McCance & Huether’s Pathophysiology
The Biologic Basis for Disease in Adults and Children
9th Edition
• Author(s)Julia Rogers
TEST BANK
McCance & Huether — Pathophysiology, 9th Ed. — Chapter 1:
Cellular Biology.
1. Chapter 1: Cellular Biology — Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes
Stem: A nursing student asks why bacterial infections can be
treated with antibiotics that do not harm human cells. Which
fundamental difference explains this selective toxicity?
A. Bacterial cells lack a plasma membrane.
B. Bacterial ribosomes are larger than human ribosomes.
C. Bacterial cell walls contain peptidoglycan absent in human
cells.
D. Bacteria use mitochondria for ATP synthesis while human
cells do not.
,Correct Answer: C
Rationales:
• Correct: Bacterial cell walls contain peptidoglycan, a
molecule not found in human cells; many antibiotics (e.g.,
penicillins) inhibit peptidoglycan synthesis, providing
selective toxicity.
• A: Incorrect — Bacteria do have plasma membranes; lack
of membrane is false.
• B: Incorrect — Bacterial ribosomes are smaller (70S) than
eukaryotic (80S), not larger; antibiotics target smaller
ribosomes.
• D: Incorrect — Bacteria do not have mitochondria; human
cells do; this statement is reversed and incorrect.
Teaching Point: Antibiotics exploit structural differences like
bacterial peptidoglycan for selective toxicity.
2. Chapter 1: Cellular Biology — Cellular Functions
Stem: A patient’s cells demonstrate impaired phagocytosis.
Which cellular function is primarily defective?
A. Energy production in mitochondria.
B. Cytoskeletal remodeling and actin polymerization.
C. DNA replication in the nucleus.
D. Protein synthesis by rough endoplasmic reticulum.
,Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
• Correct: Phagocytosis requires actin-dependent
cytoskeletal remodeling to extend pseudopods and engulf
particles; defects in actin dynamics impair phagocytosis.
• A: Incorrect — Energy production is supportive but not the
primary mechanism for engulfment.
• C: Incorrect — DNA replication is unrelated to the
mechanical process of phagocytosis.
• D: Incorrect — Protein synthesis is essential for cell
functions broadly, but the immediate mechanism of
phagocytosis is cytoskeletal.
Teaching Point: Actin polymerization drives phagocytic
engulfment and motility.
3. Chapter 1: Cellular Biology — Structure and Function of
Cellular Components (Mitochondria)
Stem: A patient has a mitochondrial DNA mutation that impairs
complex IV of oxidative phosphorylation. Which immediate
cellular effect is most likely?
A. Increased aerobic ATP production.
B. Accumulation of lactic acid due to increased anaerobic
glycolysis.
, C. Increased β-oxidation of fatty acids to compensate.
D. Enhanced function of the Golgi apparatus.
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
• Correct: Impaired complex IV reduces electron transport
chain efficiency, decreasing aerobic ATP production and
shifting ATP generation to anaerobic glycolysis, causing
lactic acid buildup.
• A: Incorrect — Aerobic ATP production would decrease,
not increase, with complex IV dysfunction.
• C: Incorrect — β-oxidation requires intact oxidative
phosphorylation to fully oxidize fatty acids; it cannot
compensate effectively.
• D: Incorrect — The Golgi apparatus function is not directly
enhanced by mitochondrial respiratory chain defects.
Teaching Point: Mitochondrial ETC defects shift metabolism
toward anaerobic glycolysis and lactic acidosis.
4. Chapter 1: Cellular Biology — Structure and Function of
Cellular Components (Endoplasmic Reticulum & Protein
Folding)
Stem: A patient’s liver biopsy shows abundant unfolded protein
response (UPR) activation. Which ER-related process is primarily
implicated?
The Biologic Basis for Disease in Adults and Children
9th Edition
• Author(s)Julia Rogers
TEST BANK
McCance & Huether — Pathophysiology, 9th Ed. — Chapter 1:
Cellular Biology.
1. Chapter 1: Cellular Biology — Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes
Stem: A nursing student asks why bacterial infections can be
treated with antibiotics that do not harm human cells. Which
fundamental difference explains this selective toxicity?
A. Bacterial cells lack a plasma membrane.
B. Bacterial ribosomes are larger than human ribosomes.
C. Bacterial cell walls contain peptidoglycan absent in human
cells.
D. Bacteria use mitochondria for ATP synthesis while human
cells do not.
,Correct Answer: C
Rationales:
• Correct: Bacterial cell walls contain peptidoglycan, a
molecule not found in human cells; many antibiotics (e.g.,
penicillins) inhibit peptidoglycan synthesis, providing
selective toxicity.
• A: Incorrect — Bacteria do have plasma membranes; lack
of membrane is false.
• B: Incorrect — Bacterial ribosomes are smaller (70S) than
eukaryotic (80S), not larger; antibiotics target smaller
ribosomes.
• D: Incorrect — Bacteria do not have mitochondria; human
cells do; this statement is reversed and incorrect.
Teaching Point: Antibiotics exploit structural differences like
bacterial peptidoglycan for selective toxicity.
2. Chapter 1: Cellular Biology — Cellular Functions
Stem: A patient’s cells demonstrate impaired phagocytosis.
Which cellular function is primarily defective?
A. Energy production in mitochondria.
B. Cytoskeletal remodeling and actin polymerization.
C. DNA replication in the nucleus.
D. Protein synthesis by rough endoplasmic reticulum.
,Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
• Correct: Phagocytosis requires actin-dependent
cytoskeletal remodeling to extend pseudopods and engulf
particles; defects in actin dynamics impair phagocytosis.
• A: Incorrect — Energy production is supportive but not the
primary mechanism for engulfment.
• C: Incorrect — DNA replication is unrelated to the
mechanical process of phagocytosis.
• D: Incorrect — Protein synthesis is essential for cell
functions broadly, but the immediate mechanism of
phagocytosis is cytoskeletal.
Teaching Point: Actin polymerization drives phagocytic
engulfment and motility.
3. Chapter 1: Cellular Biology — Structure and Function of
Cellular Components (Mitochondria)
Stem: A patient has a mitochondrial DNA mutation that impairs
complex IV of oxidative phosphorylation. Which immediate
cellular effect is most likely?
A. Increased aerobic ATP production.
B. Accumulation of lactic acid due to increased anaerobic
glycolysis.
, C. Increased β-oxidation of fatty acids to compensate.
D. Enhanced function of the Golgi apparatus.
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
• Correct: Impaired complex IV reduces electron transport
chain efficiency, decreasing aerobic ATP production and
shifting ATP generation to anaerobic glycolysis, causing
lactic acid buildup.
• A: Incorrect — Aerobic ATP production would decrease,
not increase, with complex IV dysfunction.
• C: Incorrect — β-oxidation requires intact oxidative
phosphorylation to fully oxidize fatty acids; it cannot
compensate effectively.
• D: Incorrect — The Golgi apparatus function is not directly
enhanced by mitochondrial respiratory chain defects.
Teaching Point: Mitochondrial ETC defects shift metabolism
toward anaerobic glycolysis and lactic acidosis.
4. Chapter 1: Cellular Biology — Structure and Function of
Cellular Components (Endoplasmic Reticulum & Protein
Folding)
Stem: A patient’s liver biopsy shows abundant unfolded protein
response (UPR) activation. Which ER-related process is primarily
implicated?
