,NURS 6501N Midterm Exam Advanced Pathophysiology I Questions
And Answers 2026/2027 Walden University
Course:
NURS 6501N Advanced Pathophysiology
University:
Walden University
Assessment:
Midterm Exam
Area:
Advanced Pathophysiology
1. A cell exposed to a persistent increase in workload enlarges but does
not increase its number. Which adaptation has occurred?
A) Hypertrophy
B) Hyperplasia
C) Atrophy
D) Metaplasia
Correct Answer: Hypertrophy
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size caused by increased
workload or hormonal stimulation. The number of cells does not increase.
Cardiac muscle commonly responds to chronic pressure overload through
hypertrophy because adult cardiomyocytes have limited capacity for cell
division.
2. A patient has prolonged immobilization of a limb. Which cellular
adaptation is most likely to develop in the affected skeletal muscle?
A) Hyperplasia
B) Atrophy
C) Metaplasia
D) Dysplasia
Correct Answer: Atrophy
Rationale: Atrophy is a reduction in cell size and functional capacity that
occurs when cells experience decreased workload, inadequate nutrition, loss
of hormonal stimulation, or other chronic stresses. Disuse of skeletal muscle
is a classic cause of atrophy.
, 3. A smoker's bronchial epithelium changes from ciliated columnar cells
to stratified squamous cells. Which adaptation does this represent?
A) Hypertrophy
B) Hyperplasia
C) Metaplasia
D) Anaplasia
Correct Answer: Metaplasia
Rationale: Metaplasia is a reversible replacement of one mature
differentiated cell type with another better able to withstand chronic stress.
In smokers, respiratory epithelium may undergo squamous metaplasia,
which can impair normal mucociliary function.
4. Which cellular process is characterized by programmed, energy-
dependent cell death without the typical inflammatory response
associated with cellular rupture?
A) Necrosis
B) Ischemia
C) Apoptosis
D) Autolysis
Correct Answer: Apoptosis
Rationale: Apoptosis is regulated programmed cell death that removes
damaged, unnecessary, or aged cells while generally limiting surrounding
tissue inflammation. Necrosis, in contrast, commonly involves uncontrolled
cell injury, membrane disruption, and an inflammatory response.
5. A cell is deprived of oxygen for a prolonged period and sustains
irreversible membrane and mitochondrial injury. Which outcome is
most likely?
A) Necrosis
B) Hypertrophy
C) Hyperplasia
D) Metaplasia
Correct Answer: Necrosis
Rationale: Severe and prolonged cellular injury can exceed the cell's ability
to maintain homeostasis, resulting in irreversible damage and necrosis. Loss
, of membrane integrity, mitochondrial dysfunction, and leakage of
intracellular contents are characteristic features.
6. Which organelle is primarily responsible for generating ATP required for
cellular energy needs?
A) Lysosome
B) Mitochondrion
C) Ribosome
D) Golgi apparatus
Correct Answer: Mitochondrion
Rationale: Mitochondria generate most cellular ATP through oxidative
phosphorylation. Because active transport, muscle contraction, protein
synthesis, and many other cellular functions require energy, mitochondrial
dysfunction can produce widespread cellular injury.
7. A cell exposed to a toxin cannot maintain its intracellular potassium
concentration and begins accumulating sodium and water. Which
change is occurring?
A) Cellular swelling
B) Fatty infiltration
C) Nuclear pyknosis
D) Metaplastic transformation
Correct Answer: Cellular swelling
Rationale: Failure of ATP-dependent membrane pumps disrupts sodium and
potassium gradients. Sodium and water move into the cell, producing cellular
swelling. This is commonly an early, potentially reversible response to injury.
8. A patient with severe hypoxia develops impaired mitochondrial
oxidative phosphorylation. Which immediate cellular consequence is
most likely?
