NR 283 Pathophysiology Test Question Bank
2026/2027 | Chamberlain NR283 Exam 1, Exam
2, Exam 3 & Final Exam | Comprehensive
Practice Questions & Verified Answers
Section 1: Foundations of Pathophysiology & Cellular Adaptation
1. A patient's cardiac muscle cells increase in size due to chronic hypertension.
This adaptive response is best described as:
A. Hyperplasia
B. Metaplasia
C. Hypertrophy
D. Atrophy
Correct Answer: C. Hypertrophy
Rationale: Hypertrophy refers to an increase in the size of individual cells in
response to increased workload or stress, which is commonly seen in cardiac
muscle due to hypertension. Hyperplasia involves an increase in cell number,
metaplasia is the replacement of one mature cell type with another, and atrophy is
a decrease in cell size.
2. Which of the following is an example of physiologic hyperplasia?
A. Enlargement of the prostate gland in an older adult
B. Breast development during puberty
C. Liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy
D. Goblet cell increase in chronic bronchitis
Correct Answer: B. Breast development during puberty
Rationale: Physiologic hyperplasia is a normal, hormonally driven response,
such as breast tissue proliferation during puberty or pregnancy. Prostate
enlargement and goblet cell changes in chronic bronchitis are pathologic, while
liver regeneration is considered compensatory hyperplasia.
,3. A chronic smoker's bronchial tissue changes from ciliated columnar
epithelium to stratified squamous epithelium. This adaptation is called:
A. Dysplasia
B. Anaplasia
C. Metaplasia
D. Neoplasia
Correct Answer: C. Metaplasia
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one mature epithelial
cell type by another that is better able to tolerate chronic irritation. In smokers,
columnar cells are replaced by squamous cells. Dysplasia involves abnormal cell
growth and maturation, anaplasia is a loss of differentiation, and neoplasia refers
to new, uncontrolled growth.
4. Which cellular adaptation is considered a precursor to malignancy and is
characterized by disordered growth and maturation?
A. Atrophy
B. Hypertrophy
C. Dysplasia
D. Metaplasia
Correct Answer: C. Dysplasia
Rationale: Dysplasia involves abnormal, disordered cellular growth and
maturation that does not progress to cancer in all cases but is considered a
premalignant change. Atrophy and hypertrophy are size adaptations, while
metaplasia is a change in cell type that is typically reversible.
5. A patient immobilized in a cast for six weeks experiences muscle wasting.
The primary mechanism is:
A. Increased apoptosis
B. Reduced workload leading to atrophy
,C. Hyperplasia of muscle fibers
D. Metaplasia of muscle tissue
Correct Answer: B. Reduced workload leading to atrophy
Rationale: Atrophy is a decrease in cell size due to reduced workload,
denervation, or inadequate nutrition. Disuse atrophy is reversible once activity
resumes, as protein synthesis decreases and protein degradation increases in the
immobilized muscle.
6. Which of the following best describes the term "pathogenesis"?
A. The study of disease causes
B. The development and progression of a disease
C. The identification of a specific disease
D. The functional changes resulting from a disease
Correct Answer: B. The development and progression of a disease
Rationale: Pathogenesis refers to the sequence of events and mechanisms by
which a disease develops and progresses. Etiology is the study of causes, diagnosis
is disease identification, and pathophysiology describes the functional changes
associated with a disease.
7. A patient has a genetic predisposition and is exposed to an environmental
trigger. The genetic factor is best described as a:
A. Precipitating factor
B. Predisposing factor
C. Manifestation
D. Complication
Correct Answer: B. Predisposing factor
Rationale: Predisposing factors are conditions or traits, such as genetic
makeup, that increase a person's susceptibility to a disease. Precipitating factors
are events that trigger the onset of disease symptoms.
, 8. Which of the following is an example of an iatrogenic disease?
A. A genetic disorder inherited from a parent
B. A hospital-acquired infection from a urinary catheter
C. A disease caused by an unknown pathogen
D. A condition resulting from a dietary deficiency
Correct Answer: B. A hospital-acquired infection from a urinary catheter
Rationale: Iatrogenic diseases are unintended conditions caused by medical
treatment or procedures, such as a catheter-associated urinary tract infection.
Genetic, idiopathic, and nutritional diseases have other distinct etiologies.
9. A 68-year-old patient with GERD develops Barrett's esophagus. The nurse
recognizes this as which type of cellular change?
A. Dysplasia
B. Hyperplasia
C. Metaplasia
D. Anaplasia
Correct Answer: C. Metaplasia
Rationale: Barrett's esophagus is a classic example of metaplasia, where
chronic acid reflux causes the normal stratified squamous epithelium of the
esophagus to be replaced by columnar epithelium. This change increases the risk
of esophageal adenocarcinoma but is not yet malignant.
