Pathophysiology Exam 1 Questions with 100%
Verified Correct Answers
The nurse is counseling a heavy smoker about the dangers of smoking. The nurse tells the smoker
that the due to persistent irritation of the lungs from carcinogens, columnar cells may turn into
squamous cells as a method of adaptation known as which of the following? - Correct Answer
Metaplasia
Metaplasia usually occurs in response to chronic irritation and inflammation and allows for
substitution of cells that are better able to survive under circumstances in which a more fragile cell
type might succumb. An example of metaplasia is the adaptive substitution of stratified squamous
epithelial cells for the ciliated columnar epithelial cells in the trachea and large airways of a habitual
cigarette smoker.
A patient is admitted with an alteration in arterial blood gases. Cellular injury is most likely to result
from which of the following aspects of this abnormality? - Correct Answer Hypoxia
Lack of oxygen or hypoxia is a common cause of cell injury. Hypocapnea, alkalemia, and hypercapnea
are not typical mechanisms of injury. The other common major mechanisms of cell injury are free
radical formation, adenosine triphosphate depletion and disruption of intracellular calcium
homeostasis.
Which of the following statements is true concerning hyperplasia? - Correct Answer It's a response to
stimulus
Hyperplasia is an increase in the number of cells in an organ, not the size of cells, and is the response
to a stimulus that is a controlled process that occurs in response to an appropriate stimulus.
In a genetic disorder called xeroderma pigmentosum, an enzyme needed to repair sunlight-induced
DNA damage is lacking. This autosomal recessive disorder is characterized by what? - Correct Answer
Extreme photosensitivity and a greatly increased risk of skin cancer in skin that has been exposed to
the sun
Which of the following statements would a nurse tell a patient to best describe apoptosis? - Correct
Answer "Apoptosis is the natural removal of injured or worn out cells."
Apoptosis refers to natural cell death via the body's programmed removal of inured or worn out
cells. Hyperplasia is an increase in the number of cells, and hypertrophy is an increase in the size of
cells. Necrosis is cell death of irreversibly damaged cell death or tissue which usually interferes with
cell replacement and tissue regeneration.
,Which of the following would help a nurse best describe a finding of hypertrophy on a lab report? -
Correct Answer Increased size of the cell
Hypertrophy is an increase in the size of the cell.
Which of the following factors can increase the absorption of lead into a patient's system? - Correct
Answer Decreased calcium levels in the blood
A deficiency in calcium, iron, or zinc increases lead absorption.
Which of the following exemplifies physiologic hypertrophy? - Correct Answer Muscle mass increase
with exercise
Hypertrophy that occurs as the result of normal physiologic conditions is seen as muscle mass
increases with exercise. Heart size increase in hypertension is an example of pathologic increase, as is
lung size increase in emphysema and cell increase with hypoxia.
A patient with pulmonary hypertension has hypertrophy of the heart's right ventricle. Which of the
following explanations is appropriate to tell the patient? - Correct Answer "The cells enlarge in your
heart from the increased workload."
Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size due to increased work demands. A client with pulmonary
hypertension has increased pressure in the lungs, which the right side of the heart must pump
against. The increased work causes cells to increase in size.
The nurse in an infectious-disease clinic will primarily treat injuries to tissues and cells caused by: -
Correct Answer biologic agents
Injury from biologic agents derives from bacterial and viral infections. The injuries differ from the
other forms because they are able to replicate and can continue to produce their injurious effects.
The etiology of infections does not normally include oncogenic agents, chemical agents, or
calcifications
A client's condition has resulted in a decrease in work demands of most cells in the body; the
anticipated result would be: - Correct Answer Decreased size of organelles
, Explanation:
Cell atrophy results in a decreased number and size of cell organelles. With cell atrophy, the cell has
decreased oxygen consumption and growth of the mitochondria. The cell decreases in size. When
confronted with a decrease in work demands or adverse environmental conditions, most cells are
able to revert to a smaller size and a lower and more efficient level of functioning that is compatible
with survival. This decrease in cell size is called atrophy. Cellular death process is not affected.
A client with diabetes who is diagnosed with a gangrenous right heel ulcer presents with a wound
that has no line of demarcation, is spreading rapidly, and has a foul odor. The health care worker
recognizes these manifestations as: - Correct Answer Moist gangrene
Explanation:
In moist gangrene, there is no line of demarcation between the normal and diseased tissues, and the
spread of tissue damage is rapid. Moist gangrene often results in a foul odor caused by bacterial
action at the site. Dry gangrene has a clear demarcation and spreads slowly. Gas and internal
gangrene do not apply to this client's symptoms.
Which of the following should be included in the teaching plan of care for the parents of a child
diagnosed with Tay-Sachs disease? - Correct Answer The disorder involves accumulation of abnormal
lipids.
Explanation:
In Tay-Sachs disease, a genetic disorder, abnormal lipids accumulate in the brain and other tissues,
causing motor and mental deterioration beginning at approximately 6 months of age, followed by
death at 2 to 5 years of age.
What happens as a cell's workload declines? Select all that apply. - Correct Answer Oxygen
consumption decreases.
Protein synthesis decreases.
Cell size decreases.
Explanation:
As the cell's workload declines, oxygen consumption decreases, protein synthesis decreases, and cell
size decreases. Insulin levels do not increase, and energy expenditure would decrease.