A) Increased ATP production
B) Reduced ATP availability
C) Increased protein synthesis
D) Increased DNA replication
Correct Answer: Reduced ATP availability
Rationale: Oxygen is required for efficient oxidative phosphorylation in
mitochondria. Hypoxia decreases ATP generation, impairing energy-
And Answers 2026/2027 Walden University
Course:
NURS 6501N Advanced Pathophysiology
University:
Walden University
Assessment:
Midterm Exam
Area:
Advanced Pathophysiology
1. A cell exposed to a persistent increase in workload enlarges but does
not increase its number. Which adaptation has occurred?
A) Hypertrophy
B) Hyperplasia
C) Atrophy
D) Metaplasia
Correct Answer: Hypertrophy
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size caused by increased
workload or hormonal stimulation. The number of cells does not increase.
Cardiac muscle commonly responds to chronic pressure overload through
hypertrophy because adult cardiomyocytes have limited capacity for cell
division.
2. A patient has prolonged immobilization of a limb. Which cellular
adaptation is most likely to develop in the affected skeletal muscle?
A) Hyperplasia
B) Atrophy
C) Metaplasia
D) Dysplasia
Correct Answer: Atrophy
Rationale: Atrophy is a reduction in cell size and functional capacity that
occurs when cells experience decreased workload, inadequate nutrition, loss
of hormonal stimulation, or other chronic stresses. Disuse of skeletal muscle
is a classic cause of atrophy.
, 3. A smoker's bronchial epithelium changes from ciliated columnar cells
to stratified squamous cells. Which adaptation does this represent?
A) Hypertrophy
B) Hyperplasia
C) Metaplasia
D) Anaplasia
Correct Answer: Metaplasia
Rationale: Metaplasia is a reversible replacement of one mature
differentiated cell type with another better able to withstand chronic stress.
In smokers, respiratory epithelium may undergo squamous metaplasia,
which can impair normal mucociliary function.
4. Which cellular process is characterized by programmed, energy-
dependent cell death without the typical inflammatory response
associated with cellular rupture?
A) Necrosis
B) Ischemia
C) Apoptosis
D) Autolysis
Correct Answer: Apoptosis
Rationale: Apoptosis is regulated programmed cell death that removes
damaged, unnecessary, or aged cells while generally limiting surrounding
tissue inflammation. Necrosis, in contrast, commonly involves uncontrolled
cell injury, membrane disruption, and an inflammatory response.
5. A cell is deprived of oxygen for a prolonged period and sustains
irreversible membrane and mitochondrial injury. Which outcome is
most likely?
A) Necrosis
B) Hypertrophy
C) Hyperplasia
D) Metaplasia
Correct Answer: Necrosis
Rationale: Severe and prolonged cellular injury can exceed the cell's ability
to maintain homeostasis, resulting in irreversible damage and necrosis. Loss
, of membrane integrity, mitochondrial dysfunction, and leakage of
intracellular contents are characteristic features.
6. Which organelle is primarily responsible for generating ATP required for
cellular energy needs?
A) Lysosome
B) Mitochondrion
C) Ribosome
D) Golgi apparatus
Correct Answer: Mitochondrion
Rationale: Mitochondria generate most cellular ATP through oxidative
phosphorylation. Because active transport, muscle contraction, protein
synthesis, and many other cellular functions require energy, mitochondrial
dysfunction can produce widespread cellular injury.
7. A cell exposed to a toxin cannot maintain its intracellular potassium
concentration and begins accumulating sodium and water. Which
change is occurring?
A) Cellular swelling
B) Fatty infiltration
C) Nuclear pyknosis
D) Metaplastic transformation
Correct Answer: Cellular swelling
Rationale: Failure of ATP-dependent membrane pumps disrupts sodium and
potassium gradients. Sodium and water move into the cell, producing cellular
swelling. This is commonly an early, potentially reversible response to injury.
8. A patient with severe hypoxia develops impaired mitochondrial
oxidative phosphorylation. Which immediate cellular consequence is
most likely?
A) Increased ATP production
B) Reduced ATP availability
C) Increased protein synthesis
D) Increased DNA replication
Correct Answer: Reduced ATP availability
Rationale: Oxygen is required for efficient oxidative phosphorylation in
mitochondria. Hypoxia decreases ATP generation, impairing energy-
