NSG 309 — Pathophysiology exam
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Answers) Plus Rationale 2027 Q&A|
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1. A patient develops a fever during an acute infection. Which
mechanism primarily causes the elevation in body temperature?
A. Increased heat loss through the skin
B. Suppression of hypothalamic activity
C. Resetting of the hypothalamic temperature set point
D. Decreased production of inflammatory mediators
Rationale: During infection, pyrogens such as interleukin-1 and tumor
necrosis factor stimulate prostaglandin production in the
hypothalamus. This raises the hypothalamic set point, causing the
body to conserve and generate heat until the new temperature is
reached.
, 2. Which cellular adaptation occurs when a skeletal muscle increases
in size because of resistance training?
A. Atrophy
B. Hyperplasia
C. Metaplasia
D. Hypertrophy
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in the size of individual cells,
resulting in enlargement of the tissue or organ. Skeletal muscle
commonly responds to increased workload through hypertrophy
rather than hyperplasia.
3. A patient with chronic gastroesophageal reflux develops
replacement of normal esophageal squamous epithelium with
columnar epithelium. Which cellular adaptation has occurred?
A. Hypertrophy
B. Dysplasia
C. Metaplasia
D. Atrophy
Rationale: Metaplasia is a reversible change in which one mature cell
type is replaced by another mature cell type better able to tolerate
chronic stress. Barrett esophagus is an example associated with
chronic acid exposure.
, 4. Which finding is most characteristic of reversible cellular injury?
A. Nuclear fragmentation
B. Cell membrane rupture
C. Cellular swelling
D. Extensive lysosomal destruction
Rationale: Cellular swelling is a common early manifestation of
reversible injury caused by impaired ATP-dependent sodium-
potassium pump activity. Severe membrane damage and nuclear
destruction generally indicate irreversible injury.
5. Which organelle is primarily responsible for producing ATP
required for cellular energy?
A. Lysosome
B. Golgi apparatus
C. Ribosome
D. Mitochondrion
Rationale: Mitochondria generate most cellular ATP through oxidative
phosphorylation. Damage to mitochondria can therefore severely
impair cellular energy production and contribute to cellular injury.
6. Which process describes programmed cell death that generally
does not produce significant inflammation?
, A. Necrosis
B. Ischemia
C. Autolysis
D. Apoptosis
Rationale: Apoptosis is regulated, programmed cell death that
removes damaged or unnecessary cells while generally preserving
surrounding tissue. Unlike necrosis, it typically does not cause
substantial inflammatory reactions.
7. A patient experiences myocardial ischemia caused by an occluded
coronary artery. Which cellular process is most directly impaired?
A. DNA replication
B. Oxidative phosphorylation
C. Protein digestion
D. Calcium excretion
Rationale: Ischemia decreases oxygen delivery to tissues. Because
oxygen is required for oxidative phosphorylation in mitochondria, ATP
production falls, impairing many energy-dependent cellular functions.
8. Which type of necrosis is classically associated with myocardial
infarction?
Questions and Correct Answers (Verified
Answers) Plus Rationale 2027 Q&A|
Instant Download Pdf
1. A patient develops a fever during an acute infection. Which
mechanism primarily causes the elevation in body temperature?
A. Increased heat loss through the skin
B. Suppression of hypothalamic activity
C. Resetting of the hypothalamic temperature set point
D. Decreased production of inflammatory mediators
Rationale: During infection, pyrogens such as interleukin-1 and tumor
necrosis factor stimulate prostaglandin production in the
hypothalamus. This raises the hypothalamic set point, causing the
body to conserve and generate heat until the new temperature is
reached.
, 2. Which cellular adaptation occurs when a skeletal muscle increases
in size because of resistance training?
A. Atrophy
B. Hyperplasia
C. Metaplasia
D. Hypertrophy
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in the size of individual cells,
resulting in enlargement of the tissue or organ. Skeletal muscle
commonly responds to increased workload through hypertrophy
rather than hyperplasia.
3. A patient with chronic gastroesophageal reflux develops
replacement of normal esophageal squamous epithelium with
columnar epithelium. Which cellular adaptation has occurred?
A. Hypertrophy
B. Dysplasia
C. Metaplasia
D. Atrophy
Rationale: Metaplasia is a reversible change in which one mature cell
type is replaced by another mature cell type better able to tolerate
chronic stress. Barrett esophagus is an example associated with
chronic acid exposure.
, 4. Which finding is most characteristic of reversible cellular injury?
A. Nuclear fragmentation
B. Cell membrane rupture
C. Cellular swelling
D. Extensive lysosomal destruction
Rationale: Cellular swelling is a common early manifestation of
reversible injury caused by impaired ATP-dependent sodium-
potassium pump activity. Severe membrane damage and nuclear
destruction generally indicate irreversible injury.
5. Which organelle is primarily responsible for producing ATP
required for cellular energy?
A. Lysosome
B. Golgi apparatus
C. Ribosome
D. Mitochondrion
Rationale: Mitochondria generate most cellular ATP through oxidative
phosphorylation. Damage to mitochondria can therefore severely
impair cellular energy production and contribute to cellular injury.
6. Which process describes programmed cell death that generally
does not produce significant inflammation?
, A. Necrosis
B. Ischemia
C. Autolysis
D. Apoptosis
Rationale: Apoptosis is regulated, programmed cell death that
removes damaged or unnecessary cells while generally preserving
surrounding tissue. Unlike necrosis, it typically does not cause
substantial inflammatory reactions.
7. A patient experiences myocardial ischemia caused by an occluded
coronary artery. Which cellular process is most directly impaired?
A. DNA replication
B. Oxidative phosphorylation
C. Protein digestion
D. Calcium excretion
Rationale: Ischemia decreases oxygen delivery to tissues. Because
oxygen is required for oxidative phosphorylation in mitochondria, ATP
production falls, impairing many energy-dependent cellular functions.
8. Which type of necrosis is classically associated with myocardial
infarction?
