NRS 232 Pathophysiology Midterm Questions with
100% Verified Correct Answers
What is pathophysiology? - Correct Answer Book Definition: "Pathology is the study and diagnosis of
disease through examination of organs, tissues, cells, and bodily fluids. Physiology is the study of the
mechanical, physical, and biochemical functions of living organisms. Together, as pathophysiology,
the term refers to the study of abnormalities in physiologic functioning of living beings.
How are etiology and pathogenesis used to predict clinical manifestations and response to therapy? -
Correct Answer Book Definition: "pathogenesis is a description of how etiologic factors are thought
to alter physiologic function and lead to the development of clinical manifestations that are observed
in a particular disorder or disease."
Knowledge Question: A healthcare provider is caring for a person with an inborn error of
metabolism. Which would be an expected finding? - Correct Answer Metabolite accumulation in the
cells
Which statement indicates cell death from apoptosis as opposed to necrosis? - Correct Answer Cells
dismantle and cell blebs are phagocytized by macrophages.
Which finding indicates that a person has wet gangrene, instead of an infarction, in a lower extremity
wound? - Correct Answer Bacteria in the wound
Somatic death refers to death: - Correct Answer of the entire organism.
A change in a tissue marked by cells that vary quite a bit in size and shape, and with increased mitotic
divisions indicates which of the following: - Correct Answer dysplasia.
What term should you use when talking with professional colleagues to describe a change from
squamous to columnar epithelium in the esophageal lining due to chronic acid reflux? - Correct
Answer Metaplasia
When a cell is injured from lack of oxygen - Correct Answer it may recover if oxygen is restored
before the injury is irreversible.
Hyperplasia is beneficial because it: - Correct Answer causes cells to become larger and stronger.
,You are preparing a poster on cell aging for an educational poster day at your home health agency.
Which of the following terms should you use to explain the concept that most cells have a limited
number of divisions? - Correct Answer Telomere
Billy, age 10, will have his cast removed from his broken arm later today. You explain to Billy that his
arm will probably look different when the cast is removed. It probably will be: - Correct Answer
smaller, due to muscle atrophy from lack of use
Of the following situations, which one would be an example of a maladaptive cellular change? -
Correct Answer 44-year-old male with a 60 pack/year smoking history who was diagnosed with a
histological grade-3 lung cancer
A client is experiencing muscle atrophy following 2 weeks in traction after a motor vehicle accident.
Which factor has most likely contributed to the atrophy of the client's muscle cells? - Correct Answer
A reduction of skeletal muscle use secondary to the traction treatment
The nurse is teaching new nursing assistants on the unit about the phenomenon of muscle
hypertrophy. Which client on the unit is most likely to experience muscle hypertrophy? A client with:
- Correct Answer hypertension, obesity, and decreased activity intolerance
Which client is at high risk for developing dilated cardiomyopathy? - Correct Answer 44-year-old non-
compliant female who forgets to take her hypertensive medications
Which student statement demonstrates a sound understanding of the cellular processes of
hypertrophy and hyperplasia? - Correct Answer "I know that cells, like neurons, have little capacity
for hyperplastic growth"
A nurse in the emergency department admits a male client who has experienced severe frostbite to
his hands and toes after becoming lost on a ski hill. The nurse recognizes that which phenomenon
has contributed to his tissue damage? - Correct Answer Decreased blood flow has induced hypoxia.
During a myocardial infarction (MI), a client with a 97% occlusion of the left descending artery
develops ventricular dysrhythmias due to the amount of ischemia occurring in the myocardium.
While providing education about MI's, which statement is most accurate to share with this client? -
Correct Answer Treatment needs to be sought immediately so that the buildup of lactic acid is
limited and cellular changes can be reversed.
, Which statement most accurately conveys an aspect of cell injury due to impaired calcium
homeostasis? - Correct Answer Injured cells tend to accumulate calcium.
The nurse is caring for a client with arterial insufficiency of the left leg with gangrenous wounds on
the second and third toes. What characteristics of the wounds should the nurse evaluate as
expected? Select all that apply. - Correct Answer A clear demarcation between the healthy and
affected tissue
Diminished pulse strength
Atrophy to the affected toes
Darkened appearance of affected tissue
Which change exemplifies physiologic hypertrophy? - Correct Answer Muscle mass increase with
exercise
The nurse is counseling a heavy smoker about the dangers of smoking. The nurse tells the smoker
that due to persistent irritation of the lungs from carcinogens, the normal ciliated columnar epithelial
cells of the trachea may transform into stratisfied squamous epithelial cells as a method of
adaptation known as: - Correct Answer metaplasia
The client is found to have liver disease, resulting in the removal of a lobe of the liver. Adaptation to
the reduced size of the liver leads to which phenomenon in the remaining liver cells? - Correct
Answer Compensatory hyperplasia
The obstetric nurse explains to the client that when she stops breast feeding, her breast tissue will
reduce in size. The nurse understands that this regression is due to which physiologic process? -
Correct Answer Apoptosis
A client's lab report returns and a nurse is explaining to the client the significance of the changes.
The nurse states the finding is implicated as a precursor to cancer. Which finding was most likely on
the lab report? - Correct Answer Dysplasia
Which condition is an example of physiologic hyperplasia? - Correct Answer Uterine enlargement in
pregnancy
A 23-year-old man has received a recent diagnosis of appendicitis. The nurse providing care for the
man is explaining that the inflammation of his appendix is playing a role in his body's fight against the
underlying infectious process. Which teaching points should the nurse eliminate from client
100% Verified Correct Answers
What is pathophysiology? - Correct Answer Book Definition: "Pathology is the study and diagnosis of
disease through examination of organs, tissues, cells, and bodily fluids. Physiology is the study of the
mechanical, physical, and biochemical functions of living organisms. Together, as pathophysiology,
the term refers to the study of abnormalities in physiologic functioning of living beings.
