NURS 6501 ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
MIDTERM EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS
Contents
Unit 1: Cellular Biology & Genetics (Questions 1–30)
Unit 2: Immunity & Inflammation (Questions 31–60)
Unit 3: Infection, Stress & Disease (Questions 61–80)
Unit 4: Cancer & Neoplasia (Questions 81–110)
Unit 5: Hematologic Disorders (Questions 111–130)
Unit 6: Cardiovascular Disorders (Questions 131–150)
Unit 1: Cellular Biology & Genetics
1. What is the basic functional unit of heredity?
Answer: The gene.
2. What is the difference between a gene and an allele?
Answer: A gene is a segment of DNA coding for a specific protein; an allele is one of two or more alternative
versions of that gene at the same locus.
3. What is the difference between genotype and phenotype?
Answer: Genotype is an individual's genetic makeup; phenotype is the observable physical or biochemical
expression of that genotype.
4. What is the mechanism of an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern?
Answer: A single copy of the mutated allele from either parent is sufficient to cause the disorder; affected
individuals have a 50% chance of passing it to offspring.
5. What is the mechanism of an autosomal recessive inheritance pattern?
Answer: Two copies of the mutated allele, one from each parent, are needed to cause the disorder; carriers
with one copy are typically unaffected.
, 6. What is an example of an X-linked recessive disorder?
Answer: Hemophilia A or Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
7. What is genomic imprinting?
Answer: A phenomenon where gene expression depends on whether the allele is inherited from the mother
or the father.
8. What is a karyotype used to detect?
Answer: Chromosomal abnormalities in number or structure.
9. What chromosomal abnormality causes Down syndrome?
Answer: Trisomy 21 — an extra copy of chromosome 21.
10. What is the difference between hyperplasia and hypertrophy at the cellular level?
Answer: Hyperplasia is an increase in cell number; hypertrophy is an increase in individual cell size.
11. What is atrophy, and what commonly causes it?
Answer: A decrease in cell size and function, commonly caused by disuse, denervation, or inadequate
nutrition/blood supply.
12. What is metaplasia, and what commonly causes it?
Answer: The reversible replacement of one differentiated cell type with another, often in response to
chronic irritation, such as bronchial epithelium changing in response to smoking.
13. What is dysplasia, and why is it clinically significant?
Answer: Abnormal changes in cell size, shape, and organization; it is a precursor to cancer if the underlying
cause is not removed.
14. What is the difference between necrosis and apoptosis?
Answer: Necrosis is unregulated, pathologic cell death that triggers inflammation; apoptosis is programmed,
regulated cell death that does not trigger inflammation.
15. What is ischemia, and how does it lead to cellular injury?
Answer: Reduced blood supply to tissue, leading to hypoxia and depletion of ATP, which impairs cellular
function and can lead to cell death.
16. What is the primary energy currency of the cell, and where is it produced?
Answer: Adenosine triphosphate (ATP), produced primarily in the mitochondria via oxidative
phosphorylation.
17. What is free radical injury, and what cellular components does it damage?
Answer: Damage caused by reactive oxygen species that attack cell membranes, proteins, and DNA.
18. What is the role of antioxidants, such as vitamin E and vitamin C, in cellular protection?
Answer: They neutralize free radicals, protecting cells from oxidative damage.
19. What is hydropic swelling, and what causes it?
Answer: Cellular swelling due to intracellular water accumulation, typically caused by failure of the sodium-
potassium pump from ATP depletion.
MIDTERM EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS
Contents
Unit 1: Cellular Biology & Genetics (Questions 1–30)
Unit 2: Immunity & Inflammation (Questions 31–60)
Unit 3: Infection, Stress & Disease (Questions 61–80)
Unit 4: Cancer & Neoplasia (Questions 81–110)
Unit 5: Hematologic Disorders (Questions 111–130)
Unit 6: Cardiovascular Disorders (Questions 131–150)
Unit 1: Cellular Biology & Genetics
1. What is the basic functional unit of heredity?
Answer: The gene.
2. What is the difference between a gene and an allele?
Answer: A gene is a segment of DNA coding for a specific protein; an allele is one of two or more alternative
versions of that gene at the same locus.
3. What is the difference between genotype and phenotype?
Answer: Genotype is an individual's genetic makeup; phenotype is the observable physical or biochemical
expression of that genotype.
4. What is the mechanism of an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern?
Answer: A single copy of the mutated allele from either parent is sufficient to cause the disorder; affected
individuals have a 50% chance of passing it to offspring.
5. What is the mechanism of an autosomal recessive inheritance pattern?
Answer: Two copies of the mutated allele, one from each parent, are needed to cause the disorder; carriers
with one copy are typically unaffected.
, 6. What is an example of an X-linked recessive disorder?
Answer: Hemophilia A or Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
7. What is genomic imprinting?
Answer: A phenomenon where gene expression depends on whether the allele is inherited from the mother
or the father.
8. What is a karyotype used to detect?
Answer: Chromosomal abnormalities in number or structure.
9. What chromosomal abnormality causes Down syndrome?
Answer: Trisomy 21 — an extra copy of chromosome 21.
10. What is the difference between hyperplasia and hypertrophy at the cellular level?
Answer: Hyperplasia is an increase in cell number; hypertrophy is an increase in individual cell size.
11. What is atrophy, and what commonly causes it?
Answer: A decrease in cell size and function, commonly caused by disuse, denervation, or inadequate
nutrition/blood supply.
12. What is metaplasia, and what commonly causes it?
Answer: The reversible replacement of one differentiated cell type with another, often in response to
chronic irritation, such as bronchial epithelium changing in response to smoking.
13. What is dysplasia, and why is it clinically significant?
Answer: Abnormal changes in cell size, shape, and organization; it is a precursor to cancer if the underlying
cause is not removed.
14. What is the difference between necrosis and apoptosis?
Answer: Necrosis is unregulated, pathologic cell death that triggers inflammation; apoptosis is programmed,
regulated cell death that does not trigger inflammation.
15. What is ischemia, and how does it lead to cellular injury?
Answer: Reduced blood supply to tissue, leading to hypoxia and depletion of ATP, which impairs cellular
function and can lead to cell death.
16. What is the primary energy currency of the cell, and where is it produced?
Answer: Adenosine triphosphate (ATP), produced primarily in the mitochondria via oxidative
phosphorylation.
17. What is free radical injury, and what cellular components does it damage?
Answer: Damage caused by reactive oxygen species that attack cell membranes, proteins, and DNA.
18. What is the role of antioxidants, such as vitamin E and vitamin C, in cellular protection?
Answer: They neutralize free radicals, protecting cells from oxidative damage.
19. What is hydropic swelling, and what causes it?
Answer: Cellular swelling due to intracellular water accumulation, typically caused by failure of the sodium-
potassium pump from ATP depletion.
