Page 1 of 69
NR 507 ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY – FINAL EXAM
2026/2027 COMPLETE (150) CURRENT TESTING
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS WITH DETAILED
RATIONALES.
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
Prepare effectively for the NR 507 Final Exam in Advanced Pathophysiology at
Chamberlain with this focused study resource. It supports review of disease
processes, cellular and physiological changes, pathophysiological mechanisms,
clinical manifestations, and complex disorders. Use the material to reinforce your
understanding, review high-yield topics, and identify areas that may require additional
study. This resource is suited for Chamberlain nursing students, advanced practice
nursing learners, and candidates preparing for the NR 507 final examination.
MULTIPLE CHOICE.
SECTION 1: CELLULAR ADAPTATION, INJURY & GENETICS (Questions 1–25)
1. A patient with chronic hypertension develops left ventricular
hypertrophy. This cellular adaptation is BEST described as:
(A) Metaplasia
(B) Hyperplasia
(C) Hypertrophy
(D) Dysplasia
Answer: (C) Hypertrophy
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size, resulting in enlargement of
the organ. Cardiac muscle cells cannot divide, so they respond to increased
workload (such as chronic hypertension) through hypertrophy. Metaplasia (A)
is replacement of one cell type by another. Hyperplasia (B) is an increase in
cell number. Dysplasia (D) is abnormal cell growth.
, Page 2 of 69
2. Which cellular adaptation occurs in response to decreased workload
and results in a reduction in cell size?
(A) Hypertrophy
(B) Hyperplasia
(C) Atrophy
(D) Metaplasia
Answer: (C) Atrophy
Rationale: Atrophy is a decrease in cell size due to reduced workload, loss of
innervation, diminished blood supply, inadequate nutrition, or aging. Atrophy
can be physiologic (e.g., thymus gland with aging) or pathologic. Hypertrophy
(A) is an increase in cell size. Hyperplasia (B) is an increase in cell number.
Metaplasia (D) is replacement of one cell type with another.
3. A patient with Barrett's esophagus has replacement of the normal
squamous epithelium of the esophagus with columnar epithelium. This
change is classified as:
(A) Dysplasia
(B) Metaplasia
(C) Anaplasia
(D) Hyperplasia
Answer: (B) Metaplasia
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one differentiated cell
type with another. Barrett's esophagus is a classic example where the normal
stratified squamous epithelium is replaced by columnar epithelium in
response to chronic acid reflux. Dysplasia (A) is abnormal cellular growth.
Anaplasia (C) is loss of differentiation in malignant cells. Hyperplasia (D) is
increased cell number.
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4. A nurse is teaching about cellular injury. Which mechanism is MOST
commonly associated with hypoxic injury?
(A) Free radical formation
(B) Impaired ATP production
(C) Increased intracellular calcium
(D) Membrane damage
Answer: (B) Impaired ATP production
Rationale: Hypoxic injury results from decreased oxygen delivery to cells,
leading to impaired aerobic metabolism and decreased ATP production. This
causes failure of the sodium-potassium pump, cellular swelling, and eventual
cell death. Free radical formation (A) and membrane damage (D) can occur as
secondary consequences. Increased intracellular calcium (C) is a
downstream effect.
5. A patient has been diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, an X-
linked recessive disorder. If the mother is a carrier and the father is
unaffected, what is the probability that a male child will be affected?
(A) 0%
(B) 25%
(C) 50%
(D) 100%
Answer: (C) 50%
Rationale: In X-linked recessive inheritance, males are hemizygous (have only
one X chromosome). If the mother is a carrier (X^c X) and the father is
unaffected (X Y), there is a 50% chance that a male child will inherit the
affected X chromosome from the mother. Female children have a 50% chance
of being carriers.
, Page 4 of 69
6. A patient's cervical biopsy reveals cells with abnormal size, shape, and
organization but no invasion of surrounding tissue. This finding is BEST
described as:
(A) Dysplasia
(B) Metaplasia
(C) Anaplasia
(D) Carcinoma in situ
Answer: (A) Dysplasia
Rationale: Dysplasia is characterized by abnormal changes in cell size,
shape, and organization. It is often a precursor to malignancy but does not
involve invasion. Carcinoma in situ (D) is a more advanced stage where
dysplastic cells are confined to the epithelial layer without basement
membrane invasion. Anaplasia (C) refers to loss of differentiation in malignant
cells.
7. A patient with a family history of breast cancer undergoes genetic
testing and is found to have a mutation in the BRCA1 gene. This gene
normally functions as a:
(A) Proto-oncogene
(B) Tumor suppressor gene
(C) Oncogene
(D) Growth factor gene
Answer: (B) Tumor suppressor gene
Rationale: BRCA1 is a tumor suppressor gene that normally helps repair
damaged DNA. Mutations in tumor suppressor genes lead to loss of function
and increased cancer risk. Proto-oncogenes (A) promote cell growth when
mutated to oncogenes (C). Growth factor genes (D) stimulate cell
proliferation.
