NUR 5461 Modules 1-7 Quizzes & Final Exam: Advanced
Pathophysiology
William Paterson University | Practice Questions with Verified
Answers & Detailed Rationales
SECTION 1: CELLULAR PATHOPHYSIOLOGY & GENETICS
(Questions 1-40)
Question 1
What is the primary mechanism of cellular injury in hypoxia?
A) Increased oxidative phosphorylation
B) Depletion of ATP
C) Excessive calcium release
D) Activation of lysosomal enzymes
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hypoxia impairs oxidative phosphorylation, leading to ATP depletion. This
disrupts cellular functions like ion pumps, causing swelling and injury . Without
adequate ATP, the sodium-potassium pump fails, leading to intracellular sodium
accumulation and cellular edema.
,Question 2
A patient with hypertension develops left ventricular hypertrophy. This is an example of
which type of cellular adaptation?
A) Atrophy
B) Hyperplasia
C) Hypertrophy
D) Metaplasia
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size. In hypertension, the left ventricle
works against increased pressure, causing heart muscle cells (myocytes) to enlarge as an
adaptive response . This differs from hyperplasia, which involves an increase in cell
number.
Question 3
The hallmark of apoptosis is:
A) Cell swelling and lysis with inflammation
B) Caseous necrosis
C) Cell shrinkage, nuclear fragmentation, and formation of apoptotic bodies without
inflammation
D) Coagulative necrosis
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Apoptosis is programmed cell death characterized by cell shrinkage,
chromatin condensation, nuclear fragmentation, and formation of apoptotic bodies that
,are phagocytosed without causing inflammation . This is distinct from necrosis, which
involves cell swelling and triggers inflammation.
Question 4
A patient who smokes has chronic bronchial irritation. Normal ciliated columnar
epithelium is replaced by stratified squamous epithelium. This is an example of:
A) Atrophy
B) Hyperplasia
C) Hypertrophy
D) Metaplasia
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one differentiated cell type with
another as an adaptive response to chronic irritation. Smoking causes the bronchial
epithelium to change from ciliated columnar to stratified squamous . This is a protective
adaptation to chronic stress.
Question 5
A researcher studies a tissue sample from an organ that has undergone a decrease in
cell size and metabolic activity after prolonged disuse. Which molecular mechanism is
most likely responsible for this change?
A) Increased ubiquitin-proteasome degradation of myofibrillar proteins
B) Upregulation of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) signaling
, C) Activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway
D) Enhanced transcription of growth-promoting genes
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Atrophy involves decreased cell size and metabolic activity. The primary
mechanism is increased ubiquitin-proteasome degradation of cellular proteins,
particularly myofibrillar proteins in muscle tissue . This is an adaptive response to
decreased workload or nutrient availability.
Question 6
Which type of necrosis commonly occurs after myocardial infarction?
A) Liquefactive
B) Caseous
C) Coagulative
D) Fat
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Ischemia in most solid organs produces coagulative necrosis. The brain is a
major exception . In coagulative necrosis, tissue architecture is preserved for several
days, though cellular details are lost.
Question 7
Cerebral infarction typically produces:
Pathophysiology
William Paterson University | Practice Questions with Verified
Answers & Detailed Rationales
SECTION 1: CELLULAR PATHOPHYSIOLOGY & GENETICS
(Questions 1-40)
Question 1
What is the primary mechanism of cellular injury in hypoxia?
A) Increased oxidative phosphorylation
B) Depletion of ATP
C) Excessive calcium release
D) Activation of lysosomal enzymes
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hypoxia impairs oxidative phosphorylation, leading to ATP depletion. This
disrupts cellular functions like ion pumps, causing swelling and injury . Without
adequate ATP, the sodium-potassium pump fails, leading to intracellular sodium
accumulation and cellular edema.
,Question 2
A patient with hypertension develops left ventricular hypertrophy. This is an example of
which type of cellular adaptation?
A) Atrophy
B) Hyperplasia
C) Hypertrophy
D) Metaplasia
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size. In hypertension, the left ventricle
works against increased pressure, causing heart muscle cells (myocytes) to enlarge as an
adaptive response . This differs from hyperplasia, which involves an increase in cell
number.
Question 3
The hallmark of apoptosis is:
A) Cell swelling and lysis with inflammation
B) Caseous necrosis
C) Cell shrinkage, nuclear fragmentation, and formation of apoptotic bodies without
inflammation
D) Coagulative necrosis
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Apoptosis is programmed cell death characterized by cell shrinkage,
chromatin condensation, nuclear fragmentation, and formation of apoptotic bodies that
,are phagocytosed without causing inflammation . This is distinct from necrosis, which
involves cell swelling and triggers inflammation.
Question 4
A patient who smokes has chronic bronchial irritation. Normal ciliated columnar
epithelium is replaced by stratified squamous epithelium. This is an example of:
A) Atrophy
B) Hyperplasia
C) Hypertrophy
D) Metaplasia
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one differentiated cell type with
another as an adaptive response to chronic irritation. Smoking causes the bronchial
epithelium to change from ciliated columnar to stratified squamous . This is a protective
adaptation to chronic stress.
Question 5
A researcher studies a tissue sample from an organ that has undergone a decrease in
cell size and metabolic activity after prolonged disuse. Which molecular mechanism is
most likely responsible for this change?
A) Increased ubiquitin-proteasome degradation of myofibrillar proteins
B) Upregulation of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) signaling
, C) Activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway
D) Enhanced transcription of growth-promoting genes
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Atrophy involves decreased cell size and metabolic activity. The primary
mechanism is increased ubiquitin-proteasome degradation of cellular proteins,
particularly myofibrillar proteins in muscle tissue . This is an adaptive response to
decreased workload or nutrient availability.
Question 6
Which type of necrosis commonly occurs after myocardial infarction?
A) Liquefactive
B) Caseous
C) Coagulative
D) Fat
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Ischemia in most solid organs produces coagulative necrosis. The brain is a
major exception . In coagulative necrosis, tissue architecture is preserved for several
days, though cellular details are lost.
Question 7
Cerebral infarction typically produces:
