,NURS 5315 Advanced Pathophysiology Exam Prep
— Comprehensive Review + Practice MCQs —
University of Texas at Arlington 2025/2026
1. A graduate student is reviewing cellular adaptation. Which cellular response is characterized by an increase
in cell size in response to increased workload?
A. Hyperplasia
B. Hypertrophy
C. Atrophy
D. Metaplasia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size, often in response to increased functional demand or
hormonal stimulation (e.g., cardiac muscle hypertrophy in hypertension). Hyperplasia is an increase in cell
number; atrophy is a decrease in cell size; metaplasia is a reversible change from one cell type to another.
2. A patient with chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) develops Barrett esophagus. Which cellular
adaptation does this represent?
A. Dysplasia
B. Hyperplasia
C. Metaplasia
D. Neoplasia
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one mature cell type with another, often in response to
chronic irritation. In Barrett esophagus, squamous epithelium is replaced by columnar epithelium with goblet
cells. Dysplasia involves disordered growth; neoplasia is new, uncontrolled growth.
,3. Which cellular change is considered a precursor to cancer and is characterized by disordered growth,
variation in cell size and shape, and increased mitotic figures?
A. Hypertrophy
B. Atrophy
C. Dysplasia
D. Metaplasia
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Dysplasia is characterized by disordered cellular growth with variation in size, shape, and
organization. It is often a precancerous change. Unlike metaplasia, dysplasia involves atypical cells that have
not yet become malignant.
4. A patient's cells are deprived of oxygen. Which initial metabolic change occurs during cellular hypoxia?
A. Increased oxidative phosphorylation
B. Shift to anaerobic glycolysis
C. Increased ATP production
D. Decreased lactic acid production
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: In hypoxia, oxidative phosphorylation cannot occur due to lack of oxygen. Cells shift to anaerobic
glycolysis, which produces ATP less efficiently and generates lactic acid, leading to metabolic acidosis.
, 5. Which finding indicates irreversible cell injury rather than reversible injury?
A. Cellular swelling
B. Fatty change
C. Release of lysosomal enzymes and membrane rupture
D. Decreased ATP production
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Irreversible injury is marked by severe membrane damage, including lysosomal enzyme release and
plasma membrane rupture. Cellular swelling, fatty change, and decreased ATP are features of reversible injury.
6. A patient experiences a myocardial infarction. Which type of cell death occurs in the infarcted myocardium?
A. Apoptosis
B. Necrosis
C. Autophagy
D. Dysplasia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Necrosis is the pathologic cell death that occurs in ischemic tissue, such as myocardial infarction. It
is characterized by cell swelling, membrane rupture, and inflammation. Apoptosis is programmed, energy-
dependent cell death without inflammation.
7. Which statement accurately distinguishes apoptosis from necrosis?
— Comprehensive Review + Practice MCQs —
University of Texas at Arlington 2025/2026
1. A graduate student is reviewing cellular adaptation. Which cellular response is characterized by an increase
in cell size in response to increased workload?
A. Hyperplasia
B. Hypertrophy
C. Atrophy
D. Metaplasia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size, often in response to increased functional demand or
hormonal stimulation (e.g., cardiac muscle hypertrophy in hypertension). Hyperplasia is an increase in cell
number; atrophy is a decrease in cell size; metaplasia is a reversible change from one cell type to another.
2. A patient with chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) develops Barrett esophagus. Which cellular
adaptation does this represent?
A. Dysplasia
B. Hyperplasia
C. Metaplasia
D. Neoplasia
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one mature cell type with another, often in response to
chronic irritation. In Barrett esophagus, squamous epithelium is replaced by columnar epithelium with goblet
cells. Dysplasia involves disordered growth; neoplasia is new, uncontrolled growth.
,3. Which cellular change is considered a precursor to cancer and is characterized by disordered growth,
variation in cell size and shape, and increased mitotic figures?
A. Hypertrophy
B. Atrophy
C. Dysplasia
D. Metaplasia
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Dysplasia is characterized by disordered cellular growth with variation in size, shape, and
organization. It is often a precancerous change. Unlike metaplasia, dysplasia involves atypical cells that have
not yet become malignant.
4. A patient's cells are deprived of oxygen. Which initial metabolic change occurs during cellular hypoxia?
A. Increased oxidative phosphorylation
B. Shift to anaerobic glycolysis
C. Increased ATP production
D. Decreased lactic acid production
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: In hypoxia, oxidative phosphorylation cannot occur due to lack of oxygen. Cells shift to anaerobic
glycolysis, which produces ATP less efficiently and generates lactic acid, leading to metabolic acidosis.
, 5. Which finding indicates irreversible cell injury rather than reversible injury?
A. Cellular swelling
B. Fatty change
C. Release of lysosomal enzymes and membrane rupture
D. Decreased ATP production
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Irreversible injury is marked by severe membrane damage, including lysosomal enzyme release and
plasma membrane rupture. Cellular swelling, fatty change, and decreased ATP are features of reversible injury.
6. A patient experiences a myocardial infarction. Which type of cell death occurs in the infarcted myocardium?
A. Apoptosis
B. Necrosis
C. Autophagy
D. Dysplasia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Necrosis is the pathologic cell death that occurs in ischemic tissue, such as myocardial infarction. It
is characterized by cell swelling, membrane rupture, and inflammation. Apoptosis is programmed, energy-
dependent cell death without inflammation.
7. Which statement accurately distinguishes apoptosis from necrosis?