NR 507 ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY – FINAL EXAM
2026/2027 COMPLETE (150) CURRENT TESTING
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS WITH DETAILED
RATIONALES.
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
Prepare effectively for the NR 507 Final Exam in Advanced Pathophysiology at
Chamberlain with this focused study resource. It supports review of disease
processes, cellular and physiological changes, pathophysiological mechanisms,
clinical manifestations, and complex disorders. Use the material to reinforce your
understanding, review high-yield topics, and identify areas that may require additional
study. This resource is suited for Chamberlain nursing students, advanced practice
nursing learners, and candidates preparing for the NR 507 final examination.
MULTIPLE CHOICE.
SECTION 1: CELLULAR ADAPTATION, INJURY & GENETICS (Questions 1–25)
1. A patient with chronic hypertension develops left ventricular
hypertrophy. This cellular adaptation is BEST described as:
(A) Metaplasia
(B) Hyperplasia
(C) Hypertrophy
(D) Dysplasia
Answer: (C) Hypertrophy
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size, resulting in enlargement of
the organ. Cardiac muscle cells cannot divide, so they respond to increased
workload (such as chronic hypertension) through hypertrophy. Metaplasia (A)
is replacement of one cell type by another. Hyperplasia (B) is an increase in
cell number. Dysplasia (D) is abnormal cell growth.
, Page 2 of 69
2. Which cellular adaptation occurs in response to decreased workload
and results in a reduction in cell size?
(A) Hypertrophy
(B) Hyperplasia
(C) Atrophy
(D) Metaplasia
Answer: (C) Atrophy
Rationale: Atrophy is a decrease in cell size due to reduced workload, loss of
innervation, diminished blood supply, inadequate nutrition, or aging. Atrophy
can be physiologic (e.g., thymus gland with aging) or pathologic. Hypertrophy
(A) is an increase in cell size. Hyperplasia (B) is an increase in cell number.
Metaplasia (D) is replacement of one cell type with another.
3. A patient with Barrett's esophagus has replacement of the normal
squamous epithelium of the esophagus with columnar epithelium. This
change is classified as:
(A) Dysplasia
(B) Metaplasia
(C) Anaplasia
(D) Hyperplasia
Answer: (B) Metaplasia
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one differentiated cell
type with another. Barrett's esophagus is a classic example where the normal
stratified squamous epithelium is replaced by columnar epithelium in
response to chronic acid reflux. Dysplasia (A) is abnormal cellular growth.
Anaplasia (C) is loss of differentiation in malignant cells. Hyperplasia (D) is
increased cell number.
, Page 3 of 69
4. A nurse is teaching about cellular injury. Which mechanism is MOST
commonly associated with hypoxic injury?
(A) Free radical formation
(B) Impaired ATP production
(C) Increased intracellular calcium
(D) Membrane damage
Answer: (B) Impaired ATP production
Rationale: Hypoxic injury results from decreased oxygen delivery to cells,
leading to impaired aerobic metabolism and decreased ATP production. This
causes failure of the sodium-potassium pump, cellular swelling, and eventual
cell death. Free radical formation (A) and membrane damage (D) can occur as
secondary consequences. Increased intracellular calcium (C) is a
downstream effect.
5. A patient has been diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, an X-
linked recessive disorder. If the mother is a carrier and the father is
unaffected, what is the probability that a male child will be affected?
(A) 0%
(B) 25%
(C) 50%
(D) 100%
Answer: (C) 50%
Rationale: In X-linked recessive inheritance, males are hemizygous (have only
one X chromosome). If the mother is a carrier (X^c X) and the father is
unaffected (X Y), there is a 50% chance that a male child will inherit the
affected X chromosome from the mother. Female children have a 50% chance
of being carriers.
, Page 4 of 69
6. A patient's cervical biopsy reveals cells with abnormal size, shape, and
organization but no invasion of surrounding tissue. This finding is BEST
described as:
(A) Dysplasia
(B) Metaplasia
(C) Anaplasia
(D) Carcinoma in situ
Answer: (A) Dysplasia
Rationale: Dysplasia is characterized by abnormal changes in cell size,
shape, and organization. It is often a precursor to malignancy but does not
involve invasion. Carcinoma in situ (D) is a more advanced stage where
dysplastic cells are confined to the epithelial layer without basement
membrane invasion. Anaplasia (C) refers to loss of differentiation in malignant
cells.
7. A patient with a family history of breast cancer undergoes genetic
testing and is found to have a mutation in the BRCA1 gene. This gene
normally functions as a:
(A) Proto-oncogene
(B) Tumor suppressor gene
(C) Oncogene
(D) Growth factor gene
Answer: (B) Tumor suppressor gene
Rationale: BRCA1 is a tumor suppressor gene that normally helps repair
damaged DNA. Mutations in tumor suppressor genes lead to loss of function
and increased cancer risk. Proto-oncogenes (A) promote cell growth when
mutated to oncogenes (C). Growth factor genes (D) stimulate cell
proliferation.
