Atrophy is characterized by a decrease in cell size and metabolic activity, including a
reduction in organelles. This is a reversible change that allows the cell to survive with less
metabolic demand. Cells revert to a smaller size in response to changes in metabolism or when
the environment cannot support metabolic requirements .
2. A bodybuilder develops larger muscles through weight training. This is an example of:
A) Pathological hypertrophy
B) Physiological hypertrophy
C) Hyperplasia
D) Dysplasia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: In a well-trained athlete, each individual myocardial or skeletal muscle cell is
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enlarged which enhances blood supply to the cells and delivers large amounts of oxygen and
nutrients. The stimulus for hypertrophy includes increased muscle cell blood vessel growth, ATP,
enzymes, actin, myosin, and mitochondria. This is physiological because it occurs with
supportive structures .
3. A client with long-standing hypertension develops left ventricular hypertrophy. This
represents:
A) Physiological hypertrophy
B) Pathological hypertrophy
C) Hyperplasia
D) Metaplasia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: In long-standing hypertension, elevated blood pressure increases workload for the
left ventricle, which increases each cardiac muscle cell in size without increase in blood supply
of vessels. The ventricle outgrows supply of blood flow and is susceptible to inadequate blood
flow (ischemia). This can occur in disease/maladaptive environments .
4. In pregnancy, estrogen stimulation results in mitotic division of breast gland cells. This is an
example of:
A) Atrophy
B) Hypertrophy
C) Hyperplasia
D) Metaplasia
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Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Hyperplasia is an increase in cell NUMBER without change in size. It occurs only in
cells capable of mitotic division (epithelium/glandular tissue) and is stimulated by hormonal or
compensatory mechanisms .
5. A client with GERD has chronic acid exposure to the lower esophagus. The normal
squamous epithelial cells transform into columnar stomach-like cells. This cellular change is
known as:
A) Hyperplasia
B) Dysplasia
C) Metaplasia
D) Anaplasia
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: In GERD, the lower esophageal sphincter is weakened which allows stomach acid into
the lower esophagus causing inflammation of the esophagus. If prolonged or not treated,
normal epithelial cells transform/change into columnar stomach-like cells (Barrett's esophagus).
This is metaplasia, which serves as an adaptive mechanism that allows cells to better withstand
changes in their environment .
6. A cervical Pap smear reveals cells that vary in size, shape, and organization compared with
normal cells. This finding is most consistent with:
A) Metaplasia
B) Hyperplasia
NSG 3113 Pathophysiology for Nurses Exam 1 EXAM
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT VERIFIED SOLUTIONS LATEST
UPDATE THIS YEAR – JUST RELEASED
NSG 3113 Pathophysiology for Nurses Exam 1
250 Practice Questions with Rationales
EXAM COVERAGE OVERVIEW (10 Key Points)
1. Cellular Adaptation – Atrophy (decrease in cell size), Hypertrophy (increase in cell size),
Hyperplasia (increase in cell number), Metaplasia (replacement of one cell type by
another), Dysplasia (abnormal cell growth, often pre-cancerous). These are fundamental
to understanding how cells respond to stress and injury .
2. Cellular Injury & Death – Reversible injury (fatty change, cellular swelling) vs. irreversible
injury (necrosis, apoptosis). Necrosis is unprogrammed cell death; apoptosis is
programmed .
3. Genetics & Congenital Disorders – Genotype (genetic makeup) vs. Phenotype
(observable traits). Autosomal dominant (Huntington's), autosomal recessive (cystic
fibrosis, Tay-Sachs), X-linked recessive (hemophilia), chromosomal abnormalities (Down
syndrome, Turner syndrome) .
4. Neurofibromatosis Type 1 – Autosomal dominant disorder; diagnostic criteria include
café-au-lait spots (≥ 6 spots > 5mm in children, > 15mm in adults) .
