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NUR2063 ESSENTIALS OF PATHOPHYSIOLOGY EXAM 1 Original Exam
Questions with Answers and Rationales
Section 1: Introduction to Pathophysiology and Cellular Injury
(Questions)
1. What is the definition of pathophysiology?
A. The study of normal body function
B. The study of functional changes in the body caused by
disease or injury
C. The study of anatomy only
D. The study of pharmacology only
Answer: B
Rationale: Pathophysiology is the study of functional or
physiological changes in the body that result from disease
processes or injury. It bridges anatomy, physiology, and
pathology.
2. Which of the following is an example of a reversible
cellular injury?
A. Necrosis
B. Apoptosis
C. Hydropic swelling (cellular swelling)
D. Gangrene
Answer: C
Rationale: Hydropic swelling (cellular swelling) is the
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earliest reversible response to injury, caused by failure of
the sodium-potassium pump and accumulation of water.
Necrosis and gangrene are irreversible; apoptosis is
programmed cell death.
3. What is the first sign of cellular injury seen under a
microscope?
A. Karyolysis
B. Cellular swelling (hydropic change)
C. Pyknosis
D. Karyorrhexis
Answer: B
Rationale: Cellular swelling is the earliest visible sign of
reversible cell injury, resulting from ATP depletion and
failure of ion pumps, leading to sodium and water
accumulation.
4. What is "necrosis"?
A. Programmed cell death
B. Uncontrolled cell death with inflammation and tissue
damage
C. Normal cell turnover
D. Cellular adaptation
Answer: B
Rationale: Necrosis is irreversible, uncontrolled cell death
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causing cell lysis, release of intracellular contents, and
inflammatory response. It is always pathological.
5. What is "apoptosis"?
A. Uncontrolled cell death
B. Programmed, controlled cell death without
inflammation
C. Cellular swelling only
D. Tissue death always
Answer: B
Rationale: Apoptosis is a controlled, energy-dependent
process of programmed cell death that eliminates
damaged or unneeded cells without triggering
inflammation.
6. Which type of necrosis is most commonly associated with
myocardial infarction?
A. Liquefactive necrosis
B. Coagulative necrosis
C. Caseous necrosis
D. Fat necrosis
Answer: B
Rationale: Coagulative necrosis occurs in most organs
(heart, kidney, liver) after ischemic injury, preserving
tissue architecture temporarily. Liquefactive occurs in
brain; caseous in tuberculosis; fat in pancreatitis.
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7. What is "hypoxia"?
A. Excess oxygen in tissues
B. Decreased oxygen supply to tissues
C. Increased blood flow
D. Normal oxygen levels
Answer: B
Rationale: Hypoxia is reduced oxygen availability to
tissues, which can result from ischemia, anemia,
respiratory failure, or carbon monoxide poisoning.
8. What is the most common cause of cellular injury?
A. Trauma
B. Hypoxia/ischemia
C. Infection
D. Chemical exposure
Answer: B
Rationale: Hypoxia (decreased oxygen) and ischemia
(decreased blood flow) are the most common causes of
cellular injury, leading to ATP depletion and cell
dysfunction.
9. What is "atrophy"?
A. Increase in cell size
B. Decrease in cell size
C. Increase in cell number
D. Change in cell type
NUR2063 ESSENTIALS OF PATHOPHYSIOLOGY EXAM 1 Original Exam
Questions with Answers and Rationales
Section 1: Introduction to Pathophysiology and Cellular Injury
(Questions)
1. What is the definition of pathophysiology?
A. The study of normal body function
B. The study of functional changes in the body caused by
disease or injury
C. The study of anatomy only
D. The study of pharmacology only
Answer: B
Rationale: Pathophysiology is the study of functional or
physiological changes in the body that result from disease
processes or injury. It bridges anatomy, physiology, and
pathology.
2. Which of the following is an example of a reversible
cellular injury?
A. Necrosis
B. Apoptosis
C. Hydropic swelling (cellular swelling)
D. Gangrene
Answer: C
Rationale: Hydropic swelling (cellular swelling) is the
,https://www.stuvia.com/user/performance
earliest reversible response to injury, caused by failure of
the sodium-potassium pump and accumulation of water.
Necrosis and gangrene are irreversible; apoptosis is
programmed cell death.
3. What is the first sign of cellular injury seen under a
microscope?
A. Karyolysis
B. Cellular swelling (hydropic change)
C. Pyknosis
D. Karyorrhexis
Answer: B
Rationale: Cellular swelling is the earliest visible sign of
reversible cell injury, resulting from ATP depletion and
failure of ion pumps, leading to sodium and water
accumulation.
4. What is "necrosis"?
A. Programmed cell death
B. Uncontrolled cell death with inflammation and tissue
damage
C. Normal cell turnover
D. Cellular adaptation
Answer: B
Rationale: Necrosis is irreversible, uncontrolled cell death
,https://www.stuvia.com/user/performance
causing cell lysis, release of intracellular contents, and
inflammatory response. It is always pathological.
5. What is "apoptosis"?
A. Uncontrolled cell death
B. Programmed, controlled cell death without
inflammation
C. Cellular swelling only
D. Tissue death always
Answer: B
Rationale: Apoptosis is a controlled, energy-dependent
process of programmed cell death that eliminates
damaged or unneeded cells without triggering
inflammation.
6. Which type of necrosis is most commonly associated with
myocardial infarction?
A. Liquefactive necrosis
B. Coagulative necrosis
C. Caseous necrosis
D. Fat necrosis
Answer: B
Rationale: Coagulative necrosis occurs in most organs
(heart, kidney, liver) after ischemic injury, preserving
tissue architecture temporarily. Liquefactive occurs in
brain; caseous in tuberculosis; fat in pancreatitis.
, https://www.stuvia.com/user/performance
7. What is "hypoxia"?
A. Excess oxygen in tissues
B. Decreased oxygen supply to tissues
C. Increased blood flow
D. Normal oxygen levels
Answer: B
Rationale: Hypoxia is reduced oxygen availability to
tissues, which can result from ischemia, anemia,
respiratory failure, or carbon monoxide poisoning.
8. What is the most common cause of cellular injury?
A. Trauma
B. Hypoxia/ischemia
C. Infection
D. Chemical exposure
Answer: B
Rationale: Hypoxia (decreased oxygen) and ischemia
(decreased blood flow) are the most common causes of
cellular injury, leading to ATP depletion and cell
dysfunction.
9. What is "atrophy"?
A. Increase in cell size
B. Decrease in cell size
C. Increase in cell number
D. Change in cell type
