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NURS 209 Practice Questions HESI (PATHO
BOOK) Questions and Answers
A decrease in workload, use, pressure, or blood supply
appropriately describes:
A. physiologic atrophy.
B. pathologic atrophy.
C. hypertrophy.
D. hyperplasia.
Ans: B. pathologic atrophy.
Pathologic atrophy is a decrease in cell size due to decreased use.
Physiologic atrophy usually occurs early in development; for example,
the thymus gland atrophies during childhood. Hypertrophy is an
increase in cell size. Hyperplasia is an increase in the number of cells.
The appropriate term for the reversible replacement of one
mature cell by another is:
A. metaplasia.
B. hyperplasia.
C. dysplasia.
D. atypical hyperplasia.
Ans: A. metaplasia.
The term metaplasia refers to one cell type being replaced by another.
Hyperplasia is an increase in the number of cells, not a change in their
type. Dysplasia, also referred to as atypical hyperplasia, refers to
abnormal changes in the size, shape, and organization of cells.
The ability to increase intracellular calcium concentrations and
affect the nervous and hematopoietic systems is a characteristic
of:
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A. carbon monoxide.
B. carbon tetrachloride.
C. lead.
D. mercury.
Ans: C. lead.
Lead is able to increase intracellular calcium concentrations and may
also become a calcium substitute. It affects the hematopoietic system. It
is often found in paint, dirt, and pottery. Carbon tetrachloride, formerly
used in dry cleaning, is converted into a highly toxic free radical that
damages the liver. Carbon monoxide is an asphyxiate gas that interrupts
respiration. Mercury is a heavy metal and can worsen chronic diseases
like Alzheimer disease and multiple sclerosis.
A patient with a collection of blood that is located between the
skull and the dura is diagnosed with a condition referred to as
a(n):
A. epidural hematoma.
B. contusion.
C. subdural hematoma.
D. abrasion.
Ans: A. epidural hematoma.
An epidural hematoma is a collection of blood between the inner surface
of the skull and the dura. A subdural hematoma is a collection of blood
between the surface of the dura and the brain. A contusion is a bruise or
bleeding into the skin and underlying tissue. Abrasion is a scrape caused
by removal of the superficial layers of the skin.
A tear or rip of the skin with a jagged and irregular edge is
described as a(n):
A. abrasion.
B. incision.
C. laceration.
D. avulsion.
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Ans: C. laceration.
Lacerations occur when the tensile strength of the skin is exceeded. An
incision is a precise cut with an instrument that leaves regular clean
edges. In a laceration, edges are often jagged and irregular. An abrasion
results from the removal of the superficial layers of the skin caused by
friction between the skin and the injuring object. An avulsion is an
injury in which an area of tissue is pulled away, creating a flap.
A characteristic of a stab wound includes:
A. the injury is deeper than it is long.
B. the injury is longer than it is deep.
C. there is a broken bone.
D. there is significant crush injury.
Ans: A. the injury is deeper than it is long.
The injury is deeper than it is long. There is little crush injury because
the object used is sharp and it makes a clean entrance. An injury that is
longer than it is deep is considered an incised wound. A broken bone is a
fracture.
The appropriate term for fragments of burning or unburned
pieces of gunpowder that are embedded in the epidermis is:
A. exit wound.
B. stippling.
C. blowback.
D. tattooing.
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Ans: D. tattooing.
Tattooing results from fragments of burning or unburned pieces of
gunpowder exiting the barrel and striking the skin surface with enough
force to be driven into the epidermis. Stippling results when fragments
of gunpowder strike the skin with enough force to abrade the skin but
not actually penetrate the surface. An exit wound is where the bullet
exits the body. Blowback is disruption of the tissues resulting in large,
gaping, and jagged appearance to the wound.
Which term describes oxygen failing to reach the blood?
A. Suffocation
B. Strangulation
C. Drowning
D. Petechiae
Ans: A. Suffocation
Suffocation occurs when oxygen fails to reach the blood. It is a subgroup
of asphyxial injuries. Strangulation is caused by compression and
closure of the blood vessels and air passages by external pressure on the
neck. Drowning occurs when water or fluid alters delivery of oxygen.
Petechiae are found on the neck of a victim who is strangled. It is the
result of compression of soft tissue and the breakage of blood vessels.
The pigment that is correctly paired with its color is:
A. melanin-brown-black.
B. hemosiderin-green-black.
C. blue nevus-brown-black.
D. bilirubin-yellow-brown.
Ans: A. melanin-brown-black.
Melanin is brown-black pigment. This is what causes a suntan.
Hemosiderin is a yellow-brown pigment and is derived from hemoglobin.
Blue nevus is a benign mole that is dark blue-black in color. Bilirubin is
yellow-green in color and is derived from bile.
