NUR 611 FINAL EXAM: ADVANCED
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
1. A patient with long-standing hypertension has left ventricular enlargement. Which cellular
adaptation is primarily occurring?
A. Metaplasia
B. Hyperplasia
C. Hypertrophy
D. Dysplasia
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size, typically seen in cardiac
and skeletal muscle cells that cannot divide when they face increased workload.
2. What is the primary mechanism of cellular injury caused by hypoxia?
A. Increased production of ATP
B. Cellular dehydration
C. Failure of the Na+/K+ ATPase pump
D. Increase in intracellular pH
,Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Hypoxia leads to ATP depletion, causing the sodium-potassium
pump to fail, which results in intracellular sodium accumulation and cellular swelling.
3. Which type of necrosis is most commonly associated with a myocardial infarction?
A. Liquefactive necrosis
B. Coagulative necrosis
C. Fat necrosis
D. Caseous necrosis
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Coagulative necrosis occurs primarily in the heart, kidneys, and
adrenal glands as a result of hypoxia or ischemia.
4. In the process of apoptosis, what role do caspases play?
A. Inhibiting cell death signals
B. Repairing damaged DNA
C. Acting as proteolytic enzymes that trigger the suicide cascade
D. Promoting inflammation in surrounding tissues
Answer: C
, Conceptual Explanation: Caspases are a family of protease enzymes that play essential
roles in programmed cell death (apoptosis) by cleaving specific proteins.
5. Which electrolyte imbalance is a patient most at risk for when they have a large volume
shift in a major burn injury?
A. Hypercalcemia
B. Hypophosphatemia
C. Hypomagnesemia
D. Hyperkalemia
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Massive cell destruction in burns releases intracellular
potassium into the extracellular space, leading to hyperkalemia.
6. A patient presents with a pH of 7.25, PaCO2 of 55, and HCO3 of 24. What is the acid-base
diagnosis?
A. Metabolic Acidosis
B. Respiratory Alkalosis
C. Metabolic Alkalosis
D. Respiratory Acidosis
Answer: D
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
1. A patient with long-standing hypertension has left ventricular enlargement. Which cellular
adaptation is primarily occurring?
A. Metaplasia
B. Hyperplasia
C. Hypertrophy
D. Dysplasia
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size, typically seen in cardiac
and skeletal muscle cells that cannot divide when they face increased workload.
2. What is the primary mechanism of cellular injury caused by hypoxia?
A. Increased production of ATP
B. Cellular dehydration
C. Failure of the Na+/K+ ATPase pump
D. Increase in intracellular pH
,Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Hypoxia leads to ATP depletion, causing the sodium-potassium
pump to fail, which results in intracellular sodium accumulation and cellular swelling.
3. Which type of necrosis is most commonly associated with a myocardial infarction?
A. Liquefactive necrosis
B. Coagulative necrosis
C. Fat necrosis
D. Caseous necrosis
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Coagulative necrosis occurs primarily in the heart, kidneys, and
adrenal glands as a result of hypoxia or ischemia.
4. In the process of apoptosis, what role do caspases play?
A. Inhibiting cell death signals
B. Repairing damaged DNA
C. Acting as proteolytic enzymes that trigger the suicide cascade
D. Promoting inflammation in surrounding tissues
Answer: C
, Conceptual Explanation: Caspases are a family of protease enzymes that play essential
roles in programmed cell death (apoptosis) by cleaving specific proteins.
5. Which electrolyte imbalance is a patient most at risk for when they have a large volume
shift in a major burn injury?
A. Hypercalcemia
B. Hypophosphatemia
C. Hypomagnesemia
D. Hyperkalemia
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Massive cell destruction in burns releases intracellular
potassium into the extracellular space, leading to hyperkalemia.
6. A patient presents with a pH of 7.25, PaCO2 of 55, and HCO3 of 24. What is the acid-base
diagnosis?
A. Metabolic Acidosis
B. Respiratory Alkalosis
C. Metabolic Alkalosis
D. Respiratory Acidosis
Answer: D
