NR507 ADVANCED
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY MIDTERM EXAM
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE
1. Which cellular adaptation is characterized by an increase in the number of cells in an organ
or tissue resulting from an increased rate of cellular division?
A. Hypertrophy
B. Atrophy
C. Hyperplasia
D. Metaplasia
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Hyperplasia is an increase in the number of cells, whereas
hypertrophy is an increase in the size of existing cells.
2. A 50-year-old male with a history of smoking presents with a change in the bronchial lining
from ciliated columnar epithelium to stratified squamous epithelium. This is an example of:
A. Metaplasia
B. Anaplasia
,C. Dysplasia
D. Neoplasia
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one mature cell type
by another, often as a response to chronic irritation like smoking.
3. What is the primary mechanism of cellular injury caused by free radicals?
A. Activation of lysosomal enzymes
B. Decreased protein synthesis
C. Oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation
D. Increased intracellular calcium levels
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Free radicals cause injury through oxidative stress, which leads
to lipid peroxidation, protein alteration, and DNA damage.
4. In the context of hypoxic injury, what is the immediate consequence of the failure of the
sodium-potassium (Na+/K+) pump?
A. Efflux of water out of the cell
B. Intracellular accumulation of sodium and water (cellular swelling)
C. Increased mitochondrial ATP production
, D. Extracellular accumulation of potassium
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Failure of the Na+/K+ pump leads to sodium accumulation
inside the cell, which pulls water in by osmosis, causing cellular swelling (oncosis).
5. Which type of necrosis is most commonly associated with hypoxic injury in the brain?
A. Coagulative necrosis
B. Caseous necrosis
C. Liquefactive necrosis
D. Fat necrosis
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Liquefactive necrosis occurs in the brain because brain cells are
rich in digestive hydrolytic enzymes and lipids.
6. A patient is diagnosed with Down Syndrome. This condition is typically the result of which
genetic mechanism?
A. Monosomy of chromosome 21
B. Nondisjunction during meiosis leading to trisomy 21
C. Translocation of chromosome 14
D. Inversion of chromosome 21
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY MIDTERM EXAM
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE
1. Which cellular adaptation is characterized by an increase in the number of cells in an organ
or tissue resulting from an increased rate of cellular division?
A. Hypertrophy
B. Atrophy
C. Hyperplasia
D. Metaplasia
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Hyperplasia is an increase in the number of cells, whereas
hypertrophy is an increase in the size of existing cells.
2. A 50-year-old male with a history of smoking presents with a change in the bronchial lining
from ciliated columnar epithelium to stratified squamous epithelium. This is an example of:
A. Metaplasia
B. Anaplasia
,C. Dysplasia
D. Neoplasia
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one mature cell type
by another, often as a response to chronic irritation like smoking.
3. What is the primary mechanism of cellular injury caused by free radicals?
A. Activation of lysosomal enzymes
B. Decreased protein synthesis
C. Oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation
D. Increased intracellular calcium levels
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Free radicals cause injury through oxidative stress, which leads
to lipid peroxidation, protein alteration, and DNA damage.
4. In the context of hypoxic injury, what is the immediate consequence of the failure of the
sodium-potassium (Na+/K+) pump?
A. Efflux of water out of the cell
B. Intracellular accumulation of sodium and water (cellular swelling)
C. Increased mitochondrial ATP production
, D. Extracellular accumulation of potassium
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Failure of the Na+/K+ pump leads to sodium accumulation
inside the cell, which pulls water in by osmosis, causing cellular swelling (oncosis).
5. Which type of necrosis is most commonly associated with hypoxic injury in the brain?
A. Coagulative necrosis
B. Caseous necrosis
C. Liquefactive necrosis
D. Fat necrosis
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Liquefactive necrosis occurs in the brain because brain cells are
rich in digestive hydrolytic enzymes and lipids.
6. A patient is diagnosed with Down Syndrome. This condition is typically the result of which
genetic mechanism?
A. Monosomy of chromosome 21
B. Nondisjunction during meiosis leading to trisomy 21
C. Translocation of chromosome 14
D. Inversion of chromosome 21
