NURS 617 Advanced
Pathophysiology Exam 1 Study
Guide | Texas A&M Practice
Questions & Exam Prep 2026/2027
,Hyperplasia Increase in the number of cells in an organ or tissue resulting from an increased
rate of cellular division. Occurs in response to an injury with a production of growth
factors or stem cells.
Compensatory Hyperplasia An adaptive mechanism that allow certain organ cells to regenerate (liver, epidermal
and intestinal epithelia, bone marrow, and fibroblasts). One example of this is a
callus.
Hormonal hyperplasia Mainly in estrogen-dependent organs (uterus/breast)
Pathologic hyperplasia abnormal proliferation of normal cells and can occur as a response to excessive
hormonal stimulation or effects of growth factors on target cells. One example of
this is endometriosis (excessive menstrual bleeding due to a failure in growth
inhibition controls with excess estrogen)
Hypertrophy Increase in size of cells that increases size of the affected organ
Physiologic hypertrophy Caused by increased demand, stimulation of hormones and growth factors. Skeletal
muscles when working out and uterine enlargement during pregnancy.
Pathologic hypertrophy Results from chronic hemodynamic overload. An example of this is heart valve
dysfunction or hypertension, mechanical signals such as stretch and trophic signals
such as growth factors and vasoactive agents make the heart stretch then
synthesize new proteins to remodel the heart size
Atrophy Decrease or shrinkage in cellular size. Skeletal, heart, secondary sex organds, and
the brain are most common. Aging causes brain cells to do this and endocrine-
dependent organs, such as gonads, to shrink as hormonal stimulation decreases.
Physiologic atrophy Type of atrophy that occurs with early development-ex: the thymus gland undergoes
this during childhood
Pathologic atrophy Atrophy as a result of a decrease in workload, use, pressure, blood supply, nutrition,
hormonal stimulation, and nervous stimulation.
Disuse atrophy Atrophy as a result of being immobilized for long periods of time.
Dysplasia Abnormal changes in the size, shape, and organization of mature cells. Most
commonly found in epithelia. Removal of inciting stimulus in mild to moderate cases
may result in complete reversal
Metaplasia Reversible replacement of one mature cell type (epithelial or mesenchymal) by
another less differentiated cell type. Example: ciliated columnar epithelial cells in
smoker's lungs are replaced by squamous epithelial cells that do not secrete mucus
or have cilia
A. Skeletal muscles An individual with damage to the spinal cord may experience atrophy of which of the
following organs?
A. Skeletal muscles
B. Liver
C. Skin
D. Brain
, D. Dysplasia Chronic infection of the cervix by the human papillomavirus results in cervical:
A. metaplasia
B. hormonal hyperplasia
C. Atrophy
D. Dysplasia
B. Tissue loss In compensatory hyperplasia, growth factors stimulate cell division in response to:
A. Ischemia
B. Tissue loss
C. Decreased hormonal stimulation
D. Puberty
B. Hypertrophy In response to an increased workload, such as that caused by high blood pressure
(hypertension), myocardial cells in the left ventricle will adapt through the process
of:
A. Dysplasia
B. Hypertrophy
C. Hyperplasia
D. Atrophy
A. Calcium Which of the following molecules is likely to accumulate in any dead or dying
tissues?
A. Calcium
B. Melanin
C. Protein
D. Uric acid
D. Protein synthesis The process of muscle hypertrophy involves an increase in:
A. cell division.
B. water accumulation.
C. plasma membrane thickness.
D. protein synthesis.
D. Another type of cell Metaplasia involves the replacement of normal cells by:
A. cancer cells.
B. abnormal cells of the same tissue type.
C. scar tissue.
D. another type of cell.
Pathophysiology of hyperkalemia Potassium concentration greater than 5.5. This is caused by excessive intake, a
shift of potassium from the ICF to the ECF or decreased renal excretion
Manifestation of hyperkalemia mild presentations include restlessness, intestinal cramping, and diarrhea. Severe
presentations include muscle weakness, loss of muscle tone and paralysis,
depressed ST segment, prolonged PR interval and widening QRS, vfib, or cardiac
arrest.
Interventions for hyperkalemia calcium gluconate, administration of glucose or administration of glucose and insulin
for those with diabetes
Pathophysiology of hypokalemia When potassium levels decrease less than 3.5. This is caused by reduced intake of
potassium, an increased entry of potassium into the cell, and increased losses of
potassium
Manifestations of hypokalemia Decrease in neuromuscular excitability, skeletal muscle weakness, smooth muscle
atony causing constipation, intestinal distention, anorexia, nausea, and vomiting,
cardiac dysrhythmias, glucose intolerance, impaired concentration ability, severe
loss can cause paralysis and respiratory arrest
Pathophysiology Exam 1 Study
Guide | Texas A&M Practice
Questions & Exam Prep 2026/2027
,Hyperplasia Increase in the number of cells in an organ or tissue resulting from an increased
rate of cellular division. Occurs in response to an injury with a production of growth
factors or stem cells.
