MSN 570 Midterm Exam | Full Questions and
Answers | 2026/2027 Update | 100% Correct -
USU.
MSN 570 Midterm Exam — 100 Practice Questions
Course: Advanced Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan | United States University
Format: Multiple Choice
Answer Key & Rationales: Provided after each question
Section 1: Cellular Adaptation & Injury
1. Which cellular adaptation is characterized by an INCREASE in the NUMBER of
cells, resulting in enlarged tissue mass?
A) Hypertrophy
B) Hyperplasia
C) Metaplasia
D) Dysplasia
Answer: B. Hyperplasia
Rationale: Hyperplasia is an increase in the number of cells resulting in enlarged
tissue mass. It may be a compensatory mechanism or pathologic (e.g., benign
prostatic hyperplasia).
2. A Pap smear reveals cells that vary in size and shape with large,
hyperchromatic nuclei. This finding is termed:
A) Metaplasia
B) Hyperplasia
,C) Dysplasia
D) Atrophy
Answer: C. Dysplasia
Rationale: Dysplasia is characterized by cells that vary in size and shape, with large
nuclei and increased mitotic rate. It may result from chronic irritation and is
considered a precancerous change.
3. A patient has chronic hypoxia. Which cellular adaptation is most expected?
A) Hyperplasia
B) Hypertrophy
C) Metaplasia
D) Atrophy
Answer: D. Atrophy
Rationale: Chronic hypoxia leads to decreased ATP, causing cells to shrink to
reduce metabolic demand.
4. An example of physiologic atrophy is:
A) Atrophy of the uterus after childbirth
B) Thymus gland changes during childhood
C) Loss of muscle mass in immobilization
D) Renal atrophy in chronic pyelonephritis
Answer: B. Thymus gland changes during childhood
Rationale: Physiologic atrophy is a normal process, such as the involution of the
thymus gland during childhood. This represents programmed tissue reduction that
occurs as part of normal development.
5. What is the most common cause of cellular injury?
A) Genetic defects
B) Hypoxia (oxygen deprivation)
,C) Nutritional imbalances
D) Physical agents
Answer: B. Hypoxia (oxygen deprivation)
Rationale: Hypoxia is the most frequent cause of cell injury, often due to ischemia
(reduced blood flow), anemia, or respiratory failure. Ischemia is the most common
cause of hypoxia.
6. During an ischemic event, a lack of oxygen leads to a decrease in cellular ATP
production. Which immediate consequence occurs within the cell?
A) Shrinkage of the nucleus
B) Failure of the sodium-potassium pump, leading to cellular swelling
C) Decreased intracellular calcium levels
D) Increased intracellular pH
Answer: B. Failure of the sodium-potassium pump, leading to cellular swelling
Rationale: Decreased ATP causes the Na⁺/K⁺ ATPase pump to fail. Sodium
accumulates inside the cell, pulling water in by osmosis, resulting in acute cellular
swelling.
7. Apoptosis is the term utilized for:
A) Programmed cell death or cell suicide
B) Uncontrolled cell proliferation
C) Reversible cellular injury
D) Cellular swelling
Answer: A. Programmed cell death or cell suicide
Rationale: Apoptosis is a controlled, energy-dependent process characterized by
cellular condensation, membrane blebbing, and formation of apoptotic bodies
without an inflammatory response.
, 8. Which type of necrosis is typically seen in a myocardial infarction (heart
attack)?
A) Liquefactive necrosis
B) Coagulative necrosis
C) Caseous necrosis
D) Fat necrosis
Answer: B. Coagulative necrosis
Rationale: Coagulative necrosis is the typical pattern of cell death from
hypoxia/ischemia in all solid organs EXCEPT the brain. This occurs in myocardial
infarction.
9. Which type of necrosis is typically seen in a brain infarction (stroke)?
A) Coagulative necrosis
B) Liquefactive necrosis
C) Caseous necrosis
D) Fat necrosis
Answer: B. Liquefactive necrosis
Rationale: Liquefactive necrosis occurs in the brain following infarction. The tissue
becomes soft, liquefies, and is removed by phagocytes.
10. Which findings indicate reversible cellular injury? (Select all that apply.)
A) Cellular swelling
B) Fatty change
C) Nuclear fragmentation
D) Membrane blebbing
E) Pyknosis
Answer: A, B, D
Rationale: Reversible injury = swelling, blebs, fatty change, decreased ATP, Na/K
pump failure. Nuclear changes (pyknosis, karyorrhexis, karyolysis) indicate
irreversible injury.
