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NSG 120 PATHOPHYSIOLOGY EXAM 1 WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS DETAILED RATIONALES GRADED A+
NSG 120 Pathophysiology Exam 1
SECTION 1: CELLULAR ADAPTATION, INJURY & DEATH (Questions 1–40)
Question 1. Which cellular adaptation is characterized by an increase in the size of individual
cells, leading to an increase in organ size?
A) Hyperplasia
B) Hypertrophy
C) Atrophy
D) Metaplasia
Answer: B
Rationale: Hypertrophy refers to an increase in cell size, often in response to increased
workload (e.g., left ventricular hypertrophy in hypertension). Hyperplasia is an increase in cell
number.
Question 2. A patient who has been in a leg cast for 6 weeks notices that the calf muscle
appears smaller. This change is best described as:
A) Atrophy
B) Dystrophy
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C) Metaplasia
D) Dysplasia
Answer: A
Rationale: Disuse atrophy occurs when muscles are not used due to immobilization, leading to
decreased cell size.
Question 3. The reversible replacement of one differentiated cell type with another (e.g., in the
respiratory tract of a smoker) is called:
A) Anaplasia
B) Hyperplasia
C) Metaplasia
D) Neoplasia
Answer: C
Rationale: Metaplasia is an adaptive change where one adult cell type replaces another, often
due to chronic irritation (e.g., ciliated columnar epithelium replaced by squamous epithelium in
smokers' airways).
Question 4. Which cellular change is considered a precursor to cancer and involves disordered
growth with loss of normal cell arrangement?
A) Hyperplasia
B) Hypertrophy
C) Metaplasia
D) Dysplasia
Answer: D
Rationale: Dysplasia is the disordered growth of cells, often found in precancerous lesions (e.g.,
cervical dysplasia). It is not always cancerous but can progress to cancer.
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Question 5. The earliest reversible change in cell injury due to hypoxia is:
A) Nuclear pyknosis
B) Cellular swelling
C) Fatty change
D) Membrane rupture
Answer: B
Rationale: Hypoxia leads to decreased ATP, failure of the Na⁺/K⁺ pump, and influx of sodium and
water, causing cellular swelling (hydropic change).
Question 6. A client asks the nurse why their heart muscle has become larger. The nurse
explains that this is an example of which cellular adaptation?
A) Atrophy
B) Hypertrophy
C) Hyperplasia
D) Dysplasia
Answer: B
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in the size of cells, leading to an increase in the size of the
organ. This commonly occurs in the heart muscle in response to increased workload, such as in
hypertension.
Question 7. Which term describes the reversible replacement of one mature cell type by
another, less mature cell type?
A) Atrophy
B) Hypertrophy
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C) Metaplasia
D) Dysplasia
Answer: C
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one mature cell type with another. An
example is the replacement of normal columnar epithelial cells in the bronchi with squamous
cells in a smoker.
Question 8. A biopsy report indicates that a client has abnormal changes in cell size, shape, and
organization. Which term best describes this finding?
A) Atrophy
B) Metaplasia
C) Dysplasia
D) Anaplasia
Answer: C
Rationale: Dysplasia is characterized by abnormal changes in cell size, shape, and organization.
It is often a precursor to cancer.
Question 9. A nurse is caring for a client who has a pressure injury. Which cellular adaptation is
most likely occurring in the tissue surrounding the wound?
A) Atrophy
B) Hypertrophy
C) Hyperplasia
D) Metaplasia
Answer: A
Rationale: Atrophy is a decrease in cell size due to decreased workload or adverse
environmental conditions, such as pressure.
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NSG 120 PATHOPHYSIOLOGY EXAM 1 WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS DETAILED RATIONALES GRADED A+
NSG 120 Pathophysiology Exam 1
SECTION 1: CELLULAR ADAPTATION, INJURY & DEATH (Questions 1–40)
Question 1. Which cellular adaptation is characterized by an increase in the size of individual
cells, leading to an increase in organ size?
A) Hyperplasia
B) Hypertrophy
C) Atrophy
D) Metaplasia
Answer: B
Rationale: Hypertrophy refers to an increase in cell size, often in response to increased
workload (e.g., left ventricular hypertrophy in hypertension). Hyperplasia is an increase in cell
number.
Question 2. A patient who has been in a leg cast for 6 weeks notices that the calf muscle
appears smaller. This change is best described as:
A) Atrophy
B) Dystrophy
1|Page
,Page 2 of 94
C) Metaplasia
D) Dysplasia
Answer: A
Rationale: Disuse atrophy occurs when muscles are not used due to immobilization, leading to
decreased cell size.
Question 3. The reversible replacement of one differentiated cell type with another (e.g., in the
respiratory tract of a smoker) is called:
A) Anaplasia
B) Hyperplasia
C) Metaplasia
D) Neoplasia
Answer: C
Rationale: Metaplasia is an adaptive change where one adult cell type replaces another, often
due to chronic irritation (e.g., ciliated columnar epithelium replaced by squamous epithelium in
smokers' airways).
Question 4. Which cellular change is considered a precursor to cancer and involves disordered
growth with loss of normal cell arrangement?
A) Hyperplasia
B) Hypertrophy
C) Metaplasia
D) Dysplasia
Answer: D
Rationale: Dysplasia is the disordered growth of cells, often found in precancerous lesions (e.g.,
cervical dysplasia). It is not always cancerous but can progress to cancer.
2|Page
,Page 3 of 94
Question 5. The earliest reversible change in cell injury due to hypoxia is:
A) Nuclear pyknosis
B) Cellular swelling
C) Fatty change
D) Membrane rupture
Answer: B
Rationale: Hypoxia leads to decreased ATP, failure of the Na⁺/K⁺ pump, and influx of sodium and
water, causing cellular swelling (hydropic change).
Question 6. A client asks the nurse why their heart muscle has become larger. The nurse
explains that this is an example of which cellular adaptation?
A) Atrophy
B) Hypertrophy
C) Hyperplasia
D) Dysplasia
Answer: B
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in the size of cells, leading to an increase in the size of the
organ. This commonly occurs in the heart muscle in response to increased workload, such as in
hypertension.
Question 7. Which term describes the reversible replacement of one mature cell type by
another, less mature cell type?
A) Atrophy
B) Hypertrophy
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C) Metaplasia
D) Dysplasia
Answer: C
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one mature cell type with another. An
example is the replacement of normal columnar epithelial cells in the bronchi with squamous
cells in a smoker.
Question 8. A biopsy report indicates that a client has abnormal changes in cell size, shape, and
organization. Which term best describes this finding?
A) Atrophy
B) Metaplasia
C) Dysplasia
D) Anaplasia
Answer: C
Rationale: Dysplasia is characterized by abnormal changes in cell size, shape, and organization.
It is often a precursor to cancer.
Question 9. A nurse is caring for a client who has a pressure injury. Which cellular adaptation is
most likely occurring in the tissue surrounding the wound?
A) Atrophy
B) Hypertrophy
C) Hyperplasia
D) Metaplasia
Answer: A
Rationale: Atrophy is a decrease in cell size due to decreased workload or adverse
environmental conditions, such as pressure.
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