NURSING PATHOPHYSIOLOGY EXAM 1 STUDY
GUIDE 2026/2027 | COMPLETE REVIEW | 250+ MCQS
WITH CORRECT ANSWERS AND DETAILED
RATIONALES| GRADED A+| LATEST UPDATE
1. Which process describes a cell adapting to an increased workload by becoming larger?
A. Atrophy
B. Hypertrophy
C. Hyperplasia
D. Metaplasia
Correct Answer: B. Hypertrophy
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in individual cell size, usually in response to increased
workload or stimulation. The overall organ may enlarge even though the number of cells does
not increase.
2. A decrease in the size of an organ caused by reduced cellular size is called:
A. Hyperplasia
B. Dysplasia
C. Atrophy
D. Hypertrophy
Correct Answer: C. Atrophy
Rationale: Atrophy is a reduction in cell size and consequently a reduction in the size of the
affected tissue or organ. It may result from disuse, decreased blood supply, inadequate
nutrition, loss of hormonal stimulation, or aging.
3. Which cellular adaptation involves an increase in the number of cells?
A. Hypertrophy
B. Hyperplasia
C. Atrophy
D. Apoptosis
Correct Answer: B. Hyperplasia
,Rationale: Hyperplasia refers to an increase in cell number. It can occur as a normal physiologic
response, such as hormonal stimulation, or as a pathologic response.
4. Which term describes replacement of one mature cell type by another mature cell type?
A. Metaplasia
B. Necrosis
C. Hypertrophy
D. Apoptosis
Correct Answer: A. Metaplasia
Rationale: Metaplasia is a potentially reversible adaptation in which one differentiated cell type
is replaced by another better able to tolerate a particular stress. Persistent injury may increase
the risk of further abnormal cellular changes.
5. Which finding is most characteristic of reversible cellular injury?
A. Complete membrane rupture
B. Severe mitochondrial destruction
C. Cellular swelling
D. Nuclear fragmentation
Correct Answer: C. Cellular swelling
Rationale: Cellular swelling is a common early manifestation of reversible injury, often resulting
from impaired ATP production and failure of the sodium-potassium pump.
6. Which cellular component is particularly vulnerable to injury from oxygen deprivation?
A. Mitochondria
B. Ribosomes only
C. Golgi apparatus only
D. Lysosomes only
Correct Answer: A. Mitochondria
Rationale: Mitochondria produce ATP through oxidative phosphorylation. Hypoxia or ischemia
can impair ATP production, leading to failure of energy-dependent cellular processes.
,7. What is the primary consequence of inadequate ATP production during cellular injury?
A. Increased protein synthesis
B. Failure of energy-dependent membrane pumps
C. Increased oxygen delivery
D. Increased intracellular pH
Correct Answer: B. Failure of energy-dependent membrane pumps
Rationale: ATP is required for membrane transport mechanisms such as the sodium-potassium
pump. ATP depletion causes sodium and water to accumulate intracellularly, producing cellular
swelling.
8. Which form of cell death is generally programmed and regulated?
A. Necrosis
B. Apoptosis
C. Ischemia
D. Infarction
Correct Answer: B. Apoptosis
Rationale: Apoptosis is programmed cell death. It generally removes unwanted or damaged
cells without the extensive inflammatory response typically associated with necrosis.
9. Which feature best distinguishes necrosis from apoptosis?
A. Necrosis is always physiologic
B. Necrosis commonly produces inflammation
C. Apoptosis causes extensive tissue swelling
D. Apoptosis always results from infection
Correct Answer: B. Necrosis commonly produces inflammation
Rationale: Necrotic cell death involves loss of membrane integrity and release of intracellular
contents, which can stimulate inflammation. Apoptotic cells are generally removed in a
controlled manner.
, 10. Which substance is commonly associated with oxidative cellular injury?
A. Free radicals
B. Albumin
C. Hemoglobin
D. Insulin
Correct Answer: A. Free radicals
Rationale: Reactive oxygen species and other free radicals can damage cellular membranes,
proteins, and DNA. Antioxidant systems normally help neutralize these substances.
11. Ischemia differs from hypoxia because ischemia involves:
A. Increased oxygen delivery
B. Reduced blood flow to tissue
C. Increased cellular ATP production
D. Excessive carbon dioxide elimination
Correct Answer: B. Reduced blood flow to tissue
Rationale: Ischemia refers to inadequate blood supply. It can produce both oxygen deprivation
and reduced delivery of nutrients, while preventing removal of metabolic waste.
12. Which finding is most consistent with acute inflammation?
A. Neutrophil migration
B. Scar formation only
C. Permanent tissue replacement
D. Decreased vascular permeability
Correct Answer: A. Neutrophil migration
Rationale: Acute inflammation typically involves rapid vascular changes and recruitment of
leukocytes, particularly neutrophils, to the site of injury or infection.
