NR 283 Pathophysiology Test Question Bank
Chamberlain University | Exam 1-3 75 Multiple-
Choice Questions With Verified Answers & Rationales
| 2026/2027 Updates
Exam Contains;
1. EXAM 1- Cellular Adaptation, Genetics, Inflammation & Immunity
2. EXAM 2- Fluid/Electrolyte, Acid-Base, Cardiovascular & Respiratory
3. EXAM 3- Renal, Endocrine, Neurological & Musculoskeletal
Question 1.
,A patient with long-standing, untreated hypertension undergoes an echocardiogram. The
results reveal significant thickening of the left ventricular wall. Which cellular adaptation
has occurred?
A. Hyperplasia
B. Metaplasia
C. Hypertrophy
D. Dysplasia
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Hypertrophy is an increase in the size of individual cells, often caused by an increased
mechanical workload or stress, such as the heart pumping against high systemic vascular
resistance. Hyperplasia (A) is an increase in cell number; metaplasia (B) is replacement of one cell
type with another; dysplasia (D) is disordered growth often preceding cancer.
Question 2.
A tissue biopsy of a chronic smoker's bronchi reveals that normal ciliated columnar
epithelial cells have been replaced by stratified squamous epithelial cells. This is an
example of which process?
A. Anaplasia
B. Metaplasia
C. Hyperplasia
D. Dysplasia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one mature cell type by another mature cell type,
usually as an adaptive response to chronic irritation or injury. Anaplasia (A) is loss of
differentiation; hyperplasia (C) is increased cell number; dysplasia (D) involves abnormal
variations in size, shape, and organization.
Question 3.
,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
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Decreased ATP causes the Na+/K+ ATPase pump to fail. Sodium accumulates inside the cell,
pulling water in by osmosis, which results in acute cellular swelling. Nuclear shrinkage (A) is a
late, irreversible change; calcium levels increase (C); pH decreases with lactic acid accumulation
(D).
Question 4.
A patient has been diagnosed with a condition that triggers premature, programmed
cellular suicide in specific healthy tissues. What is the medical term for this programmed
cell death?
A. Liquefactive necrosis
B. Coagulative necrosis
C. Apoptosis
D. Infarction
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Apoptosis is a highly regulated, distinct process of programmed cell death designed to
eliminate unwanted or damaged cells without triggering inflammation. Necrosis (A, B) causes
inflammation; infarction (D) is tissue death due to ischemia.
Question 5.
A child is diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis. Both parents are asymptomatic carriers of the
disease. What is the pattern of genetic inheritance for this condition?
, A. Autosomal dominant
B. Autosomal recessive
C. X-linked dominant
D. X-linked recessive
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Cystic Fibrosis is an autosomal recessive disorder, meaning an individual must inherit two copies
of the mutated gene (one from each parent) to manifest the disease. Both parents are carriers
(heterozygous) and asymptomatic.
Question 6.
A genetic screening reveals that a fetus has a chromosomal makeup of 47, XY, +21. Which
clinical condition will this child have at birth?
A. Turner syndrome
B. Klinefelter syndrome
C. Down syndrome
D. Marfan syndrome
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Down syndrome is caused by Trisomy 21, which is the presence of a third copy of chromosome
21, resulting in a total of 47 chromosomes. Turner syndrome (A) is 45, XO; Klinefelter syndrome
(B) is 47, XXY.
Question 7.
A female patient presents with short stature, a webbed neck, and a lack of secondary
sexual characteristics. A karyotype reveals a 45, XO chromosome configuration. Which
condition is present?
A. Down syndrome
B. Turner syndrome
C. Huntington's disease
D. Fragile X syndrome
Chamberlain University | Exam 1-3 75 Multiple-
Choice Questions With Verified Answers & Rationales
| 2026/2027 Updates
Exam Contains;
1. EXAM 1- Cellular Adaptation, Genetics, Inflammation & Immunity
2. EXAM 2- Fluid/Electrolyte, Acid-Base, Cardiovascular & Respiratory
3. EXAM 3- Renal, Endocrine, Neurological & Musculoskeletal
Question 1.
,A patient with long-standing, untreated hypertension undergoes an echocardiogram. The
results reveal significant thickening of the left ventricular wall. Which cellular adaptation
has occurred?
A. Hyperplasia
B. Metaplasia
C. Hypertrophy
D. Dysplasia
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Hypertrophy is an increase in the size of individual cells, often caused by an increased
mechanical workload or stress, such as the heart pumping against high systemic vascular
resistance. Hyperplasia (A) is an increase in cell number; metaplasia (B) is replacement of one cell
type with another; dysplasia (D) is disordered growth often preceding cancer.
Question 2.
A tissue biopsy of a chronic smoker's bronchi reveals that normal ciliated columnar
epithelial cells have been replaced by stratified squamous epithelial cells. This is an
example of which process?
A. Anaplasia
B. Metaplasia
C. Hyperplasia
D. Dysplasia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one mature cell type by another mature cell type,
usually as an adaptive response to chronic irritation or injury. Anaplasia (A) is loss of
differentiation; hyperplasia (C) is increased cell number; dysplasia (D) involves abnormal
variations in size, shape, and organization.
Question 3.
,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
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Decreased ATP causes the Na+/K+ ATPase pump to fail. Sodium accumulates inside the cell,
pulling water in by osmosis, which results in acute cellular swelling. Nuclear shrinkage (A) is a
late, irreversible change; calcium levels increase (C); pH decreases with lactic acid accumulation
(D).
Question 4.
A patient has been diagnosed with a condition that triggers premature, programmed
cellular suicide in specific healthy tissues. What is the medical term for this programmed
cell death?
A. Liquefactive necrosis
B. Coagulative necrosis
C. Apoptosis
D. Infarction
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Apoptosis is a highly regulated, distinct process of programmed cell death designed to
eliminate unwanted or damaged cells without triggering inflammation. Necrosis (A, B) causes
inflammation; infarction (D) is tissue death due to ischemia.
Question 5.
A child is diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis. Both parents are asymptomatic carriers of the
disease. What is the pattern of genetic inheritance for this condition?
, A. Autosomal dominant
B. Autosomal recessive
C. X-linked dominant
D. X-linked recessive
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Cystic Fibrosis is an autosomal recessive disorder, meaning an individual must inherit two copies
of the mutated gene (one from each parent) to manifest the disease. Both parents are carriers
(heterozygous) and asymptomatic.
Question 6.
A genetic screening reveals that a fetus has a chromosomal makeup of 47, XY, +21. Which
clinical condition will this child have at birth?
A. Turner syndrome
B. Klinefelter syndrome
C. Down syndrome
D. Marfan syndrome
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Down syndrome is caused by Trisomy 21, which is the presence of a third copy of chromosome
21, resulting in a total of 47 chromosomes. Turner syndrome (A) is 45, XO; Klinefelter syndrome
(B) is 47, XXY.
Question 7.
A female patient presents with short stature, a webbed neck, and a lack of secondary
sexual characteristics. A karyotype reveals a 45, XO chromosome configuration. Which
condition is present?
A. Down syndrome
B. Turner syndrome
C. Huntington's disease
D. Fragile X syndrome