Verified Correct Answers
The nurse is counseling a heavy smoker about the dangers of smoking. The nurse tells the smoker
that the due to persistent irritation of the lungs from carcinogens, columnar cells may turn into
squamous cells as a method of adaptation known as which of the following? - Correct Answer
Metaplasia
Metaplasia usually occurs in response to chronic irritation and inflammation and allows for
substitution of cells that are better able to survive under circumstances in which a more fragile cell
type might succumb. An example of metaplasia is the adaptive substitution of stratified squamous
epithelial cells for the ciliated columnar epithelial cells in the trachea and large airways of a habitual
cigarette smoker.
A patient is admitted with an alteration in arterial blood gases. Cellular injury is most likely to result
from which of the following aspects of this abnormality? - Correct Answer Hypoxia
Lack of oxygen or hypoxia is a common cause of cell injury. Hypocapnea, alkalemia, and hypercapnea
are not typical mechanisms of injury. The other common major mechanisms of cell injury are free
radical formation, adenosine triphosphate depletion and disruption of intracellular calcium
homeostasis.
Which of the following statements is true concerning hyperplasia? - Correct Answer It's a response to
stimulus
Hyperplasia is an increase in the number of cells in an organ, not the size of cells, and is the response
to a stimulus that is a controlled process that occurs in response to an appropriate stimulus.
In a genetic disorder called xeroderma pigmentosum, an enzyme needed to repair sunlight-induced
DNA damage is lacking. This autosomal recessive disorder is characterized by what? - Correct Answer
Extreme photosensitivity and a greatly increased risk of skin cancer in skin that has been exposed to
the sun
Which of the following statements would a nurse tell a patient to best describe apoptosis? - Correct
Answer "Apoptosis is the natural removal of injured or worn out cells."
Apoptosis refers to natural cell death via the body's programmed removal of inured or worn out
cells. Hyperplasia is an increase in the number of cells, and hypertrophy is an increase in the size of
cells. Necrosis is cell death of irreversibly damaged cell death or tissue which usually interferes with
cell replacement and tissue regeneration.
,Which of the following would help a nurse best describe a finding of hypertrophy on a lab report? -
Correct Answer Increased size of the cell
Hypertrophy is an increase in the size of the cell.
Which of the following factors can increase the absorption of lead into a patient's system? - Correct
Answer Decreased calcium levels in the blood
A deficiency in calcium, iron, or zinc increases lead absorption.
Which of the following exemplifies physiologic hypertrophy? - Correct Answer Muscle mass increase
with exercise
Hypertrophy that occurs as the result of normal physiologic conditions is seen as muscle mass
increases with exercise. Heart size increase in hypertension is an example of pathologic increase, as is
lung size increase in emphysema and cell increase with hypoxia.
A patient with pulmonary hypertension has hypertrophy of the heart's right ventricle. Which of the
following explanations is appropriate to tell the patient? - Correct Answer "The cells enlarge in your
heart from the increased workload."
Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size due to increased work demands. A client with pulmonary
hypertension has increased pressure in the lungs, which the right side of the heart must pump
against. The increased work causes cells to increase in size.
The nurse in an infectious-disease clinic will primarily treat injuries to tissues and cells caused by: -
Correct Answer biologic agents
Injury from biologic agents derives from bacterial and viral infections. The injuries differ from the
other forms because they are able to replicate and can continue to produce their injurious effects.
The etiology of infections does not normally include oncogenic agents, chemical agents, or
calcifications
A client's condition has resulted in a decrease in work demands of most cells in the body; the
anticipated result would be: - Correct Answer Decreased size of organelles
, Explanation:
Cell atrophy results in a decreased number and size of cell organelles. With cell atrophy, the cell has
decreased oxygen consumption and growth of the mitochondria. The cell decreases in size. When
confronted with a decrease in work demands or adverse environmental conditions, most cells are
able to revert to a smaller size and a lower and more efficient level of functioning that is compatible
with survival. This decrease in cell size is called atrophy. Cellular death process is not affected.
A client with diabetes who is diagnosed with a gangrenous right heel ulcer presents with a wound
that has no line of demarcation, is spreading rapidly, and has a foul odor. The health care worker
recognizes these manifestations as: - Correct Answer Moist gangrene
Explanation:
In moist gangrene, there is no line of demarcation between the normal and diseased tissues, and the
spread of tissue damage is rapid. Moist gangrene often results in a foul odor caused by bacterial
action at the site. Dry gangrene has a clear demarcation and spreads slowly. Gas and internal
gangrene do not apply to this client's symptoms.
Which of the following should be included in the teaching plan of care for the parents of a child
diagnosed with Tay-Sachs disease? - Correct Answer The disorder involves accumulation of abnormal
lipids.
Explanation:
In Tay-Sachs disease, a genetic disorder, abnormal lipids accumulate in the brain and other tissues,
causing motor and mental deterioration beginning at approximately 6 months of age, followed by
death at 2 to 5 years of age.
What happens as a cell's workload declines? Select all that apply. - Correct Answer Oxygen
consumption decreases.
Protein synthesis decreases.
Cell size decreases.
Explanation:
As the cell's workload declines, oxygen consumption decreases, protein synthesis decreases, and cell
size decreases. Insulin levels do not increase, and energy expenditure would decrease.