13. Which of the following is one of the classic cardinal signs of inflammation?
A. Cyanosis
B. Pallor
GUIDE 2026/2027 | COMPLETE REVIEW | 250+ MCQS
WITH CORRECT ANSWERS AND DETAILED
RATIONALES| GRADED A+| LATEST UPDATE
1. Which process describes a cell adapting to an increased workload by becoming larger?
A. Atrophy
B. Hypertrophy
C. Hyperplasia
D. Metaplasia
Correct Answer: B. Hypertrophy
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in individual cell size, usually in response to increased
workload or stimulation. The overall organ may enlarge even though the number of cells does
not increase.
2. A decrease in the size of an organ caused by reduced cellular size is called:
A. Hyperplasia
B. Dysplasia
C. Atrophy
D. Hypertrophy
Correct Answer: C. Atrophy
Rationale: Atrophy is a reduction in cell size and consequently a reduction in the size of the
affected tissue or organ. It may result from disuse, decreased blood supply, inadequate
nutrition, loss of hormonal stimulation, or aging.
3. Which cellular adaptation involves an increase in the number of cells?
A. Hypertrophy
B. Hyperplasia
C. Atrophy
D. Apoptosis
Correct Answer: B. Hyperplasia
,Rationale: Hyperplasia refers to an increase in cell number. It can occur as a normal physiologic
response, such as hormonal stimulation, or as a pathologic response.
4. Which term describes replacement of one mature cell type by another mature cell type?
A. Metaplasia
B. Necrosis
C. Hypertrophy
D. Apoptosis
Correct Answer: A. Metaplasia
Rationale: Metaplasia is a potentially reversible adaptation in which one differentiated cell type
is replaced by another better able to tolerate a particular stress. Persistent injury may increase
the risk of further abnormal cellular changes.
5. Which finding is most characteristic of reversible cellular injury?
A. Complete membrane rupture
B. Severe mitochondrial destruction
C. Cellular swelling
D. Nuclear fragmentation
Correct Answer: C. Cellular swelling
Rationale: Cellular swelling is a common early manifestation of reversible injury, often resulting
from impaired ATP production and failure of the sodium-potassium pump.
6. Which cellular component is particularly vulnerable to injury from oxygen deprivation?
A. Mitochondria
B. Ribosomes only
C. Golgi apparatus only
D. Lysosomes only
Correct Answer: A. Mitochondria
Rationale: Mitochondria produce ATP through oxidative phosphorylation. Hypoxia or ischemia
can impair ATP production, leading to failure of energy-dependent cellular processes.
,7. What is the primary consequence of inadequate ATP production during cellular injury?
A. Increased protein synthesis
B. Failure of energy-dependent membrane pumps
C. Increased oxygen delivery
D. Increased intracellular pH
Correct Answer: B. Failure of energy-dependent membrane pumps
Rationale: ATP is required for membrane transport mechanisms such as the sodium-potassium
pump. ATP depletion causes sodium and water to accumulate intracellularly, producing cellular
swelling.
8. Which form of cell death is generally programmed and regulated?
A. Necrosis
B. Apoptosis
C. Ischemia
D. Infarction
Correct Answer: B. Apoptosis
Rationale: Apoptosis is programmed cell death. It generally removes unwanted or damaged
cells without the extensive inflammatory response typically associated with necrosis.
9. Which feature best distinguishes necrosis from apoptosis?
A. Necrosis is always physiologic
B. Necrosis commonly produces inflammation
C. Apoptosis causes extensive tissue swelling
D. Apoptosis always results from infection
Correct Answer: B. Necrosis commonly produces inflammation
Rationale: Necrotic cell death involves loss of membrane integrity and release of intracellular
contents, which can stimulate inflammation. Apoptotic cells are generally removed in a
controlled manner.
, 10. Which substance is commonly associated with oxidative cellular injury?
A. Free radicals
B. Albumin
C. Hemoglobin
D. Insulin
Correct Answer: A. Free radicals
Rationale: Reactive oxygen species and other free radicals can damage cellular membranes,
proteins, and DNA. Antioxidant systems normally help neutralize these substances.
11. Ischemia differs from hypoxia because ischemia involves:
A. Increased oxygen delivery
B. Reduced blood flow to tissue
C. Increased cellular ATP production
D. Excessive carbon dioxide elimination
Correct Answer: B. Reduced blood flow to tissue
Rationale: Ischemia refers to inadequate blood supply. It can produce both oxygen deprivation
and reduced delivery of nutrients, while preventing removal of metabolic waste.
12. Which finding is most consistent with acute inflammation?
A. Neutrophil migration
B. Scar formation only
C. Permanent tissue replacement
D. Decreased vascular permeability
Correct Answer: A. Neutrophil migration
Rationale: Acute inflammation typically involves rapid vascular changes and recruitment of
leukocytes, particularly neutrophils, to the site of injury or infection.
13. Which of the following is one of the classic cardinal signs of inflammation?
A. Cyanosis
B. Pallor