© 2025 All rights reserved
NURS 209 Practice Questions HESI (PATHO
BOOK) Questions and Answers
A decrease in workload, use, pressure, or blood supply
appropriately describes:
A. physiologic atrophy.
B. pathologic atrophy.
C. hypertrophy.
D. hyperplasia.
Ans: B. pathologic atrophy.
Pathologic atrophy is a decrease in cell size due to decreased use.
Physiologic atrophy usually occurs early in development; for example,
the thymus gland atrophies during childhood. Hypertrophy is an
increase in cell size. Hyperplasia is an increase in the number of cells.
The appropriate term for the reversible replacement of one
mature cell by another is:
A. metaplasia.
B. hyperplasia.
C. dysplasia.
D. atypical hyperplasia.
Ans: A. metaplasia.
The term metaplasia refers to one cell type being replaced by another.
Hyperplasia is an increase in the number of cells, not a change in their
type. Dysplasia, also referred to as atypical hyperplasia, refers to
abnormal changes in the size, shape, and organization of cells.
The ability to increase intracellular calcium concentrations and
affect the nervous and hematopoietic systems is a characteristic
of:
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, 2 | Page
A. carbon monoxide.
B. carbon tetrachloride.
C. lead.
D. mercury.
Ans: C. lead.
Lead is able to increase intracellular calcium concentrations and may
also become a calcium substitute. It affects the hematopoietic system. It
is often found in paint, dirt, and pottery. Carbon tetrachloride, formerly
used in dry cleaning, is converted into a highly toxic free radical that
damages the liver. Carbon monoxide is an asphyxiate gas that interrupts
respiration. Mercury is a heavy metal and can worsen chronic diseases
like Alzheimer disease and multiple sclerosis.
A patient with a collection of blood that is located between the
skull and the dura is diagnosed with a condition referred to as
a(n):
A. epidural hematoma.
B. contusion.
C. subdural hematoma.
D. abrasion.
Ans: A. epidural hematoma.
An epidural hematoma is a collection of blood between the inner surface
of the skull and the dura. A subdural hematoma is a collection of blood
between the surface of the dura and the brain. A contusion is a bruise or
bleeding into the skin and underlying tissue. Abrasion is a scrape caused
by removal of the superficial layers of the skin.
A tear or rip of the skin with a jagged and irregular edge is
described as a(n):
A. abrasion.
B. incision.
C. laceration.
D. avulsion.
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, 3 | Page
Ans: C. laceration.
Lacerations occur when the tensile strength of the skin is exceeded. An
incision is a precise cut with an instrument that leaves regular clean
edges. In a laceration, edges are often jagged and irregular. An abrasion
results from the removal of the superficial layers of the skin caused by
friction between the skin and the injuring object. An avulsion is an
injury in which an area of tissue is pulled away, creating a flap.
A characteristic of a stab wound includes:
A. the injury is deeper than it is long.
B. the injury is longer than it is deep.
C. there is a broken bone.
D. there is significant crush injury.
Ans: A. the injury is deeper than it is long.
The injury is deeper than it is long. There is little crush injury because
the object used is sharp and it makes a clean entrance. An injury that is
longer than it is deep is considered an incised wound. A broken bone is a
fracture.
The appropriate term for fragments of burning or unburned
pieces of gunpowder that are embedded in the epidermis is:
A. exit wound.
B. stippling.
C. blowback.
D. tattooing.
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, 4 | Page
Ans: D. tattooing.
Tattooing results from fragments of burning or unburned pieces of
gunpowder exiting the barrel and striking the skin surface with enough
force to be driven into the epidermis. Stippling results when fragments
of gunpowder strike the skin with enough force to abrade the skin but
not actually penetrate the surface. An exit wound is where the bullet
exits the body. Blowback is disruption of the tissues resulting in large,
gaping, and jagged appearance to the wound.
Which term describes oxygen failing to reach the blood?
A. Suffocation
B. Strangulation
C. Drowning
D. Petechiae
Ans: A. Suffocation
Suffocation occurs when oxygen fails to reach the blood. It is a subgroup
of asphyxial injuries. Strangulation is caused by compression and
closure of the blood vessels and air passages by external pressure on the
neck. Drowning occurs when water or fluid alters delivery of oxygen.
Petechiae are found on the neck of a victim who is strangled. It is the
result of compression of soft tissue and the breakage of blood vessels.
The pigment that is correctly paired with its color is:
A. melanin-brown-black.
B. hemosiderin-green-black.
C. blue nevus-brown-black.
D. bilirubin-yellow-brown.
Ans: A. melanin-brown-black.
Melanin is brown-black pigment. This is what causes a suntan.
Hemosiderin is a yellow-brown pigment and is derived from hemoglobin.
Blue nevus is a benign mole that is dark blue-black in color. Bilirubin is
yellow-green in color and is derived from bile.
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