NURS 752
Pathophysiology
150 Questions and Answers + Rationales
Gardner-Webb University
1.
Which cellular adaptation occurs when a tissue increases the size of existing cells in
response to increased workload?
A. Hyperplasia
B. Hypertrophy — Correct Answer
C. Atrophy
D. Metaplasia
Rationale: Hypertrophy involves enlargement of individual cells, often in response
to increased workload. Cardiac muscle commonly responds to chronic pressure
overload through hypertrophy.
2.
A patient experiences temporary tissue hypoxia caused by reduced blood flow. If
prolonged, this condition can result in:
A. Increased ATP production
B. Enhanced oxidative phosphorylation
C. Cellular injury and potentially necrosis — Correct Answer
D. Increased protein synthesis
Rationale: Reduced oxygen availability decreases oxidative phosphorylation and
ATP production. Prolonged ATP depletion can cause membrane dysfunction, cellular
swelling, and irreversible injury.
3.
Which type of cell death is characterized by controlled cellular destruction without
significant surrounding inflammation?
A. Necrosis
B. Apoptosis — Correct Answer
C. Gangrene
D. Autolysis
Rationale: Apoptosis is programmed cell death that generally does not trigger
substantial inflammation. It is important in normal tissue development and
,elimination of damaged cells.
4.
A patient develops tissue damage following restoration of blood flow after prolonged
ischemia. This phenomenon is called:
A. Cellular adaptation
B. Coagulation
C. Ischemia-reperfusion injury — Correct Answer
D. Metaplasia
Rationale: Reperfusion can generate reactive oxygen species and inflammatory
responses that further damage previously ischemic tissue. This is known as
ischemia-reperfusion injury.
5.
Which inflammatory mediator is strongly associated with vasodilation and increased
vascular permeability?
A. Insulin
B. Histamine — Correct Answer
C. Albumin
D. Hemoglobin
Rationale: Histamine released from mast cells promotes vasodilation and increased
vascular permeability. These effects contribute to redness, warmth, and edema
during acute inflammation.
6.
Which leukocyte is typically the predominant cell during early acute bacterial
inflammation?
A. Lymphocyte
B. Neutrophil — Correct Answer
C. Eosinophil
D. Plasma cell
Rationale: Neutrophils are among the first leukocytes recruited during acute
inflammation, particularly bacterial infections. They phagocytose pathogens and
release inflammatory mediators.
7.
Which laboratory finding commonly accompanies an acute inflammatory response?
,A. Decreased C-reactive protein
B. Increased C-reactive protein — Correct Answer
C. Decreased fibrinogen
D. Decreased white blood cell activity
Rationale: C-reactive protein is an acute-phase reactant produced in response to
inflammatory cytokines. Its concentration commonly increases during systemic
inflammation.
8.
A patient develops wheezing, urticaria, hypotension, and airway edema minutes
after exposure to an allergen. Which mechanism is most likely?
A. Type II hypersensitivity
B. Type III hypersensitivity
C. IgE-mediated type I hypersensitivity — Correct Answer
D. Delayed type IV hypersensitivity
Rationale: Type I hypersensitivity is mediated by IgE and mast-cell activation.
Histamine and other mediators can produce bronchoconstriction, vasodilation,
edema, and hypotension.
9.
Which immune cell produces antibodies after differentiating from an activated B
lymphocyte?
A. Neutrophil
B. Macrophage
C. Plasma cell — Correct Answer
D. Natural killer cell
Rationale: Activated B lymphocytes can differentiate into plasma cells. Plasma cells
produce antibodies directed against specific antigens.
10.
Which condition is characterized by an inappropriate immune response directed
against self-antigens?
A. Immunodeficiency
B. Autoimmune disease — Correct Answer
C. Passive immunity
D. Physiologic inflammation
Rationale: Autoimmune disorders occur when immune mechanisms attack the
body's own tissues. Examples include systemic lupus erythematosus and
, rheumatoid arthritis.
11.
A patient with prolonged corticosteroid exposure is at increased risk for infection
primarily because corticosteroids:
A. Increase antibody production
B. Stimulate neutrophil migration
C. Suppress inflammatory and immune responses — Correct Answer
D. Increase T-cell activation
Rationale: Corticosteroids suppress multiple components of immune and
inflammatory responses. This can reduce inflammation but also increase
susceptibility to infection.
12.
Which process describes the movement of leukocytes toward a site of tissue injury
in response to chemical signals?
A. Hemostasis
B. Chemotaxis — Correct Answer
C. Hemolysis
D. Osmosis
Rationale: Chemotaxis directs leukocytes toward areas of inflammation through
chemical gradients. This allows immune cells to concentrate where injury or
infection is occurring.
13.
Which genetic abnormality results from a change in a single nucleotide?
A. Aneuploidy
B. Point mutation — Correct Answer
C. Polyploidy
D. Chromosomal translocation only
Rationale: A point mutation involves alteration of a single nucleotide or nucleotide
pair. Depending on its location and effect, it may alter protein production or
function.
14.