10. Which term describes the cause of a disease?
A. Pathogenesis
B. Etiology
C. Manifestation
D. Prognosis
Correct Answer: B. Etiology
2026/2027 | Chamberlain NR283 Exam 1, Exam
2, Exam 3 & Final Exam | Comprehensive
Practice Questions & Verified Answers
Section 1: Foundations of Pathophysiology & Cellular Adaptation
1. A patient's cardiac muscle cells increase in size due to chronic hypertension.
This adaptive response is best described as:
A. Hyperplasia
B. Metaplasia
C. Hypertrophy
D. Atrophy
Correct Answer: C. Hypertrophy
Rationale: Hypertrophy refers to an increase in the size of individual cells in
response to increased workload or stress, which is commonly seen in cardiac
muscle due to hypertension. Hyperplasia involves an increase in cell number,
metaplasia is the replacement of one mature cell type with another, and atrophy is
a decrease in cell size.
2. Which of the following is an example of physiologic hyperplasia?
A. Enlargement of the prostate gland in an older adult
B. Breast development during puberty
C. Liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy
D. Goblet cell increase in chronic bronchitis
Correct Answer: B. Breast development during puberty
Rationale: Physiologic hyperplasia is a normal, hormonally driven response,
such as breast tissue proliferation during puberty or pregnancy. Prostate
enlargement and goblet cell changes in chronic bronchitis are pathologic, while
liver regeneration is considered compensatory hyperplasia.
,3. A chronic smoker's bronchial tissue changes from ciliated columnar
epithelium to stratified squamous epithelium. This adaptation is called:
A. Dysplasia
B. Anaplasia
C. Metaplasia
D. Neoplasia
Correct Answer: C. Metaplasia
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one mature epithelial
cell type by another that is better able to tolerate chronic irritation. In smokers,
columnar cells are replaced by squamous cells. Dysplasia involves abnormal cell
growth and maturation, anaplasia is a loss of differentiation, and neoplasia refers
to new, uncontrolled growth.
4. Which cellular adaptation is considered a precursor to malignancy and is
characterized by disordered growth and maturation?
A. Atrophy
B. Hypertrophy
C. Dysplasia
D. Metaplasia
Correct Answer: C. Dysplasia
Rationale: Dysplasia involves abnormal, disordered cellular growth and
maturation that does not progress to cancer in all cases but is considered a
premalignant change. Atrophy and hypertrophy are size adaptations, while
metaplasia is a change in cell type that is typically reversible.
5. A patient immobilized in a cast for six weeks experiences muscle wasting.
The primary mechanism is:
A. Increased apoptosis
B. Reduced workload leading to atrophy
,C. Hyperplasia of muscle fibers
D. Metaplasia of muscle tissue
Correct Answer: B. Reduced workload leading to atrophy
Rationale: Atrophy is a decrease in cell size due to reduced workload,
denervation, or inadequate nutrition. Disuse atrophy is reversible once activity
resumes, as protein synthesis decreases and protein degradation increases in the
immobilized muscle.
6. Which of the following best describes the term "pathogenesis"?
A. The study of disease causes
B. The development and progression of a disease
C. The identification of a specific disease
D. The functional changes resulting from a disease
Correct Answer: B. The development and progression of a disease
Rationale: Pathogenesis refers to the sequence of events and mechanisms by
which a disease develops and progresses. Etiology is the study of causes, diagnosis
is disease identification, and pathophysiology describes the functional changes
associated with a disease.
7. A patient has a genetic predisposition and is exposed to an environmental
trigger. The genetic factor is best described as a:
A. Precipitating factor
B. Predisposing factor
C. Manifestation
D. Complication
Correct Answer: B. Predisposing factor
Rationale: Predisposing factors are conditions or traits, such as genetic
makeup, that increase a person's susceptibility to a disease. Precipitating factors
are events that trigger the onset of disease symptoms.
, 8. Which of the following is an example of an iatrogenic disease?
A. A genetic disorder inherited from a parent
B. A hospital-acquired infection from a urinary catheter
C. A disease caused by an unknown pathogen
D. A condition resulting from a dietary deficiency
Correct Answer: B. A hospital-acquired infection from a urinary catheter
Rationale: Iatrogenic diseases are unintended conditions caused by medical
treatment or procedures, such as a catheter-associated urinary tract infection.
Genetic, idiopathic, and nutritional diseases have other distinct etiologies.
9. A 68-year-old patient with GERD develops Barrett's esophagus. The nurse
recognizes this as which type of cellular change?
A. Dysplasia
B. Hyperplasia
C. Metaplasia
D. Anaplasia
Correct Answer: C. Metaplasia
Rationale: Barrett's esophagus is a classic example of metaplasia, where
chronic acid reflux causes the normal stratified squamous epithelium of the
esophagus to be replaced by columnar epithelium. This change increases the risk
of esophageal adenocarcinoma but is not yet malignant.
10. Which term describes the cause of a disease?
A. Pathogenesis
B. Etiology
C. Manifestation
D. Prognosis
Correct Answer: B. Etiology