How are etiology and pathogenesis used to predict clinical manifestations and response to therapy? -
Correct Answer Book Definition: "pathogenesis is a description of how etiologic factors are thought
to alter physiologic function and lead to the development of clinical manifestations that are observed
in a particular disorder or disease."
Knowledge Question: A healthcare provider is caring for a person with an inborn error of
metabolism. Which would be an expected finding? - Correct Answer Metabolite accumulation in the
cells
Which statement indicates cell death from apoptosis as opposed to necrosis? - Correct Answer Cells
dismantle and cell blebs are phagocytized by macrophages.
Which finding indicates that a person has wet gangrene, instead of an infarction, in a lower extremity
wound? - Correct Answer Bacteria in the wound
Somatic death refers to death: - Correct Answer of the entire organism.
A change in a tissue marked by cells that vary quite a bit in size and shape, and with increased mitotic
divisions indicates which of the following: - Correct Answer dysplasia.
What term should you use when talking with professional colleagues to describe a change from
squamous to columnar epithelium in the esophageal lining due to chronic acid reflux? - Correct
Answer Metaplasia
When a cell is injured from lack of oxygen - Correct Answer it may recover if oxygen is restored
before the injury is irreversible.
Hyperplasia is beneficial because it: - Correct Answer causes cells to become larger and stronger.
,You are preparing a poster on cell aging for an educational poster day at your home health agency.
Which of the following terms should you use to explain the concept that most cells have a limited
number of divisions? - Correct Answer Telomere
Billy, age 10, will have his cast removed from his broken arm later today. You explain to Billy that his
arm will probably look different when the cast is removed. It probably will be: - Correct Answer
smaller, due to muscle atrophy from lack of use
Of the following situations, which one would be an example of a maladaptive cellular change? -
Correct Answer 44-year-old male with a 60 pack/year smoking history who was diagnosed with a
histological grade-3 lung cancer
A client is experiencing muscle atrophy following 2 weeks in traction after a motor vehicle accident.
Which factor has most likely contributed to the atrophy of the client's muscle cells? - Correct Answer
A reduction of skeletal muscle use secondary to the traction treatment
The nurse is teaching new nursing assistants on the unit about the phenomenon of muscle
hypertrophy. Which client on the unit is most likely to experience muscle hypertrophy? A client with:
- Correct Answer hypertension, obesity, and decreased activity intolerance
Which client is at high risk for developing dilated cardiomyopathy? - Correct Answer 44-year-old non-
compliant female who forgets to take her hypertensive medications
Which student statement demonstrates a sound understanding of the cellular processes of
hypertrophy and hyperplasia? - Correct Answer "I know that cells, like neurons, have little capacity
for hyperplastic growth"
A nurse in the emergency department admits a male client who has experienced severe frostbite to
his hands and toes after becoming lost on a ski hill. The nurse recognizes that which phenomenon
has contributed to his tissue damage? - Correct Answer Decreased blood flow has induced hypoxia.
During a myocardial infarction (MI), a client with a 97% occlusion of the left descending artery
develops ventricular dysrhythmias due to the amount of ischemia occurring in the myocardium.
While providing education about MI's, which statement is most accurate to share with this client? -
Correct Answer Treatment needs to be sought immediately so that the buildup of lactic acid is
limited and cellular changes can be reversed.
, Which statement most accurately conveys an aspect of cell injury due to impaired calcium
homeostasis? - Correct Answer Injured cells tend to accumulate calcium.
The nurse is caring for a client with arterial insufficiency of the left leg with gangrenous wounds on
the second and third toes. What characteristics of the wounds should the nurse evaluate as
expected? Select all that apply. - Correct Answer A clear demarcation between the healthy and
affected tissue
Diminished pulse strength
Atrophy to the affected toes
Darkened appearance of affected tissue
Which change exemplifies physiologic hypertrophy? - Correct Answer Muscle mass increase with
exercise
The nurse is counseling a heavy smoker about the dangers of smoking. The nurse tells the smoker
that due to persistent irritation of the lungs from carcinogens, the normal ciliated columnar epithelial
cells of the trachea may transform into stratisfied squamous epithelial cells as a method of
adaptation known as: - Correct Answer metaplasia
The client is found to have liver disease, resulting in the removal of a lobe of the liver. Adaptation to
the reduced size of the liver leads to which phenomenon in the remaining liver cells? - Correct
Answer Compensatory hyperplasia
The obstetric nurse explains to the client that when she stops breast feeding, her breast tissue will
reduce in size. The nurse understands that this regression is due to which physiologic process? -
Correct Answer Apoptosis
A client's lab report returns and a nurse is explaining to the client the significance of the changes.
The nurse states the finding is implicated as a precursor to cancer. Which finding was most likely on
the lab report? - Correct Answer Dysplasia
Which condition is an example of physiologic hyperplasia? - Correct Answer Uterine enlargement in
pregnancy
A 23-year-old man has received a recent diagnosis of appendicitis. The nurse providing care for the
man is explaining that the inflammation of his appendix is playing a role in his body's fight against the
underlying infectious process. Which teaching points should the nurse eliminate from client
