NU 545 UNITS 1-7 COMPREHENSIVE PRACTICE
EXAM (2026)
Advanced Pathophysiology
SECTION 1: CELLULAR BIOLOGY (Questions 1-35)
Question 1
A nursing student is studying cellular functions and asks about metabolic absorption. Which statement
best describes this cellular function?
A. Cells can produce proteins
B. Cells can secrete digestive enzymes
C. Cells can take in and use nutrients from their surroundings
D. Cells can synthesize fats
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Option A (Incorrect): Protein production is a specific cellular function related to protein synthesis, which
occurs in ribosomes. While important, this is not the definition of metabolic absorption, which is
broader in scope.
Option B (Incorrect): Secretion of digestive enzymes is a specialized function of certain cells (like
pancreatic acinar cells), but this represents secretion rather than absorption. This is the opposite
process of metabolic absorption.
Option C (Correct): Metabolic absorption refers to the ability of all cells to take in and use nutrients and
other substances from their surroundings. This is a fundamental cellular function that allows cells to
obtain the materials they need for survival and function.
Option D (Incorrect): Fat synthesis (lipogenesis) is a metabolic process that occurs within cells, but it is
not the definition of metabolic absorption. This is a specific metabolic pathway rather than the general
process of nutrient uptake.
,Question 2
During a pathophysiology lecture, the professor discusses organelles that use oxygen to remove
hydrogen atoms in oxidative reactions. Which organelle is being described?
A. Mitochondria
B. Peroxisomes
C. Lysosomes
D. Ribosomes
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Option A (Incorrect): Mitochondria are responsible for cellular respiration and ATP production through
oxidative phosphorylation. While they do use oxygen, their primary function is energy production, not
the specific oxidative reactions that remove hydrogen atoms to produce hydrogen peroxide.
Option B (Correct): Peroxisomes contain enzymes that use oxygen to remove hydrogen atoms from
specific substrates in an oxidative reaction, producing hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). They are also
important in the synthesis of special phospholipids critical for nerve cell myelination.
Option C (Incorrect): Lysosomes contain digestive enzymes for breaking down cellular waste and foreign
materials. They are involved in cellular autodigestion when released during injury, not oxidative
reactions involving oxygen and hydrogen removal.
Option D (Incorrect): Ribosomes are responsible for protein synthesis. They read mRNA and assemble
amino acids into proteins but are not involved in oxidative reactions using oxygen.
Question 3
A patient is diagnosed with Tay-Sachs disease. The nurse understands that this condition is related to
dysfunction of which cellular component?
A. Peroxisomes
B. Mitochondria
C. Lysosomes
D. Golgi apparatus
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Option A (Incorrect): Peroxisome dysfunction can lead to certain metabolic disorders, but Tay-Sachs
disease is not related to peroxisomal dysfunction. Peroxisomes are involved in oxidative reactions and
phospholipid synthesis.
,Option B (Incorrect): Mitochondrial dysfunction causes different types of metabolic disorders, typically
affecting energy production. Tay-Sachs is not a mitochondrial disease.
Option C (Correct): Tay-Sachs disease is a lysosomal storage disorder caused by deficiency of the enzyme
hexosaminidase A. This leads to accumulation of GM2 ganglioside in lysosomes, particularly in nerve
cells, causing progressive neurological deterioration. Lysosomes contain enzymes capable of cellular
autodigestion when released during cell injury.
Option D (Incorrect): The Golgi apparatus is involved in processing and packaging proteins and lipids.
While Golgi dysfunction can cause diseases, Tay-Sachs is specifically a lysosomal disorder.
Question 4
Where is the majority of a cell's genetic information contained?
A. Mitochondria
B. Ribosomes
C. Nucleus
D. Endoplasmic reticulum
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Option A (Incorrect): Mitochondria do contain a small amount of their own DNA (mitochondrial DNA),
but this represents only a tiny fraction of the cell's total genetic material. The vast majority of genetic
information is located elsewhere.
Option B (Incorrect): Ribosomes are involved in protein synthesis and contain ribosomal RNA (rRNA), but
they do not store genetic information. They are the sites where proteins are assembled based on
instructions from mRNA.
Option C (Correct): The nucleus contains the majority of the cell's genetic information in the form of
DNA organized into chromosomes. The nucleus has two major functions: cell division and control of
genetic information through regulation of gene expression.
