NR 507 Midterm Exam 2024/2025 Advanced
Pathophysiology with 100% Verified Answers and Grade-A
Solutions
1. Which of the following best describes the role of cytokines in the inflammatory response?
A. Mediators of vasodilation and increased vascular permeability
B. Primary source of energy for immune cells
C. Inhibitors of immune cell activation
D. Direct destroyers of pathogens
Correct Answer: A. Mediators of vasodilation and increased vascular permeability
Rationale: Cytokines are signaling molecules that regulate inflammation by promoting
vasodilation and increasing vascular permeability, allowing immune cells to access affected
tissues. They do not serve as energy sources, inhibit immune activation, or directly destroy
pathogens.
2. What is the primary pathophysiological mechanism of type 1 diabetes mellitus?
A. Insulin resistance in peripheral tissues
B. Autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells
C. Overproduction of glucagon
D. Impaired glucose uptake in the liver
Correct Answer: B. Autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells
Rationale: Type 1 diabetes mellitus results from an autoimmune process that destroys
insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas, leading to absolute insulin deficiency. Insulin
resistance is characteristic of type 2 diabetes, while glucagon overproduction and impaired
glucose uptake are secondary effects.
3. Which cellular change is most associated with hypertrophy?
A. Increase in cell number
B. Increase in cell size
C. Decrease in cell size
D. Replacement of one cell type with another
Correct Answer: B. Increase in cell size
Rationale: Hypertrophy is the increase in cell size due to increased workload or hormonal
stimulation, such as in cardiac muscle during hypertension. An increase in cell number is
hyperplasia, a decrease in cell size is atrophy, and replacement of cell types is metaplasia.
4. What is the hallmark feature of apoptosis compared to necrosis?
A. Inflammation and tissue disruption
B. Energy-dependent programmed cell death
C. Random cell lysis due to injury
, D. Release of cellular contents into surrounding tissue
Correct Answer: B. Energy-dependent programmed cell death
Rationale: Apoptosis is a controlled, energy-dependent process of programmed cell death
that does not trigger inflammation. Necrosis, in contrast, involves random cell lysis, release
of cellular contents, and inflammation due to injury.
5. Which electrolyte imbalance is most likely to cause cardiac arrhythmias?
A. Hyponatremia
B. Hyperkalemia
C. Hypocalcemia
D. Hypermagnesemia
Correct Answer: B. Hyperkalemia
Rationale: Hyperkalemia disrupts the cardiac membrane potential, leading to arrhyth-
mias by altering the resting membrane potential and action potential duration. While
other imbalances may cause symptoms, hyperkalemia is most directly associated with life-
threatening arrhythmias.
6. What is the primary source of energy for ATP production in cells under aerobic condi-
tions?
A. Glycolysis
B. Oxidative phosphorylation
C. Krebs cycle
D. Beta-oxidation
Correct Answer: B. Oxidative phosphorylation
Rationale: Oxidative phosphorylation in the mitochondria produces the majority of ATP
under aerobic conditions via the electron transport chain. Glycolysis and the Krebs cycle
contribute substrates, while beta-oxidation is specific to fatty acid metabolism.
7. Which of the following is a key feature of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?
A. Reversible airway obstruction
B. Destruction of alveolar walls
C. Fibrosis of the bronchial walls
D. Increased goblet cell secretion
Correct Answer: B. Destruction of alveolar walls
Rationale: COPD, particularly emphysema, is characterized by the destruction of alveolar
walls, leading to reduced gas exchange and airflow limitation. Reversible airway obstruc-
tion is typical of asthma, fibrosis is seen in other conditions, and goblet cell secretion is a
secondary feature.
8. What is the primary cause of edema in congestive heart failure?
A. Increased capillary permeability
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Pathophysiology with 100% Verified Answers and Grade-A
Solutions
1. Which of the following best describes the role of cytokines in the inflammatory response?
A. Mediators of vasodilation and increased vascular permeability
B. Primary source of energy for immune cells
C. Inhibitors of immune cell activation
D. Direct destroyers of pathogens
Correct Answer: A. Mediators of vasodilation and increased vascular permeability
Rationale: Cytokines are signaling molecules that regulate inflammation by promoting
vasodilation and increasing vascular permeability, allowing immune cells to access affected
tissues. They do not serve as energy sources, inhibit immune activation, or directly destroy
pathogens.
2. What is the primary pathophysiological mechanism of type 1 diabetes mellitus?
A. Insulin resistance in peripheral tissues
B. Autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells
C. Overproduction of glucagon
D. Impaired glucose uptake in the liver
Correct Answer: B. Autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells
Rationale: Type 1 diabetes mellitus results from an autoimmune process that destroys
insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas, leading to absolute insulin deficiency. Insulin
resistance is characteristic of type 2 diabetes, while glucagon overproduction and impaired
glucose uptake are secondary effects.
3. Which cellular change is most associated with hypertrophy?
A. Increase in cell number
B. Increase in cell size
C. Decrease in cell size
D. Replacement of one cell type with another
Correct Answer: B. Increase in cell size
Rationale: Hypertrophy is the increase in cell size due to increased workload or hormonal
stimulation, such as in cardiac muscle during hypertension. An increase in cell number is
hyperplasia, a decrease in cell size is atrophy, and replacement of cell types is metaplasia.
4. What is the hallmark feature of apoptosis compared to necrosis?
A. Inflammation and tissue disruption
B. Energy-dependent programmed cell death
C. Random cell lysis due to injury
, D. Release of cellular contents into surrounding tissue
Correct Answer: B. Energy-dependent programmed cell death
Rationale: Apoptosis is a controlled, energy-dependent process of programmed cell death
that does not trigger inflammation. Necrosis, in contrast, involves random cell lysis, release
of cellular contents, and inflammation due to injury.
5. Which electrolyte imbalance is most likely to cause cardiac arrhythmias?
A. Hyponatremia
B. Hyperkalemia
C. Hypocalcemia
D. Hypermagnesemia
Correct Answer: B. Hyperkalemia
Rationale: Hyperkalemia disrupts the cardiac membrane potential, leading to arrhyth-
mias by altering the resting membrane potential and action potential duration. While
other imbalances may cause symptoms, hyperkalemia is most directly associated with life-
threatening arrhythmias.
6. What is the primary source of energy for ATP production in cells under aerobic condi-
tions?
A. Glycolysis
B. Oxidative phosphorylation
C. Krebs cycle
D. Beta-oxidation
Correct Answer: B. Oxidative phosphorylation
Rationale: Oxidative phosphorylation in the mitochondria produces the majority of ATP
under aerobic conditions via the electron transport chain. Glycolysis and the Krebs cycle
contribute substrates, while beta-oxidation is specific to fatty acid metabolism.
7. Which of the following is a key feature of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?
A. Reversible airway obstruction
B. Destruction of alveolar walls
C. Fibrosis of the bronchial walls
D. Increased goblet cell secretion
Correct Answer: B. Destruction of alveolar walls
Rationale: COPD, particularly emphysema, is characterized by the destruction of alveolar
walls, leading to reduced gas exchange and airflow limitation. Reversible airway obstruc-
tion is typical of asthma, fibrosis is seen in other conditions, and goblet cell secretion is a
secondary feature.
8. What is the primary cause of edema in congestive heart failure?
A. Increased capillary permeability
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