NRSG 2350 NORTH EASTERN UNIVERSITY FINAL EXAM – QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS | VERIFIED AND WELL DETAILED ANSWERS | PLUS
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PREP | STUDY GUIDE | PRACTICE TEST
SECTION 1: CELLULAR ADAPTATION, INJURY &
INFLAMMATION (Questions 1–25)
Question 1
A patient's leg muscles have decreased in size after being in a cast for 6 weeks. This
cellular change is best described as:
A) Hypertrophy
B) Hyperplasia
C) Atrophy
D) Metaplasia
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Atrophy is a decrease in cell size that results from reduced workload, disuse,
or decreased blood supply. After prolonged immobilization in a cast, muscle cells
undergo atrophy due to decreased functional demand. Hypertrophy is an increase in cell
size, hyperplasia is an increase in cell number, and metaplasia is the replacement of one
cell type with another.
Question 2
Which of the following cellular adaptations is considered pathologic and is commonly
seen in the respiratory tract of chronic smokers?
A) Hypertrophy
B) Hyperplasia
C) Atrophy
D) Metaplasia
,Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one differentiated cell type with
another. In chronic smokers, the normal ciliated pseudostratified columnar epithelium of
the respiratory tract is replaced by stratified squamous epithelium as a protective
response to chronic irritation.
Question 3
A patient with chronic hypertension develops an enlarged left ventricle. This cellular
change is best described as:
A) Hypertrophy
B) Hyperplasia
C) Atrophy
D) Metaplasia
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size resulting from increased workload. The
left ventricle undergoes hypertrophy in response to chronic hypertension as the
myocardial cells increase in size to generate greater contractile force against increased
afterload.
Question 4
Which type of cellular adaptation involves an increase in the number of cells in a tissue
or organ?
A) Hypertrophy
B) Hyperplasia
C) Atrophy
D) Metaplasia
Correct Answer: B
,Rationale: Hyperplasia is an increase in the number of cells in a tissue or organ. It can
be physiologic (e.g., breast enlargement during pregnancy) or pathologic (e.g.,
endometrial hyperplasia). Unlike hypertrophy, which involves cell enlargement,
hyperplasia involves cell proliferation.
Question 5
A patient with chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) develops Barrett's
esophagus, where the normal squamous epithelium is replaced by columnar epithelium.
This is an example of:
A) Hyperplasia
B) Metaplasia
C) Hypertrophy
D) Dysplasia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one differentiated cell type with
another. In Barrett's esophagus, the squamous epithelium is replaced by columnar
epithelium that is more resistant to acid injury. This is an adaptive response but
increases the risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma.
Question 6
Cellular swelling during early hypoxic injury is primarily due to:
A) Increased ATP production
B) Failure of the sodium-potassium pump
C) Increased protein synthesis
D) Activation of apoptosis
Correct Answer: B
, Rationale: Hypoxia leads to decreased ATP production, which causes failure of the
Na⁺/K⁺ ATPase pump. This results in an influx of sodium and water into the cell, leading
to cellular swelling, which is a reversible injury.
Question 7
Which of the following is an example of physiologic hyperplasia?
A) Endometrial hyperplasia
B) Liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy
C) Benign prostatic hyperplasia
D) Psoriasis
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy is an example of physiologic
hyperplasia—a normal, controlled increase in cell number in response to a specific
stimulus. Endometrial hyperplasia and benign prostatic hyperplasia are pathologic.
Psoriasis involves hyperplasia of epidermal cells but is a pathologic condition.
Question 8
Which of the following best describes apoptosis?
A) Uncontrolled cell division
B) Programmed cell death without inflammation
C) Cell death due to injury with inflammation
D) Reversible cellular swelling
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Apoptosis is programmed cell death that occurs without inflammation. It is a
highly regulated process that eliminates unwanted or damaged cells. Necrosis is cell
death due to injury that typically triggers an inflammatory response.
