NUR 2063 Essentials of Pathophysiology Exam 1
2026/2027 Actual Exam | 300 Real Exam Questions &
Correct Verified Answers with Detailed Rationales |
Rasmussen | Pass Guaranteed - A+ Graded
Section 1: Cellular biology and adaptations
1:Which of the following is an example of cellular atrophy?
A. Enlargement of the heart due to hypertension
B. Decrease in muscle mass due to immobilization [CORRECT]
C. Increase in breast tissue during pregnancy
D. Thickening of the bladder wall due to obstruction
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Atrophy is a decrease in cell size due to decreased workload or disuse.
Option A is hypertrophy. Option C is hyperplasia. Option D is
hypertrophy.
2: A patient has a cast on their leg for 6 weeks. After the cast is
removed, the leg appears smaller and weaker. This is an example of:
A. Hypertrophy
,B. Hyperplasia
C. Disuse atrophy [CORRECT]
D. Metaplasia
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Disuse atrophy occurs when cells decrease in size due to lack of
stimulation or use, such as immobilization in a cast.
3: An increase in the size of individual cells, resulting in an increase
in the overall size of an organ or tissue, is known as:
A. Hyperplasia
B. Hypertrophy [CORRECT]
C. Metaplasia
D. Dysplasia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Hypertrophy refers to an increase in cell size. Hyperplasia refers to an
increase in cell number.
,4: A patient with a long history of smoking has a bronchial biopsy
showing that the normal columnar ciliated epithelial cells have been
replaced by stratified squamous epithelial cells. This adaptive
change is called:
A. Dysplasia
B. Hyperplasia
C. Metaplasia [CORRECT]
D. Anaplasia
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one mature cell type by
another, usually less differentiated, cell type. In smokers, the airway
lining changes to better handle the irritation, but loses its protective
ciliary function.
5:Which cellular adaptation is considered a pre-cancerous change?
A. Hypertrophy
B. Hyperplasia
C. Metaplasia
D. Dysplasia [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: D
, Rationale:
Dysplasia refers to disorganized, abnormal cell growth that is not
reversible and is considered a precursor to cancer.
6: Which type of necrosis is characteristic of brain tissue ischemia?
A. Coagulative necrosis
B. Liquefactive necrosis [CORRECT]
C. Caseous necrosis
D. Fat necrosis
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Liquefactive necrosis occurs in the brain because brain cells are rich in
hydrolytic enzymes that digest the tissue into a liquid mass. Coagulative
necrosis is typical of other organs like the heart or kidney.
7: During which phase of cellular injury does the cell become
dehydrated, and the nucleus shrinks and becomes darkly stained?
A. Swelling phase
B. Accumulation phase
C. Pyknosis phase [CORRECT]
D. Recovery phase
2026/2027 Actual Exam | 300 Real Exam Questions &
Correct Verified Answers with Detailed Rationales |
Rasmussen | Pass Guaranteed - A+ Graded
Section 1: Cellular biology and adaptations
1:Which of the following is an example of cellular atrophy?
A. Enlargement of the heart due to hypertension
B. Decrease in muscle mass due to immobilization [CORRECT]
C. Increase in breast tissue during pregnancy
D. Thickening of the bladder wall due to obstruction
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Atrophy is a decrease in cell size due to decreased workload or disuse.
Option A is hypertrophy. Option C is hyperplasia. Option D is
hypertrophy.
2: A patient has a cast on their leg for 6 weeks. After the cast is
removed, the leg appears smaller and weaker. This is an example of:
A. Hypertrophy
,B. Hyperplasia
C. Disuse atrophy [CORRECT]
D. Metaplasia
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Disuse atrophy occurs when cells decrease in size due to lack of
stimulation or use, such as immobilization in a cast.
3: An increase in the size of individual cells, resulting in an increase
in the overall size of an organ or tissue, is known as:
A. Hyperplasia
B. Hypertrophy [CORRECT]
C. Metaplasia
D. Dysplasia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Hypertrophy refers to an increase in cell size. Hyperplasia refers to an
increase in cell number.
,4: A patient with a long history of smoking has a bronchial biopsy
showing that the normal columnar ciliated epithelial cells have been
replaced by stratified squamous epithelial cells. This adaptive
change is called:
A. Dysplasia
B. Hyperplasia
C. Metaplasia [CORRECT]
D. Anaplasia
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one mature cell type by
another, usually less differentiated, cell type. In smokers, the airway
lining changes to better handle the irritation, but loses its protective
ciliary function.
5:Which cellular adaptation is considered a pre-cancerous change?
A. Hypertrophy
B. Hyperplasia
C. Metaplasia
D. Dysplasia [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: D
, Rationale:
Dysplasia refers to disorganized, abnormal cell growth that is not
reversible and is considered a precursor to cancer.
6: Which type of necrosis is characteristic of brain tissue ischemia?
A. Coagulative necrosis
B. Liquefactive necrosis [CORRECT]
C. Caseous necrosis
D. Fat necrosis
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Liquefactive necrosis occurs in the brain because brain cells are rich in
hydrolytic enzymes that digest the tissue into a liquid mass. Coagulative
necrosis is typical of other organs like the heart or kidney.
7: During which phase of cellular injury does the cell become
dehydrated, and the nucleus shrinks and becomes darkly stained?
A. Swelling phase
B. Accumulation phase
C. Pyknosis phase [CORRECT]
D. Recovery phase