A patient has an extra copy of chromosome 21. This condition is:
A. Turner syndrome
Pathophysiology
150 Questions and Answers + Rationales
Gardner-Webb University
1.
Which cellular adaptation occurs when a tissue increases the size of existing cells in
response to increased workload?
A. Hyperplasia
B. Hypertrophy — Correct Answer
C. Atrophy
D. Metaplasia
Rationale: Hypertrophy involves enlargement of individual cells, often in response
to increased workload. Cardiac muscle commonly responds to chronic pressure
overload through hypertrophy.
2.
A patient experiences temporary tissue hypoxia caused by reduced blood flow. If
prolonged, this condition can result in:
A. Increased ATP production
B. Enhanced oxidative phosphorylation
C. Cellular injury and potentially necrosis — Correct Answer
D. Increased protein synthesis
Rationale: Reduced oxygen availability decreases oxidative phosphorylation and
ATP production. Prolonged ATP depletion can cause membrane dysfunction, cellular
swelling, and irreversible injury.
3.
Which type of cell death is characterized by controlled cellular destruction without
significant surrounding inflammation?
A. Necrosis
B. Apoptosis — Correct Answer
C. Gangrene
D. Autolysis
Rationale: Apoptosis is programmed cell death that generally does not trigger
substantial inflammation. It is important in normal tissue development and
,elimination of damaged cells.
4.
A patient develops tissue damage following restoration of blood flow after prolonged
ischemia. This phenomenon is called:
A. Cellular adaptation
B. Coagulation
C. Ischemia-reperfusion injury — Correct Answer
D. Metaplasia
Rationale: Reperfusion can generate reactive oxygen species and inflammatory
responses that further damage previously ischemic tissue. This is known as
ischemia-reperfusion injury.
5.
Which inflammatory mediator is strongly associated with vasodilation and increased
vascular permeability?
A. Insulin
B. Histamine — Correct Answer
C. Albumin
D. Hemoglobin
Rationale: Histamine released from mast cells promotes vasodilation and increased
vascular permeability. These effects contribute to redness, warmth, and edema
during acute inflammation.
6.
Which leukocyte is typically the predominant cell during early acute bacterial
inflammation?
A. Lymphocyte
B. Neutrophil — Correct Answer
C. Eosinophil
D. Plasma cell
Rationale: Neutrophils are among the first leukocytes recruited during acute
inflammation, particularly bacterial infections. They phagocytose pathogens and
release inflammatory mediators.
7.
Which laboratory finding commonly accompanies an acute inflammatory response?
,A. Decreased C-reactive protein
B. Increased C-reactive protein — Correct Answer
C. Decreased fibrinogen
D. Decreased white blood cell activity
Rationale: C-reactive protein is an acute-phase reactant produced in response to
inflammatory cytokines. Its concentration commonly increases during systemic
inflammation.
8.
A patient develops wheezing, urticaria, hypotension, and airway edema minutes
after exposure to an allergen. Which mechanism is most likely?
A. Type II hypersensitivity
B. Type III hypersensitivity
C. IgE-mediated type I hypersensitivity — Correct Answer
D. Delayed type IV hypersensitivity
Rationale: Type I hypersensitivity is mediated by IgE and mast-cell activation.
Histamine and other mediators can produce bronchoconstriction, vasodilation,
edema, and hypotension.
9.
Which immune cell produces antibodies after differentiating from an activated B
lymphocyte?
A. Neutrophil
B. Macrophage
C. Plasma cell — Correct Answer
D. Natural killer cell
Rationale: Activated B lymphocytes can differentiate into plasma cells. Plasma cells
produce antibodies directed against specific antigens.
10.
Which condition is characterized by an inappropriate immune response directed
against self-antigens?
A. Immunodeficiency
B. Autoimmune disease — Correct Answer
C. Passive immunity
D. Physiologic inflammation
Rationale: Autoimmune disorders occur when immune mechanisms attack the
body's own tissues. Examples include systemic lupus erythematosus and
, rheumatoid arthritis.
11.
A patient with prolonged corticosteroid exposure is at increased risk for infection
primarily because corticosteroids:
A. Increase antibody production
B. Stimulate neutrophil migration
C. Suppress inflammatory and immune responses — Correct Answer
D. Increase T-cell activation
Rationale: Corticosteroids suppress multiple components of immune and
inflammatory responses. This can reduce inflammation but also increase
susceptibility to infection.
12.
Which process describes the movement of leukocytes toward a site of tissue injury
in response to chemical signals?
A. Hemostasis
B. Chemotaxis — Correct Answer
C. Hemolysis
D. Osmosis
Rationale: Chemotaxis directs leukocytes toward areas of inflammation through
chemical gradients. This allows immune cells to concentrate where injury or
infection is occurring.
13.
Which genetic abnormality results from a change in a single nucleotide?
A. Aneuploidy
B. Point mutation — Correct Answer
C. Polyploidy
D. Chromosomal translocation only
Rationale: A point mutation involves alteration of a single nucleotide or nucleotide
pair. Depending on its location and effect, it may alter protein production or
function.
14.
A patient has an extra copy of chromosome 21. This condition is:
A. Turner syndrome