AND ANSWERS | VERIFIED AND WELL DETAILED ANSWERS | PLUS
RATIONALES | GUARANTEED PASS | LATEST EXAM UPDATE | EXAM
PREP | STUDY GUIDE | PRACTICE TEST
SECTION 1: CELLULAR ADAPTATION, INJURY &
INFLAMMATION (Questions 1–25)
Question 1
A patient's leg muscles have decreased in size after being in a cast for 6 weeks. This
cellular change is best described as:
A) Hypertrophy
B) Hyperplasia
C) Atrophy
D) Metaplasia
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Atrophy is a decrease in cell size that results from reduced workload, disuse,
or decreased blood supply. After prolonged immobilization in a cast, muscle cells
undergo atrophy due to decreased functional demand. Hypertrophy is an increase in cell
size, hyperplasia is an increase in cell number, and metaplasia is the replacement of one
cell type with another.
Question 2
Which of the following cellular adaptations is considered pathologic and is commonly
seen in the respiratory tract of chronic smokers?
A) Hypertrophy
B) Hyperplasia
C) Atrophy
D) Metaplasia
,Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one differentiated cell type with
another. In chronic smokers, the normal ciliated pseudostratified columnar epithelium of
the respiratory tract is replaced by stratified squamous epithelium as a protective
response to chronic irritation.
Question 3
A patient with chronic hypertension develops an enlarged left ventricle. This cellular
change is best described as:
A) Hypertrophy
B) Hyperplasia
C) Atrophy
D) Metaplasia
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size resulting from increased workload. The
left ventricle undergoes hypertrophy in response to chronic hypertension as the
myocardial cells increase in size to generate greater contractile force against increased
afterload.
Question 4
Which type of cellular adaptation involves an increase in the number of cells in a tissue
or organ?
A) Hypertrophy
B) Hyperplasia
C) Atrophy
D) Metaplasia
Correct Answer: B
,Rationale: Hyperplasia is an increase in the number of cells in a tissue or organ. It can
be physiologic (e.g., breast enlargement during pregnancy) or pathologic (e.g.,
endometrial hyperplasia). Unlike hypertrophy, which involves cell enlargement,
hyperplasia involves cell proliferation.
Question 5
A patient with chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) develops Barrett's
esophagus, where the normal squamous epithelium is replaced by columnar epithelium.
This is an example of:
A) Hyperplasia
B) Metaplasia
C) Hypertrophy
D) Dysplasia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one differentiated cell type with
another. In Barrett's esophagus, the squamous epithelium is replaced by columnar
epithelium that is more resistant to acid injury. This is an adaptive response but
increases the risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma.
Question 6
Cellular swelling during early hypoxic injury is primarily due to:
A) Increased ATP production
B) Failure of the sodium-potassium pump
C) Increased protein synthesis
D) Activation of apoptosis
Correct Answer: B
, Rationale: Hypoxia leads to decreased ATP production, which causes failure of the
Na⁺/K⁺ ATPase pump. This results in an influx of sodium and water into the cell, leading
to cellular swelling, which is a reversible injury.
Question 7
Which of the following is an example of physiologic hyperplasia?
A) Endometrial hyperplasia
B) Liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy
C) Benign prostatic hyperplasia
D) Psoriasis
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy is an example of physiologic
hyperplasia—a normal, controlled increase in cell number in response to a specific
stimulus. Endometrial hyperplasia and benign prostatic hyperplasia are pathologic.
Psoriasis involves hyperplasia of epidermal cells but is a pathologic condition.
Question 8
Which of the following best describes apoptosis?
A) Uncontrolled cell division
B) Programmed cell death without inflammation
C) Cell death due to injury with inflammation
D) Reversible cellular swelling
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Apoptosis is programmed cell death that occurs without inflammation. It is a
highly regulated process that eliminates unwanted or damaged cells. Necrosis is cell
death due to injury that typically triggers an inflammatory response.
