NUR631 EXAM 1: ADVANCED
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS |
100% CORRECT | GRADE A+ - GCU
1. A 55-year-old male with a long history of smoking presents with a cough. A biopsy of his
bronchial epithelium reveals that the normal ciliated columnar epithelium has been replaced
by stratified squamous epithelium. This cellular adaptation is known as:
A. Metaplasia
B. Hyperplasia
C. Dysplasia
D. Atrophy
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one mature cell type
by another, often as a response to chronic irritation like smoking.
2. Which of the following processes is a characteristic feature of apoptosis but NOT necrosis?
A. Programmed cell death with intact plasma membranes
B. Inflammatory response
,C. Cellular swelling
D. Random DNA degradation
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: Apoptosis is programmed cell death where the cell shrinks and
the membrane remains intact, preventing an inflammatory response, unlike necrosis.
3. During cellular injury, a decrease in ATP production leads to the failure of the sodium-
potassium pump. What is the immediate consequence of this failure?
A. Intracellular potassium increases
B. Extracellular sodium increases
C. Cellular swelling due to sodium influx
D. Increased protein synthesis
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Failure of the Na+/K+ pump leads to sodium accumulation
inside the cell. Water follows sodium, causing acute cellular swelling (hydropic
degeneration).
4. Which electrolyte imbalance is most likely to cause peaked T-waves and a widened QRS
complex on an EKG?
A. Hypokalemia
B. Hypernatremia
, C. Hypocalcemia
D. Hyperkalemia
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Hyperkalemia decreases the resting membrane potential,
leading to peaked T-waves and eventual cardiac arrest if the QRS continues to widen.
5. A patient’s arterial blood gas (ABG) results are: pH 7.25, PaCO2 55 mmHg, and HCO3 24
mEq/L. How would you interpret these results?
A. Metabolic Acidosis
B. Respiratory Alkalosis
C. Respiratory Acidosis
D. Metabolic Alkalosis
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: A pH below 7.35 indicates acidosis, and a PaCO2 above 45
mmHg with a normal bicarbonate indicates the primary cause is respiratory.
6. Which of the following is a primary characteristic of a malignant tumor compared to a
benign tumor?
A. Ability to metastasize
B. Slow growth rate
C. Presence of a capsule
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS |
100% CORRECT | GRADE A+ - GCU
1. A 55-year-old male with a long history of smoking presents with a cough. A biopsy of his
bronchial epithelium reveals that the normal ciliated columnar epithelium has been replaced
by stratified squamous epithelium. This cellular adaptation is known as:
A. Metaplasia
B. Hyperplasia
C. Dysplasia
D. Atrophy
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one mature cell type
by another, often as a response to chronic irritation like smoking.
2. Which of the following processes is a characteristic feature of apoptosis but NOT necrosis?
A. Programmed cell death with intact plasma membranes
B. Inflammatory response
,C. Cellular swelling
D. Random DNA degradation
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: Apoptosis is programmed cell death where the cell shrinks and
the membrane remains intact, preventing an inflammatory response, unlike necrosis.
3. During cellular injury, a decrease in ATP production leads to the failure of the sodium-
potassium pump. What is the immediate consequence of this failure?
A. Intracellular potassium increases
B. Extracellular sodium increases
C. Cellular swelling due to sodium influx
D. Increased protein synthesis
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Failure of the Na+/K+ pump leads to sodium accumulation
inside the cell. Water follows sodium, causing acute cellular swelling (hydropic
degeneration).
4. Which electrolyte imbalance is most likely to cause peaked T-waves and a widened QRS
complex on an EKG?
A. Hypokalemia
B. Hypernatremia
, C. Hypocalcemia
D. Hyperkalemia
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Hyperkalemia decreases the resting membrane potential,
leading to peaked T-waves and eventual cardiac arrest if the QRS continues to widen.
5. A patient’s arterial blood gas (ABG) results are: pH 7.25, PaCO2 55 mmHg, and HCO3 24
mEq/L. How would you interpret these results?
A. Metabolic Acidosis
B. Respiratory Alkalosis
C. Respiratory Acidosis
D. Metabolic Alkalosis
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: A pH below 7.35 indicates acidosis, and a PaCO2 above 45
mmHg with a normal bicarbonate indicates the primary cause is respiratory.
6. Which of the following is a primary characteristic of a malignant tumor compared to a
benign tumor?
A. Ability to metastasize
B. Slow growth rate
C. Presence of a capsule