Option D (Incorrect): The endoplasmic reticulum (both rough and smooth) is involved in protein and
lipid synthesis but does not contain genetic information. It works with the genetic information from the
nucleus but does not store it.
Question 5
The cell membrane is composed of which major chemical components?
A. Carbohydrates and nucleic acids
B. Lipids and proteins
C. Proteins and carbohydrates only
, D. Nucleic acids and lipids
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Option A (Incorrect): While carbohydrates are present in the cell membrane (as glycoproteins and
glycolipids), they are not a major structural component. Nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) are not
components of the cell membrane; they are found in the nucleus and cytoplasm.
Option B (Correct): Cell membranes contain lipids and proteins as their major chemical components. The
lipid bilayer consists of two continuous opposing leaflets of phospholipids and is mostly impermeable to
water-soluble molecules. Proteins are embedded in or associated with the lipid bilayer and perform
most membrane functions.
Option C (Incorrect): While proteins are major components and carbohydrates are present, this option
omits lipids, which form the fundamental structure of the membrane as the lipid bilayer. This is
incomplete.
Option D (Incorrect): Nucleic acids are not components of cell membranes. While lipids are correct,
pairing them with nucleic acids is incorrect. Nucleic acids are found in the nucleus and cytoplasm for
genetic information storage and protein synthesis.
Question 6
Which component of the cell membrane is most abundant and is key to membrane repair?
A. Cholesterol
B. Phospholipids
C. Glycoproteins
D. Integral proteins
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Option A (Incorrect): Cholesterol is an important component of cell membranes and helps maintain
membrane fluidity, but it is not the most abundant component. It is present in smaller amounts
compared to phospholipids.
Option B (Correct): Phospholipids are the most abundant lipids in the cell membrane and form the basic
structure of the lipid bilayer. They are amphipathic molecules with hydrophobic (water-fearing) tails and
hydrophilic (water-loving) heads. Phospholipids are key to repairing the membrane due to their ability to
spontaneously form bilayers.
Option C (Incorrect): Glycoproteins are proteins with carbohydrate attachments that are important for
cell recognition and signaling, but they are not the most abundant membrane component. They
represent a smaller fraction of membrane components.
EXAM (2026)
Advanced Pathophysiology
SECTION 1: CELLULAR BIOLOGY (Questions 1-35)
Question 1
A nursing student is studying cellular functions and asks about metabolic absorption. Which statement
best describes this cellular function?
A. Cells can produce proteins
B. Cells can secrete digestive enzymes
C. Cells can take in and use nutrients from their surroundings
D. Cells can synthesize fats
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Option A (Incorrect): Protein production is a specific cellular function related to protein synthesis, which
occurs in ribosomes. While important, this is not the definition of metabolic absorption, which is
broader in scope.
Option B (Incorrect): Secretion of digestive enzymes is a specialized function of certain cells (like
pancreatic acinar cells), but this represents secretion rather than absorption. This is the opposite
process of metabolic absorption.
Option C (Correct): Metabolic absorption refers to the ability of all cells to take in and use nutrients and
other substances from their surroundings. This is a fundamental cellular function that allows cells to
obtain the materials they need for survival and function.
Option D (Incorrect): Fat synthesis (lipogenesis) is a metabolic process that occurs within cells, but it is
not the definition of metabolic absorption. This is a specific metabolic pathway rather than the general
process of nutrient uptake.
,Question 2
During a pathophysiology lecture, the professor discusses organelles that use oxygen to remove
hydrogen atoms in oxidative reactions. Which organelle is being described?
A. Mitochondria
B. Peroxisomes
C. Lysosomes
D. Ribosomes
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Option A (Incorrect): Mitochondria are responsible for cellular respiration and ATP production through
oxidative phosphorylation. While they do use oxygen, their primary function is energy production, not
the specific oxidative reactions that remove hydrogen atoms to produce hydrogen peroxide.
Option B (Correct): Peroxisomes contain enzymes that use oxygen to remove hydrogen atoms from
specific substrates in an oxidative reaction, producing hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). They are also
important in the synthesis of special phospholipids critical for nerve cell myelination.
Option C (Incorrect): Lysosomes contain digestive enzymes for breaking down cellular waste and foreign
materials. They are involved in cellular autodigestion when released during injury, not oxidative
reactions involving oxygen and hydrogen removal.
