NURS 8022 ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS | VERIFIED ANSWERS | 2026 UPDATED
VERSION
1. During cell injury caused by hypoxia, sodium and water move into the cell
because:
A) The cell membrane permeability increases for sodium during hypoxia
B) ATP is insufficient to maintain the pump that keeps sodium out of the cell
C) The lactic acid produced binds with sodium in the cell
D) Oxygen is not available to bind with sodium to maintain it outside of the cell
Rationale: The Na⁺/K⁺ ATPase pump requires ATP to move sodium out of the cell against
its concentration gradient. During hypoxia, ATP depletion causes pump failure, allowing
sodium to accumulate intracellularly, drawing water in and causing cellular swelling.
2. Which process describes irreversible cell injury marked by calcium influx and
loss of membrane integrity?
,A) Apoptosis
B) Autophagy
C) Cellular necrosis
D) Metaplasia
Rationale: Sustained ATP depletion impairs calcium pumps, allowing calcium influx that
activates degradative enzymes and ultimately ruptures the plasma membrane, releasing
cellular contents and provoking inflammation. This is the hallmark of irreversible cell
injury and necrosis.
3. What is the single most common cause of cellular injury?
A) Chemical injury
B) Infectious injury
C) Hypoxic injury
D) Genetic injury
Rationale: Hypoxia (oxygen deprivation) is the most frequent cause of cellular injury. It can
result from ischemia, anemia, or respiratory failure and rapidly disrupts aerobic
metabolism and ATP production.
4. What type of necrosis results from ischemia of neurons and glial cells?
A) Coagulative
B) Caseous
C) Liquefactive
D) Gangrenous
, Rationale: In the brain, ischemic injury leads to liquefactive necrosis, where dead cells are
digested by hydrolytic enzymes, forming a soft, liquid mass. This contrasts with
coagulative necrosis seen in most other solid or
5. What is the most common site of lipid accumulation (fatty change) in cells?
A) Coronary arteries
B) Kidneys
C) Liver
D) Subcutaneous tissue
Rationale: The liver is the primary site of fatty change because it is central to lipid
metabolism. Alcohol abuse, obesity, and toxins frequently cause triglyceride accumulation
in hepatocytes.
6. Obesity creates a greater risk for dehydration in people because:
A) Adipose cells contain little water because fat is water repelling
B) The metabolic rates of obese adults are slower than those of lean adults
C) The rates of urine output of obese adults are higher than those of lean adults
D) The thirst receptors of the hypothalamus do not function effectively
Rationale: Adipose tissue contains significantly less water than lean body mass. As body
fat percentage increases, total body water percentage decreases, making obese individuals
more susceptible to dehydration.
FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS | VERIFIED ANSWERS | 2026 UPDATED
VERSION
1. During cell injury caused by hypoxia, sodium and water move into the cell
because:
A) The cell membrane permeability increases for sodium during hypoxia
B) ATP is insufficient to maintain the pump that keeps sodium out of the cell
C) The lactic acid produced binds with sodium in the cell
D) Oxygen is not available to bind with sodium to maintain it outside of the cell
Rationale: The Na⁺/K⁺ ATPase pump requires ATP to move sodium out of the cell against
its concentration gradient. During hypoxia, ATP depletion causes pump failure, allowing
sodium to accumulate intracellularly, drawing water in and causing cellular swelling.
2. Which process describes irreversible cell injury marked by calcium influx and
loss of membrane integrity?
,A) Apoptosis
B) Autophagy
C) Cellular necrosis
D) Metaplasia
Rationale: Sustained ATP depletion impairs calcium pumps, allowing calcium influx that
activates degradative enzymes and ultimately ruptures the plasma membrane, releasing
cellular contents and provoking inflammation. This is the hallmark of irreversible cell
injury and necrosis.
3. What is the single most common cause of cellular injury?
A) Chemical injury
B) Infectious injury
C) Hypoxic injury
D) Genetic injury
Rationale: Hypoxia (oxygen deprivation) is the most frequent cause of cellular injury. It can
result from ischemia, anemia, or respiratory failure and rapidly disrupts aerobic
metabolism and ATP production.
4. What type of necrosis results from ischemia of neurons and glial cells?
A) Coagulative
B) Caseous
C) Liquefactive
D) Gangrenous
, Rationale: In the brain, ischemic injury leads to liquefactive necrosis, where dead cells are
digested by hydrolytic enzymes, forming a soft, liquid mass. This contrasts with
coagulative necrosis seen in most other solid or
5. What is the most common site of lipid accumulation (fatty change) in cells?
A) Coronary arteries
B) Kidneys
C) Liver
D) Subcutaneous tissue
Rationale: The liver is the primary site of fatty change because it is central to lipid
metabolism. Alcohol abuse, obesity, and toxins frequently cause triglyceride accumulation
in hepatocytes.
6. Obesity creates a greater risk for dehydration in people because:
A) Adipose cells contain little water because fat is water repelling
B) The metabolic rates of obese adults are slower than those of lean adults
C) The rates of urine output of obese adults are higher than those of lean adults
D) The thirst receptors of the hypothalamus do not function effectively
Rationale: Adipose tissue contains significantly less water than lean body mass. As body
fat percentage increases, total body water percentage decreases, making obese individuals
more susceptible to dehydration.