Compensatory Hyperplasia An adaptive mechanism that allow certain organ cells to regenerate (liver, epidermal
and intestinal epithelia, bone marrow, and fibroblasts). One example of this is a
callus.
Hormonal hyperplasia Mainly in estrogen-dependent organs (uterus/breast)
Pathologic hyperplasia abnormal proliferation of normal cells and can occur as a response to excessive
hormonal stimulation or effects of growth factors on target cells. One example of
this is endometriosis (excessive menstrual bleeding due to a failure in growth
inhibition controls with excess estrogen)
Hypertrophy Increase in size of cells that increases size of the affected organ
Physiologic hypertrophy Caused by increased demand, stimulation of hormones and growth factors. Skeletal
muscles when working out and uterine enlargement during pregnancy.
Pathologic hypertrophy Results from chronic hemodynamic overload. An example of this is heart valve
dysfunction or hypertension, mechanical signals such as stretch and trophic signals
such as growth factors and vasoactive agents make the heart stretch then
synthesize new proteins to remodel the heart size
Atrophy Decrease or shrinkage in cellular size. Skeletal, heart, secondary sex organds, and
the brain are most common. Aging causes brain cells to do this and endocrine-
dependent organs, such as gonads, to shrink as hormonal stimulation decreases.
Physiologic atrophy Type of atrophy that occurs with early development-ex: the thymus gland undergoes
this during childhood
Pathologic atrophy Atrophy as a result of a decrease in workload, use, pressure, blood supply, nutrition,
hormonal stimulation, and nervous stimulation.
Disuse atrophy Atrophy as a result of being immobilized for long periods of time.
Dysplasia Abnormal changes in the size, shape, and organization of mature cells. Most
commonly found in epithelia. Removal of inciting stimulus in mild to moderate cases
may result in complete reversal
Metaplasia Reversible replacement of one mature cell type (epithelial or mesenchymal) by
another less differentiated cell type. Example: ciliated columnar epithelial cells in
smoker's lungs are replaced by squamous epithelial cells that do not secrete mucus
or have cilia
A. Skeletal muscles An individual with damage to the spinal cord may experience atrophy of which of the
following organs?
A. Skeletal muscles
B. Liver
C. Skin
D. Brain
, D. Dysplasia Chronic infection of the cervix by the human papillomavirus results in cervical:
A. metaplasia
B. hormonal hyperplasia
C. Atrophy
D. Dysplasia
B. Tissue loss In compensatory hyperplasia, growth factors stimulate cell division in response to:
A. Ischemia
B. Tissue loss
C. Decreased hormonal stimulation
D. Puberty
B. Hypertrophy In response to an increased workload, such as that caused by high blood pressure
(hypertension), myocardial cells in the left ventricle will adapt through the process
of:
A. Dysplasia
B. Hypertrophy
C. Hyperplasia
D. Atrophy
A. Calcium Which of the following molecules is likely to accumulate in any dead or dying
tissues?
A. Calcium
B. Melanin
C. Protein
D. Uric acid
D. Protein synthesis The process of muscle hypertrophy involves an increase in:
A. cell division.
B. water accumulation.
C. plasma membrane thickness.
D. protein synthesis.
D. Another type of cell Metaplasia involves the replacement of normal cells by:
A. cancer cells.
B. abnormal cells of the same tissue type.
C. scar tissue.
D. another type of cell.
Pathophysiology of hyperkalemia Potassium concentration greater than 5.5. This is caused by excessive intake, a
shift of potassium from the ICF to the ECF or decreased renal excretion
Manifestation of hyperkalemia mild presentations include restlessness, intestinal cramping, and diarrhea. Severe
presentations include muscle weakness, loss of muscle tone and paralysis,
depressed ST segment, prolonged PR interval and widening QRS, vfib, or cardiac
arrest.
Interventions for hyperkalemia calcium gluconate, administration of glucose or administration of glucose and insulin
for those with diabetes
Pathophysiology of hypokalemia When potassium levels decrease less than 3.5. This is caused by reduced intake of
potassium, an increased entry of potassium into the cell, and increased losses of
potassium
Manifestations of hypokalemia Decrease in neuromuscular excitability, skeletal muscle weakness, smooth muscle
atony causing constipation, intestinal distention, anorexia, nausea, and vomiting,
cardiac dysrhythmias, glucose intolerance, impaired concentration ability, severe
loss can cause paralysis and respiratory arrest