Answers | 2026/2027 Update | 100% Correct -
USU.
MSN 570 Midterm Exam — 100 Practice Questions
Course: Advanced Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan | United States University
Format: Multiple Choice
Answer Key & Rationales: Provided after each question
Section 1: Cellular Adaptation & Injury
1. Which cellular adaptation is characterized by an INCREASE in the NUMBER of
cells, resulting in enlarged tissue mass?
A) Hypertrophy
B) Hyperplasia
C) Metaplasia
D) Dysplasia
Answer: B. Hyperplasia
Rationale: Hyperplasia is an increase in the number of cells resulting in enlarged
tissue mass. It may be a compensatory mechanism or pathologic (e.g., benign
prostatic hyperplasia).
2. A Pap smear reveals cells that vary in size and shape with large,
hyperchromatic nuclei. This finding is termed:
A) Metaplasia
B) Hyperplasia
,C) Dysplasia
D) Atrophy
Answer: C. Dysplasia
Rationale: Dysplasia is characterized by cells that vary in size and shape, with large
nuclei and increased mitotic rate. It may result from chronic irritation and is
considered a precancerous change.
3. A patient has chronic hypoxia. Which cellular adaptation is most expected?
A) Hyperplasia
B) Hypertrophy
C) Metaplasia
D) Atrophy
Answer: D. Atrophy
Rationale: Chronic hypoxia leads to decreased ATP, causing cells to shrink to
reduce metabolic demand.
4. An example of physiologic atrophy is:
A) Atrophy of the uterus after childbirth
B) Thymus gland changes during childhood
C) Loss of muscle mass in immobilization
D) Renal atrophy in chronic pyelonephritis
Answer: B. Thymus gland changes during childhood
Rationale: Physiologic atrophy is a normal process, such as the involution of the
thymus gland during childhood. This represents programmed tissue reduction that
occurs as part of normal development.
5. What is the most common cause of cellular injury?
A) Genetic defects
B) Hypoxia (oxygen deprivation)
,C) Nutritional imbalances
D) Physical agents
Answer: B. Hypoxia (oxygen deprivation)
Rationale: Hypoxia is the most frequent cause of cell injury, often due to ischemia
(reduced blood flow), anemia, or respiratory failure. Ischemia is the most common
cause of hypoxia.
6. During an ischemic event, a lack of oxygen leads to a decrease in cellular ATP
production. Which immediate consequence occurs within the cell?
A) Shrinkage of the nucleus
B) Failure of the sodium-potassium pump, leading to cellular swelling
C) Decreased intracellular calcium levels
D) Increased intracellular pH
Answer: B. Failure of the sodium-potassium pump, leading to cellular swelling
Rationale: Decreased ATP causes the Na⁺/K⁺ ATPase pump to fail. Sodium
accumulates inside the cell, pulling water in by osmosis, resulting in acute cellular
swelling.
7. Apoptosis is the term utilized for:
A) Programmed cell death or cell suicide
B) Uncontrolled cell proliferation
C) Reversible cellular injury
D) Cellular swelling
Answer: A. Programmed cell death or cell suicide
Rationale: Apoptosis is a controlled, energy-dependent process characterized by
cellular condensation, membrane blebbing, and formation of apoptotic bodies
without an inflammatory response.
, 8. Which type of necrosis is typically seen in a myocardial infarction (heart
attack)?
A) Liquefactive necrosis
B) Coagulative necrosis
C) Caseous necrosis
D) Fat necrosis
Answer: B. Coagulative necrosis
Rationale: Coagulative necrosis is the typical pattern of cell death from
hypoxia/ischemia in all solid organs EXCEPT the brain. This occurs in myocardial
infarction.
9. Which type of necrosis is typically seen in a brain infarction (stroke)?
A) Coagulative necrosis
B) Liquefactive necrosis
C) Caseous necrosis
D) Fat necrosis
Answer: B. Liquefactive necrosis
Rationale: Liquefactive necrosis occurs in the brain following infarction. The tissue
becomes soft, liquefies, and is removed by phagocytes.
10. Which findings indicate reversible cellular injury? (Select all that apply.)
A) Cellular swelling
B) Fatty change
C) Nuclear fragmentation
D) Membrane blebbing
E) Pyknosis
Answer: A, B, D
Rationale: Reversible injury = swelling, blebs, fatty change, decreased ATP, Na/K
pump failure. Nuclear changes (pyknosis, karyorrhexis, karyolysis) indicate
irreversible injury.