Option D (Incorrect): Ribosomes are responsible for protein synthesis. They read mRNA and assemble
amino acids into proteins but are not involved in oxidative reactions using oxygen.
Question 3
A patient is diagnosed with Tay-Sachs disease. The nurse understands that this condition is related to
dysfunction of which cellular component?
A. Peroxisomes
B. Mitochondria
C. Lysosomes
D. Golgi apparatus
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Option A (Incorrect): Peroxisome dysfunction can lead to certain metabolic disorders, but Tay-Sachs
disease is not related to peroxisomal dysfunction. Peroxisomes are involved in oxidative reactions and
phospholipid synthesis.
,Option B (Incorrect): Mitochondrial dysfunction causes different types of metabolic disorders, typically
affecting energy production. Tay-Sachs is not a mitochondrial disease.
Option C (Correct): Tay-Sachs disease is a lysosomal storage disorder caused by deficiency of the enzyme
hexosaminidase A. This leads to accumulation of GM2 ganglioside in lysosomes, particularly in nerve
cells, causing progressive neurological deterioration. Lysosomes contain enzymes capable of cellular
autodigestion when released during cell injury.
Option D (Incorrect): The Golgi apparatus is involved in processing and packaging proteins and lipids.
While Golgi dysfunction can cause diseases, Tay-Sachs is specifically a lysosomal disorder.
Question 4
Where is the majority of a cell's genetic information contained?
A. Mitochondria
B. Ribosomes
C. Nucleus
D. Endoplasmic reticulum
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Option A (Incorrect): Mitochondria do contain a small amount of their own DNA (mitochondrial DNA),
but this represents only a tiny fraction of the cell's total genetic material. The vast majority of genetic
information is located elsewhere.
Option B (Incorrect): Ribosomes are involved in protein synthesis and contain ribosomal RNA (rRNA), but
they do not store genetic information. They are the sites where proteins are assembled based on
instructions from mRNA.
Option C (Correct): The nucleus contains the majority of the cell's genetic information in the form of
DNA organized into chromosomes. The nucleus has two major functions: cell division and control of
genetic information through regulation of gene expression.
Option D (Incorrect): The endoplasmic reticulum (both rough and smooth) is involved in protein and
lipid synthesis but does not contain genetic information. It works with the genetic information from the
nucleus but does not store it.
Question 5
The cell membrane is composed of which major chemical components?
A. Carbohydrates and nucleic acids
B. Lipids and proteins
C. Proteins and carbohydrates only
, D. Nucleic acids and lipids
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Option A (Incorrect): While carbohydrates are present in the cell membrane (as glycoproteins and
glycolipids), they are not a major structural component. Nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) are not
components of the cell membrane; they are found in the nucleus and cytoplasm.
Option B (Correct): Cell membranes contain lipids and proteins as their major chemical components. The
lipid bilayer consists of two continuous opposing leaflets of phospholipids and is mostly impermeable to
water-soluble molecules. Proteins are embedded in or associated with the lipid bilayer and perform
most membrane functions.
Option C (Incorrect): While proteins are major components and carbohydrates are present, this option
omits lipids, which form the fundamental structure of the membrane as the lipid bilayer. This is
incomplete.
Option D (Incorrect): Nucleic acids are not components of cell membranes. While lipids are correct,
pairing them with nucleic acids is incorrect. Nucleic acids are found in the nucleus and cytoplasm for
genetic information storage and protein synthesis.
Question 6
Which component of the cell membrane is most abundant and is key to membrane repair?
A. Cholesterol
B. Phospholipids
C. Glycoproteins
D. Integral proteins
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Option A (Incorrect): Cholesterol is an important component of cell membranes and helps maintain
membrane fluidity, but it is not the most abundant component. It is present in smaller amounts
compared to phospholipids.
Option B (Correct): Phospholipids are the most abundant lipids in the cell membrane and form the basic
structure of the lipid bilayer. They are amphipathic molecules with hydrophobic (water-fearing) tails and
hydrophilic (water-loving) heads. Phospholipids are key to repairing the membrane due to their ability to
spontaneously form bilayers.
Option C (Incorrect): Glycoproteins are proteins with carbohydrate attachments that are important for
cell recognition and signaling, but they are not the most abundant membrane component. They
represent a smaller fraction of membrane components.
