MSN 570 Advanced Pathophysiology Final Exam
| 50 Practice Questions & Answers | United
States University | 2025/2026 Review
1. Which of the following best describes the process of apoptosis?
o A. Passive cell death due to severe injury
o B. Programmed cell death requiring energy (ATP)
o C. Cell death due to ischemia and ATP depletion
o D. Uncontrolled cell proliferation
o Correct Answer: B
o Rationale: Apoptosis is a form of programmed cell death that is
energy-dependent (requires ATP) and is a normal, regulated process
for eliminating unwanted or damaged cells.
2. A patient presents with a fever, malaise, and an elevated white blood cell
count. Which of the following is the most likely primary mediator of the
fever?
o A. Histamine
o B. Bradykinin
o C. Prostaglandins
o D. Leukotrienes
o Correct Answer: C
o Rationale: Prostaglandins, particularly PGE2, are key mediators that
reset the hypothalamic temperature set-point, leading to fever.
3. Which electrolyte is primarily responsible for maintaining resting
membrane potential in most cells?
, o A. Sodium
o B. Calcium
o C. Chloride
o D. Potassium
o Correct Answer: D
o Rationale: The resting membrane potential is largely determined by
the concentration gradient of potassium and the permeability of the
cell membrane to potassium ions.
4. A deficiency in vitamin C would most directly impair the synthesis of which
of the following?
o A. DNA
o B. Collagen
o C. Hemoglobin
o D. Cholesterol
o Correct Answer: B
o Rationale: Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is a required cofactor for the
enzymes prolyl and lysyl hydroxylase, which are essential for the
hydroxylation of proline and lysine in collagen synthesis.
5. In the context of cellular adaptation, a decrease in the size of an organ or
tissue due to a reduction in cell size is known as:
o A. Hyperplasia
o B. Hypertrophy
o C. Atrophy
o D. Metaplasia
o Correct Answer: C
, o Rationale: Atrophy is a decrease in the size of a cell or organ. It can be
physiological (e.g., thymus involution) or pathological (e.g., muscle
wasting from disuse).
6. Which of the following is a classic sign of acute inflammation?
o A. Pallor
o B. Coolness
o C. Loss of function
o D. Atrophy
o Correct Answer: C
o Rationale: The five cardinal signs of acute inflammation are redness
(rubor), heat (calor), swelling (tumor), pain (dolor), and loss of
function (functio laesa).
7. The primary function of the sodium-potassium pump (Na+/K+ ATPase) is to:
o A. Generate action potentials
o B. Maintain cell volume and resting membrane potential
o C. Facilitate glucose transport
o D. Regulate intracellular calcium
o Correct Answer: B
o Rationale: By pumping 3 Na+ out and 2 K+ in, the pump maintains
osmotic balance (cell volume) and contributes to the negative resting
membrane potential.
8. A patient with chronic kidney disease is most at risk for which type of
anemia?
o A. Iron-deficiency anemia
o B. Aplastic anemia
, o C. Anemia of chronic disease
o D. Pernicious anemia
o Correct Answer: C
o Rationale: The kidneys produce erythropoietin (EPO), which
stimulates red blood cell production. In CKD, EPO production is
diminished, leading to a normocytic, normochromic anemia known as
anemia of chronic disease.
9. Which immunoglobulin class is the first to be produced in a primary
immune response?
o A. IgG
o B. IgA
o C. IgM
o D. IgE
o Correct Answer: C
o Rationale: IgM is the first antibody class produced during a primary
immune response. It is a large pentamer and is very effective at
agglutination and complement activation.
10.The process by which a cell engulfs a solid particle to form an internal
vesicle is called:
o A. Pinocytosis
o B. Phagocytosis
o C. Exocytosis
o D. Osmosis
o Correct Answer: B
| 50 Practice Questions & Answers | United
States University | 2025/2026 Review
1. Which of the following best describes the process of apoptosis?
o A. Passive cell death due to severe injury
o B. Programmed cell death requiring energy (ATP)
o C. Cell death due to ischemia and ATP depletion
o D. Uncontrolled cell proliferation
o Correct Answer: B
o Rationale: Apoptosis is a form of programmed cell death that is
energy-dependent (requires ATP) and is a normal, regulated process
for eliminating unwanted or damaged cells.
2. A patient presents with a fever, malaise, and an elevated white blood cell
count. Which of the following is the most likely primary mediator of the
fever?
o A. Histamine
o B. Bradykinin
o C. Prostaglandins
o D. Leukotrienes
o Correct Answer: C
o Rationale: Prostaglandins, particularly PGE2, are key mediators that
reset the hypothalamic temperature set-point, leading to fever.
3. Which electrolyte is primarily responsible for maintaining resting
membrane potential in most cells?
, o A. Sodium
o B. Calcium
o C. Chloride
o D. Potassium
o Correct Answer: D
o Rationale: The resting membrane potential is largely determined by
the concentration gradient of potassium and the permeability of the
cell membrane to potassium ions.
4. A deficiency in vitamin C would most directly impair the synthesis of which
of the following?
o A. DNA
o B. Collagen
o C. Hemoglobin
o D. Cholesterol
o Correct Answer: B
o Rationale: Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is a required cofactor for the
enzymes prolyl and lysyl hydroxylase, which are essential for the
hydroxylation of proline and lysine in collagen synthesis.
5. In the context of cellular adaptation, a decrease in the size of an organ or
tissue due to a reduction in cell size is known as:
o A. Hyperplasia
o B. Hypertrophy
o C. Atrophy
o D. Metaplasia
o Correct Answer: C
, o Rationale: Atrophy is a decrease in the size of a cell or organ. It can be
physiological (e.g., thymus involution) or pathological (e.g., muscle
wasting from disuse).
6. Which of the following is a classic sign of acute inflammation?
o A. Pallor
o B. Coolness
o C. Loss of function
o D. Atrophy
o Correct Answer: C
o Rationale: The five cardinal signs of acute inflammation are redness
(rubor), heat (calor), swelling (tumor), pain (dolor), and loss of
function (functio laesa).
7. The primary function of the sodium-potassium pump (Na+/K+ ATPase) is to:
o A. Generate action potentials
o B. Maintain cell volume and resting membrane potential
o C. Facilitate glucose transport
o D. Regulate intracellular calcium
o Correct Answer: B
o Rationale: By pumping 3 Na+ out and 2 K+ in, the pump maintains
osmotic balance (cell volume) and contributes to the negative resting
membrane potential.
8. A patient with chronic kidney disease is most at risk for which type of
anemia?
o A. Iron-deficiency anemia
o B. Aplastic anemia
, o C. Anemia of chronic disease
o D. Pernicious anemia
o Correct Answer: C
o Rationale: The kidneys produce erythropoietin (EPO), which
stimulates red blood cell production. In CKD, EPO production is
diminished, leading to a normocytic, normochromic anemia known as
anemia of chronic disease.
9. Which immunoglobulin class is the first to be produced in a primary
immune response?
o A. IgG
o B. IgA
o C. IgM
o D. IgE
o Correct Answer: C
o Rationale: IgM is the first antibody class produced during a primary
immune response. It is a large pentamer and is very effective at
agglutination and complement activation.
10.The process by which a cell engulfs a solid particle to form an internal
vesicle is called:
o A. Pinocytosis
o B. Phagocytosis
o C. Exocytosis
o D. Osmosis
o Correct Answer: B
