NURS 6501 Advanced Pathophysiology Midterm Exam 2026/2027 – Questions & Answers with Rationales

NURS 6501 Advanced Pathophysiology Midterm Exam
2026/2027 – Questions & Answers with Rationales
Table of Contents
1. Cellular Adaptation, Injury & Inflammation
2. Genetics, Immunity & Hypersensitivity
3. Fluid, Electrolyte & Acid–Base Disorders
4. Cardiovascular Pathophysiology
5. Respiratory Pathophysiology
6. Renal & Urinary Pathophysiology
7. Endocrine & Metabolic Pathophysiology
8. Gastrointestinal & Hepatic Pathophysiology
9. Neurologic Pathophysiology
10.Hematologic, Oncologic & Multisystem Disorders


SECTION 1 — CELLULAR ADAPTATION, INJURY & INFLAMMATION
Question 1
Which cellular adaptation occurs when an organ increases in cell size in response
to increased workload?
A. Atrophy
B. Hypertrophy
C. Hyperplasia
D. Metaplasia
Answer: B
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in individual cell size. It commonly occurs in
tissues such as cardiac muscle in response to chronic increased workload.

,Question 2
A decrease in cell size caused by reduced workload is called:
A. Atrophy
B. Dysplasia
C. Hyperplasia
D. Hypertrophy
Answer: A
Rationale: Atrophy is a reduction in cell size and sometimes organ size resulting
from decreased workload, poor nutrition, loss of innervation, reduced blood
supply, or other causes.


Question 3
Which process involves an increase in the number of cells?
A. Hypertrophy
B. Atrophy
C. Hyperplasia
D. Apoptosis
Answer: C
Rationale: Hyperplasia is an increase in cell number caused by increased cellular
proliferation.


Question 4
Metaplasia is best described as:
A. Irreversible cell death
B. Replacement of one mature cell type by another mature cell type
C. Increase in cell size only
D. Decrease in cellular metabolism
Answer: B

,Rationale: Metaplasia is a potentially reversible adaptation in which one
differentiated cell type is replaced by another better able to tolerate a chronic
stressor.


Question 5
Which cellular process is characterized by programmed, regulated cell death?
A. Necrosis
B. Apoptosis
C. Hyperplasia
D. Metaplasia
Answer: B
Rationale: Apoptosis is programmed cell death that generally occurs without the
extensive inflammation associated with necrosis.


Question 6
Which finding is most characteristic of necrosis?
A. Controlled removal of individual cells
B. Cellular swelling and membrane disruption
C. No inflammatory response
D. Physiologic tissue remodeling
Answer: B
Rationale: Necrosis involves uncontrolled cell death, membrane disruption,
leakage of intracellular contents, and often inflammation.


Question 7
A major consequence of cellular hypoxia is:
A. Increased oxidative phosphorylation
B. Reduced ATP production

, C. Increased protein synthesis
D. Increased mitochondrial efficiency
Answer: B
Rationale: Oxygen deficiency impairs oxidative phosphorylation, reducing ATP
production and disrupting energy-dependent cellular processes.


Question 8
When ATP levels fall significantly, which cellular process is impaired first?
A. Sodium-potassium pump activity
B. DNA replication only
C. Oxygen diffusion
D. Passive osmosis
Answer: A
Rationale: The sodium-potassium ATPase requires ATP. Failure causes
intracellular sodium and water accumulation, resulting in cellular swelling.


Question 9
Reactive oxygen species can cause cellular injury primarily through:
A. Increased oxygen delivery
B. Oxidative damage to lipids, proteins, and DNA
C. Improved mitochondrial function
D. Increased ATP storage
Answer: B
Rationale: Reactive oxygen species can damage cellular membranes, proteins,
enzymes, and genetic material through oxidative stress.


Question 10