NR 283 Pathophysiology Exam Questions
and Correct Answers (Verified Answers)
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1. Which statement best describes the primary focus of
pathophysiology?
A. The normal structure of body tissues
B. The pharmacologic actions of medications
C. The functional changes associated with disease or injury
D. The psychological effects of hospitalization
Rationale: Pathophysiology examines how disease, injury, or
abnormal processes alter normal body functions. It connects
underlying cellular and physiological changes with the signs and
symptoms observed in patients.
,2. Which cellular adaptation occurs when a cell increases in size in
response to increased workload?
A. Atrophy
B. Hyperplasia
C. Metaplasia
D. Hypertrophy
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in individual cell size, usually
caused by increased functional demand. It commonly occurs in tissues
such as skeletal and cardiac muscle, where cells have limited capacity
for division.
3. A patient who has been immobilized in a cast for several weeks
develops decreased muscle mass. Which cellular adaptation has
occurred?
A. Hypertrophy
B. Hyperplasia
C. Atrophy
D. Dysplasia
Rationale: Atrophy is a decrease in cell size and often results in
reduced tissue or organ size. Disuse, inadequate nutrition, reduced
,blood supply, and loss of hormonal stimulation can all contribute to
atrophy.
4. Which cellular adaptation involves an increase in the number of
cells?
A. Hypertrophy
B. Hyperplasia
C. Atrophy
D. Necrosis
Rationale: Hyperplasia occurs when cells proliferate, increasing the
total number of cells in a tissue. It can be a normal physiological
response, such as hormonal stimulation of breast tissue, or a
pathological response.
5. A chronic smoker develops replacement of normal respiratory
columnar epithelium with stratified squamous epithelium. Which
process is occurring?
A. Hypertrophy
B. Dysplasia
, C. Metaplasia
D. Necrosis
Rationale: Metaplasia is a reversible adaptation in which one mature
cell type is replaced by another mature cell type better able to
tolerate chronic stress. Persistent irritation can cause metaplasia and
may increase the risk of subsequent dysplasia.
6. Which finding is most characteristic of reversible cellular injury?
A. Nuclear fragmentation
B. Cell membrane rupture
C. Cellular swelling
D. Enzymatic digestion of the cell
Rationale: Cellular swelling is an early and commonly reversible
response to injury, often resulting from failure of ATP-dependent ion
pumps. If the injury is corrected, normal cellular function may be
restored.
7. What is the primary consequence of decreased cellular ATP
production?
and Correct Answers (Verified Answers)
Plus Rationale 2027 Q&A| Instant
Download Pdf
1. Which statement best describes the primary focus of
pathophysiology?
A. The normal structure of body tissues
B. The pharmacologic actions of medications
C. The functional changes associated with disease or injury
D. The psychological effects of hospitalization
Rationale: Pathophysiology examines how disease, injury, or
abnormal processes alter normal body functions. It connects
underlying cellular and physiological changes with the signs and
symptoms observed in patients.
,2. Which cellular adaptation occurs when a cell increases in size in
response to increased workload?
A. Atrophy
B. Hyperplasia
C. Metaplasia
D. Hypertrophy
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in individual cell size, usually
caused by increased functional demand. It commonly occurs in tissues
such as skeletal and cardiac muscle, where cells have limited capacity
for division.
3. A patient who has been immobilized in a cast for several weeks
develops decreased muscle mass. Which cellular adaptation has
occurred?
A. Hypertrophy
B. Hyperplasia
C. Atrophy
D. Dysplasia
Rationale: Atrophy is a decrease in cell size and often results in
reduced tissue or organ size. Disuse, inadequate nutrition, reduced
,blood supply, and loss of hormonal stimulation can all contribute to
atrophy.
4. Which cellular adaptation involves an increase in the number of
cells?
A. Hypertrophy
B. Hyperplasia
C. Atrophy
D. Necrosis
Rationale: Hyperplasia occurs when cells proliferate, increasing the
total number of cells in a tissue. It can be a normal physiological
response, such as hormonal stimulation of breast tissue, or a
pathological response.
5. A chronic smoker develops replacement of normal respiratory
columnar epithelium with stratified squamous epithelium. Which
process is occurring?
A. Hypertrophy
B. Dysplasia
, C. Metaplasia
D. Necrosis
Rationale: Metaplasia is a reversible adaptation in which one mature
cell type is replaced by another mature cell type better able to
tolerate chronic stress. Persistent irritation can cause metaplasia and
may increase the risk of subsequent dysplasia.
6. Which finding is most characteristic of reversible cellular injury?
A. Nuclear fragmentation
B. Cell membrane rupture
C. Cellular swelling
D. Enzymatic digestion of the cell
Rationale: Cellular swelling is an early and commonly reversible
response to injury, often resulting from failure of ATP-dependent ion
pumps. If the injury is corrected, normal cellular function may be
restored.
7. What is the primary consequence of decreased cellular ATP
production?