5. Neural Tube Defects – Risk factors include folic acid deficiency, valproic acid use,
hyperthermia, monozygotic twins .
6. Fluid, Electrolyte & Acid-Base Balance – Sodium is the primary ECF cation; potassium is
the primary ICF cation. The Na⁺/K⁺ pump maintains these gradients. RAAS (renin-
angiotensin-aldosterone system) and ADH regulate fluid balance and blood pressure .
7. Inflammation & Wound Healing – Acute inflammation (neutrophils, rapid onset) vs.
Chronic inflammation (macrophages, lymphocytes, granuloma formation). Vasodilation
increases blood flow to injured tissues .
8. Stress Response & Immobility – Alarm stage (SNS activation), Resistance stage
(hormonal adaptation), Exhaustion stage (overwhelmed). Immobility causes muscle
atrophy, venous stasis, DVT risk, and contractures .
9. Oncology – Anaplasia (loss of cell differentiation, abnormal appearance). Metastasis
(cells break away and travel to distant sites). Angiogenesis (tumor develops its own
blood vessels via VEGF) .
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10. Fluid & Electrolyte Disorders – Hypotonic (water moves into cells), Hypertonic (water
moves out of cells, cells shrink), Isotonic (no fluid shift). SIADH causes excessive ADH,
water retention, and hyponatremia .
QUESTIONS 1-250
1. Which term describes a decrease in cell size due to reduced work demands?
A) Hyperplasia
B) Hypertrophy
C) Metaplasia
D) Atrophy
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Atrophy is characterized by a decrease in cell size and metabolic activity, including a
reduction in organelles. This is a reversible change that allows the cell to survive with less
metabolic demand. Cells revert to a smaller size in response to changes in metabolism or when
the environment cannot support metabolic requirements .
2. A bodybuilder develops larger muscles through weight training. This is an example of:
A) Pathological hypertrophy
B) Physiological hypertrophy
C) Hyperplasia
D) Dysplasia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: In a well-trained athlete, each individual myocardial or skeletal muscle cell is
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enlarged which enhances blood supply to the cells and delivers large amounts of oxygen and
nutrients. The stimulus for hypertrophy includes increased muscle cell blood vessel growth, ATP,
enzymes, actin, myosin, and mitochondria. This is physiological because it occurs with
supportive structures .
3. A client with long-standing hypertension develops left ventricular hypertrophy. This
represents:
A) Physiological hypertrophy
B) Pathological hypertrophy
C) Hyperplasia
D) Metaplasia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: In long-standing hypertension, elevated blood pressure increases workload for the
left ventricle, which increases each cardiac muscle cell in size without increase in blood supply
of vessels. The ventricle outgrows supply of blood flow and is susceptible to inadequate blood
flow (ischemia). This can occur in disease/maladaptive environments .
4. In pregnancy, estrogen stimulation results in mitotic division of breast gland cells. This is an
example of:
A) Atrophy
B) Hypertrophy
C) Hyperplasia
D) Metaplasia
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Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Hyperplasia is an increase in cell NUMBER without change in size. It occurs only in
cells capable of mitotic division (epithelium/glandular tissue) and is stimulated by hormonal or
compensatory mechanisms .
5. A client with GERD has chronic acid exposure to the lower esophagus. The normal
squamous epithelial cells transform into columnar stomach-like cells. This cellular change is
known as:
A) Hyperplasia
B) Dysplasia
C) Metaplasia
D) Anaplasia
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: In GERD, the lower esophageal sphincter is weakened which allows stomach acid into
the lower esophagus causing inflammation of the esophagus. If prolonged or not treated,
normal epithelial cells transform/change into columnar stomach-like cells (Barrett's esophagus).
This is metaplasia, which serves as an adaptive mechanism that allows cells to better withstand
changes in their environment .
6. A cervical Pap smear reveals cells that vary in size, shape, and organization compared with
normal cells. This finding is most consistent with:
A) Metaplasia
B) Hyperplasia
